NC-2024-Spring

Nazareth
SISTERS OF
THE HOLY
FAMILY OF
NAZARETH
HOLY FAMILY
PROVINCE
// VOL 18 //
// NO 1 //
SPRING 2024
CONNECTIONS
FAMILY IS THE HEART OF OUR MISSION
Mother Foundress:
Disciple of Hope
STORY ON PAGE 6

MESSAGE FROM THE
PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR
Dear Friends of Nazareth,
What is it you are hoping for this day or at this time in your
life? Is it employment or financial stability? Perhaps you are
hoping for good medical results, reconciliation with another
person, peace in the world, in families, and among all people,
or that the faith you treasure carries on in your family.
Hope for today’s world mirrors that of the people of the
early Church, and St. Paul urged them, “Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
What does that mean? Though the early Church was
undergoing unspeakable persecution, St. Paul tells them to
rejoice in hope — that is, to look to the Paschal Mystery
where darkness, pain, and death transform into light,
strength, and life. The power of Jesus’ Resurrection is our
hope. As Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, rooted in
Christ, we strive to build communities of love and hope,
reaching out to serve families that hunger for the Lord’s
presence. In the spirit of our Foundress, Blessed Mary of
Jesus the Good Shepherd, we work throughout the world
to be a sign to others that Christ has come. We work to
keep the flame of Jesus’ Resurrection alive, the flame of
trust in a future full of hope.
With hope, anything is possible because strength from
within us motivates us to fulfill our dreams for a better
future. Without hope, nothing is possible, because the
absence of inner strength clouds our vision and impairs our
progress. The dawn of each day shows us repeatedly within
darkness, there is always hope. The light of a new day always
brings new light with new opportunities to do good. Hope
reigns if we persevere with confidence in God’s grace that
pours into our hearts as we ask for guidance in prayer and
humble petition for strength and courage.
With the Easter season we are celebrating, we are given
an even closer look at how the power of hope serves as a
reminder within the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that we
can overcome even the greatest of life’s trials. How our faith
grows when we witness the forgiveness Jesus gives Peter
and his other disciples when we understand the extension
of his generosity to those who have faltered! Jesus'
sustaining power guides us back to God every time!
In this issue of Nazareth Connections, you will find a
reflection of hope written by Sister Michele Vincent Fisher,
CSFN and first shared with our Associates of the Holy
Family in 2018. Questions of what hope is and how it affects
what we value, what we do with our lives, how we see
ourselves, and how it impacts our relationships are
addressed in the light of our Mother Foundress who
possessed this blessing of hope herself. A reflection
on the Transforming Grace initiative our sisters have
chosen to follow and uphold over this next year is
also included.
As you read more about our ministry at Nazareth
Retreat Center in Texas, I want to call your attention
back to the home we find in the spirit of Nazareth,
where inspiration and holiness are celebrated, where
our journeys of healing are strengthened by the light of
Christ, and explorations of spiritual care are embraced
through the many opportunities our sisters encounter.
As we continue to celebrate the Resurrection and
move into Ordinary Time, let us ask God to guide us
to the path that leads to Him, to guide us to rejoice in
hope through moments of new life, of suffering, of loss,
and of boundless joy. May our hearts overflow with
gratitude, patience, strength, and peace as we strive to
live our faith, keenly aware of our shortcomings yet
rejoicing in the Risen Lord who is with us until the end
of time.
In the Holy Family,
Sister Kathleen Maciej
2

