NC - 2023 - Spring

One day, I was told by the Sister in charge of us to run
quickly to the bakery and get a loaf of “razowy chleb”
(pumpernickel bread). Naturally, I was told in Polish
because only this language was used at that time.
I knew what kind of bread it was but had no idea how
to say it in English. So I went to Sister Superior, who
had her education in London, and asked her what to
call the black bread because I needed to buy a loaf for
some guests who would have dinner at the Academy.
The Superior, Sister Seraphine, told me the name is
“pumpernickel bread” and made me repeat it a few
times to say it correctly.
As usual, I ran down Milwaukee Avenue, where all
the large stores, banks, etc., were located. In front of
a big store stood a crowd of people watching some
spectacle. I tried to see what was happening, but to my
dismay, I could not get through to see what was going
on, so I continued on my way.
Relieved, I said: “Exactly! That’s what the Superior
called it. Please may I have a loaf of it?” He brought
the loaf wrapped up and, giving it to me, said, “Wait a
moment, little girl.” After a few minutes, he returned
with a small bag of cookies, a rare treat we seldom
saw, and then said, “The pumpernickel bread is for
Sister Superior, and these cookies are for you, for the
good laugh I had!”
With a sweet smile, I thanked him, and taking the
packages, ran home as fast as my legs could carry me.
I made it back just in time! After I deposited the
precious pumpernickel bread in the kitchen, I ran
upstairs to tell the other girls about my mishap and to
treat them to the goodies I got from the kind baker.
The girls were overjoyed, and we laughed as we
devoured these delicious goodies.
As I set back on my journey to my great consternation,
I realized I had forgotten the name of the “black
bread.” I began running from one bakery to another,
frantically looking through the windows to see
whether I would recognize any “black bread” and not
one loaf! As usual, I began to pray to my Guardian
Angel to help me.
“As usual, I began to
pray to my Guardian
Angel to help me.”
I ran about a good five blocks searching in windows
when I finally noticed a loaf of “black bread” in the
shop window. Peeking in, I saw only one customer, so I
patiently waited until she came out and then went in.
The baker was an elderly big man with a kind face.
He asked me, “What do you want, little girl?” I said, “I
was to buy a loaf of black bread, but I forgot the name
of it. It was like pumping something, but I don’t know
what you pump… Maybe a dime or a penny?” And he
laughed out loud, saying, “You don’t pump anything. It’s
‘pumpernickel’ bread you want.”
Holy Family Academy, Chicago, IL.
Sr. Mary Simplicia of the Cross, (d. 1963).
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2023
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