VOLUME 18 //
NUMBER 1 //
SPRING 2024
Nazareth Connections is published
three times a year by the Sisters of
the Holy Family of Nazareth
in the USA.
Editor:
Emily Dillon
Contents
FAITH
4 Rediscovering the Spirit of
CSFN In An Antique Store
ARTICLES
6 Mother Foundress:
Disciple of Hope
11 Transforming Grace
13 Nazareth Retreat Center
DEVELOPMENT
16 Faith and Family Intertwined
18 Prayer Remembrance Program
19 Support Our Sisters
Sister Kathleen Maciej.
Sister Duyen Nguyen, FMSR at the end
of her private retreat at NRC.
Sister Gabriela Duszynska at the
Midwest Jubilee celebration.
Top of the Empire State Building Quill
& Scroll meeting in New York City, 1950.
HOW ARE YOU CALLED TO LOVE?
We invite you to pray with us, to listen to God’s call with us, and to
love with us as we strive to recognize God in ordinary experiences.
Learn more about our community life, our ministries, and our mission at
nazarethcsfn.org/about-us. Contact Sister Emmanuela Le, CSFN, National
Vocation Director, at 682-203-967 or vocations@nazarethcsfn.org.
Proofreaders:
Sister Angela Szczawinska
Sister Mary Ellen Gemmell
Katherine Barth
Sister Lucille Madura
Amanda Giarratano
Province Communications Committee:
Sister Mary Ellen Gemmell
Sister Angela Szczawinska
Amanda Giarratano
Katherine Barth
Heidi Scheuer
Sister Emmanuela Le
Sister Marcella Louise Wallowicz
Sister Michele Vincent Fisher
Sister Rebecca Sullivan
Design/Print:
McDaniels Marketing
Questions, comments, suggestions?
Please contact:
Communications Department
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
310 N. River Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847)298-6760, x144
communications@nazarethcsfn.org
nazarethcsfn.org
facebook.com/csfn.usa
instagram.com/csfn.usa
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2024
3

FAITH
From Discarded to Hallowed
REDISCOVERING THE SPIRIT OF CSFN IN AN ANTIQUE STORE
By Emily Dillon
“In my quest to find a cross to wear publicly to express my
faith in God, I did not imagine I would find one so special.”
Lisa Voss started searching for a cross she could wear
around her neck and was led to a local antique and jewelry
store managed by her friend Lorie. She wanted it to be a
source of comfort, protection, and grace, but when looking
through her stock of religious jewelry, none of the items
felt right. Lorie assured Lisa she would look at a jewelry
show she was going to and found a cross with Latin
inscriptions on both sides in a bin of what she described
as “junk” silver. She texted Lisa back immediately that it
looked old and may have belonged to a priest, but when
Lisa started researching the Latin phrases, she came across
an article by Sister Marcella Louise Wallowicz that proved
the cross had at one time belonged to a Sister of the Holy
Family of Nazareth.
“If you believe in Christ and His messages to us in the
Gospels, then there is always hope in life eternally with
Him,” Lisa said. “Like the CSFN cross, we can get lost in
the ‘junk’ pile of worldliness, but God always wants us back.
When you are lost and too weak to find your way, there is
hope when you acknowledge your weakness and pray for
God to give you strength to follow His commands.”
Lisa converted to the Catholic faith when she was 18 years
old. She had attended Baptist church services every week
with her parents until one day her high school boyfriend
asked her to attend a Catholic Mass with him and his
family. “I was not sure what to expect, but that day changed
my life forever. I was used to a simple church service with a
lengthy sermon and a few hymns, but that day I worshiped
in an atmosphere of candles, incense, stained glass, and
statues,” Lisa said. “People genuflected and kneeled and
4

“If you believe in
Christ and His
messages to us in the
Gospels, then there
is always hope in life
eternally with Him,”
-Lisa Voss
“My search for the right cross led me home to
my own jewelry box. It seemed I had overlooked
my small, gold cross that my parents gave me for my
confirmation 35 years ago,” Lisa said. “In addition, I
had a Miraculous Medal that had also been given to
me for my confirmation by a seminarian who helped
me during my RCIA process. My patron saint was
Catherine Labouré, the saint of converts and the
visionary of the Miraculous Medal.”
Lisa took the cross and the Miraculous Medal to Lorie,
who helped her find a long silver chain for them. While
Lisa now wears them every day, the CSFN cross has
been returned home.
“It makes me happy to think a sister received this
cross after professing her vows.”
knew all the responses. When it came time to receive the
Eucharist, I was told to remain seated. Later, I found out
Catholics believe the Eucharist to be the body, blood, soul,
and divinity of Christ.”
When the Mass ended, Lisa knew she was a Catholic at
heart, but out of respect for her parents, she waited four
years to tell them she was going to convert. She continued
to attend Baptist services with them, but searched for any
Catholic literature she could find and looked forward to
occasional visits to Mass with her boyfriend. During Lisa’s
first semester at college, she started RCIA classes and
was confirmed in the spring of 1989. Her parents attended
and were supportive of her decision, and ten years after
attending her first Mass, her high school boyfriend became
her husband.
Now working as a librarian, she finds reward in helping
people find and access information they need, whether
it is filling out a job application or researching health
information for a medical problem. Though Lisa has often
been confronted with evil in people, books, and the
internet, she is currently trying to stand up to the culture
of death and evil.
The profession cross found in an antique shop and later
returned to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2024
5

ARTICLES
Mother Foundress:
Disciple of Hope
By Sister Michele Vincent Fisher, CSFN
Editor’s note: In October 2018, Sister Michele Vincent Fisher, CSFN shared this reflection with our Associates of the Holy
Family. At the end of this piece are questions prepared by Sister Michele to draw you deeper into reflecting on what hope
means for you.
What is hope?
Hope is a curly red-haired little orphan singing, “The sun’ll come out, tomorrow! Bet your bottom dollar that
tomorrow, there’ll be sun.” 1 Hope is a caterpillar that asks, “How do I become a butterfly?” and a butterfly that
responds saying, “When you want to fly so much that you’re willing to give up being a caterpillar!” 2 Wikipedia
tells us hope is an “optimistic state of mind based on an expectation of positive outcomes.” Merriam-Webster
tells us hope means “to cherish a desire with anticipation; to want something to happen or be true.” Scripture
tells us hope is “a strong and confident expectation; a trust in what is yet unseen.”
A frail little girl kneels below a large picture of the Czarna Madonna (Our Lady of Czestochowa) and looking
confidently at Our Lady, she cries, “Be my Mother!” 3 Young Frances Siedliska, thinking her own mother is close
to death, makes an act of hope and entrusts herself to the Mother of God, confident her heartfelt prayer will be
answered. Anyone who asks, receives!
Surely you can look at the context of your own life and recall a time when you made your own act of hope
— as you birthed a child or watched a beloved parent, friend, or spouse take their final breath; as you sat on
your living room couch waiting for your teenager when he or she missed curfew; as you stood in line at the
unemployment office or waited anxiously in the doctor’s office for test results. While hope often comes in the
midst of trouble and suffering, it also comes in moments of joy and peace — the first rays of the sunrise, a baby’s
first steps, a conversation where someone really listened, the smell of freshly baked bread or brewed coffee, or
snowflakes gently accumulating on your windowsill. Hope is so powerful and yet so elusive!
6

What can be said of Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good
Shepherd, our beloved Foundress, whose entire life
seemed to be one great act of hope after another? In
her own words, she states, “Follow Jesus, seek Him,
contemplate Him, ask Him for all you need: then —
expect, believe and hope. Love Him ever more. Live for
Him, work for Him, and implore Him to live and act in
you. This is really living your life to the full! Affirm over
and over again your dedication to Him… Only interior
union with Him and true abandonment to His will
alone can bring you peace, happiness, fulfillment and all.”
(Letter 34 to Mother Raphael, January 1884) 4
Hope is never a static or passive thing — it is active,
dynamic, directive, and life sustaining. It doesn’t leave us
idle, drifting, or directionless. Hope does not disappoint,
but it puts us on the path of life and yields results for
those who are ready to risk.
Mercy of God. It took an act of hope for Mother to
finally say, “It is futile to dwell on one’s misery and spiritual
poverty, rather, one needs to strive for love and perfection
in spite of them.” 6
Hope changes what we value.
The gospel of Matthew proclaims, “Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Matthew 6:19-21)
Hope changes how
we see ourselves.
From the time Mother Foundress was a child, she
recognized a certain sadness in her soul. While
materially, she had the benefits of wealth and societal
privilege, she remained unfulfilled, incomplete. The day
the brown-robed Capuchin monk, Father Leander, paid
an unexpected visit to her family home, hope walked
through the door and into her restless heart. “Would
you like to learn how to love Jesus?” 5 The question was
seared into her heart and ignited a flame that would last
her entire life. From that moment on, Jesus was her one
and only desire and His holy will was her only aim. Upon
receiving Jesus for the first time in Holy Communion,
young Frances made sure her heart would forever be
the abode of this dear guest of her soul.
Frances saw herself in all her weakness, temptation,
and misery and she worried about offending Jesus,
concerned he might leave her soul. In her confessions,
she didn’t seem to mention fear of the fires of hell or
punishments — only fear about offending the God who
gave His entire life for her and who took up residence in
her soul despite all her sinful ways. The loss of His love
would be the greatest tragedy of her life. Even though
for many years she struggled to understand the fullness
of God’s love, hope helped her to come to believe in the
mind of God, she was the object of His love and mercy.
Hope taught her to entrust her whole self to the Divine
Sisters pray before the Blessed Sacrament the night before
First Profession in August 2023.
Sister Cathy Fedewa with the statue of Blessed Mary of Jesus
the Good Shepherd at the provincialate in Des Plaines.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2024
7

ARTICLES
As Mother Foundress grew in her relationship
with Jesus, she renounced her wealth and worldly
allurements. During this time of great trial in her life,
she tried to make it clear that she was not rejecting
the love of her family, nor did she attempt to persuade
them to adopt her ways. Even when members of
her family, especially her own father, persecuted her
and referred to her as a “religious fanatic” or “overly
scrupulous,” she always defended her love and respect
for them. 7 Often, when we hear the word “renounce,”
we equate it to the word “reject.”
Renounce is to re-announce — to see and experience
something in a new light. What young Frances was
doing was holding up her life in light of her deepening
relationship with Jesus and re-announcing what was
of greater value to her. This, of course, did not happen
instantly or overnight. Her efforts were clumsy at
times and embroiled her in many a family argument or
reduced her to painful tears and even physical illness
and suffering. Many trips to the confessional resulted
in renewed efforts to understand her changing values
and the prominent place of her relationship with Jesus
above and beyond all else in her life. Hope encouraged
her to stay the course, to live into the mystery of her
call even when the path ahead of her was dark and
filled with obstacles.
Hope affects what we do
with our lives — our time,
talent, and treasures.
The Christian life, if it is grasped according to God’s
truth, is a magnificent obsession with an eternal hope,
a hope that does not lead to an escapist attitude, but
to the pursuit of life on a whole new dimension. We
measure the potential of this life as stewards of God.
It gives us power to live courageously, to be all God
has called us to be in Christ. Blessed Mary of Jesus
the Good Shepherd spent her adolescence and young
adult years developing her interior life. Through times
of lengthy and serious illness that caused her family
to relocate to places throughout Europe in search
of a more suitable environment, Mother Foundress
stayed faithful to her commitment to love Jesus and
to seek His will for her life. It was nothing out of the
ordinary, yet God was performing the extraordinary
in her soul, preparing her for what would become
her life’s mission. At age 32, Frances Siedliska allowed
this ever-growing hope to come to fruition and she
became not only a vowed religious but also set out
on a path to found a new religious congregation. She
did not do this of her own will, but always under the
direction of those God placed on her path to manifest
His will. She placed this new creation at the feet of
the Vicar of Christ and would proceed only with the
Church’s support and affirmation. Mother presents
herself honestly and unequivocally. She recognizes
God’s action of grace and loves all the more humbly
and ardently. With the great St. Paul in his letter to
the Romans, surely Mother foundress could proclaim,
“Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has
been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,
who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)
Instead of taking the path of personal devotion
and interior holiness, Mother Foundress’ entire life
becomes a public manifestation of the work of grace
in her soul, and through her full gift of self to God, the
Church and the world are enriched with the spirit
of Nazareth.
Certainly, you and I are not necessarily called to such
a large-scale project, but nonetheless, each of us is
called to radical conversion. Radical means “from
the root.” If we are faithful to the invitation of God
to entrust our entire life to Him, then each of us, in
our own way, leaves an indelible mark on the world
around us. Imagine if we could see for just a fleeting
moment the impact of our daily choices and actions
on the world around us. What would we see?
Hope impacts relationships.
One of the greatest struggles we face today is the
ability to have healthy, sustainable, and life-giving
relationships. Mother Foundress herself, although
materially wealthy, struggled with a mother who was
emotionally distant and physically ill most of her life,
having to relate to various governesses and teachers
who came to reside with the family. She also had
to deal with the anger and frustration of her father,
who rejected her religiosity and couldn’t understand
her rejection of all that society could have afforded
her. Childhood friends were few. When given the
opportunity to befriend Jesus, love began to blossom
in her heart. Placing her hope in the Lord, Frances
8

learned how to see and love others through the lens of
Christ. In her own words, she states, “The affection we
entertain for one another must have its foundation in God
and must lead to an ever greater and deeper union with
Him.” (Letter 1 to Mother Gabriel, 1877) 8 With this
premise guiding her relationships, she was able to give
fully of herself while at the same time maintaining places
in her heart that were for God alone. Like our Blessed
Mother, her heart was pierced with many sorrows,
but she pondered these things in her heart and shared
them only with her confessor or spiritual director. She
knew how to set clear boundaries, yet still enjoyed
deep relationships. Mother Foundress had no need to
manipulate or control others or to persuade them to
need her. She was free to enjoy each person for who
they were. Her advice?
“Do not try to appear masterful before the Lord, but aim
to be a child of His love. Argue less, analyze less; love more,
love ardently; rather, pray for the gift of love.” (Letter 15 to
Mother Joanne 1881) 9
“Strive for peace, meekness and also forbearance with
oneself and others; not a forbearance that justifies
wrongdoing, but a gentleness that is serene and humble.
Instead of being angered by detecting another’s or one’s own
faults, let your soul not be perplexed, but turn to the Lord
with deep humility, apologize, acknowledge your failures and
proceed hopefully, cheerfully, starting each day anew. It is a
recognized secret of the spiritual life to be able to convert
one’s failures to the soul’s advantage, namely to humble
oneself positively, radically, within the very depths of the soul.
The Lord loves such souls, and in His incomprehensible love,
he accepts their childlike trust, simplicity and love.” 10
The blessings of hope.
Living in hope is a tall order! The great St. Augustine
tells us, “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names
are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and
Courage to see that things do not remain as they are.” 11
Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd possessed
this kind of hope — a hope that engenders courage, a
hope that can work past the anger and frustration of
present realities, and a hope that transforms from within.
The blessing of this kind of hope produces joy and peace
in the midst of swirling chaos and uncertainty. It offers
protection under God’s watchful eye and sheltering
wing when we turn to Him in trust. It engenders
strength, courage, and boldness in the face of fear and
doubt. It gives us confidence in the ministry we are
called to perform and ultimately it gives us comfort and
confidence in the face of death. Mother Foundress lived
this kind of hope and encourages us to embrace life with
this same Gospel hope.
“And the day came when the risk to remain the same was
greater than the risk to change… it is after all the only hope
for the cocoon to become a butterfly!” 12
Sisters Marietta Osinska, Edyta Krawczyk, Ellen Zak,
Ronald Wlodarczyk, and Barbara Ann Medvesky enjoy
a moment of fun at the Province National Assembly
in 2018.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2024
9

ARTICLES
Questions for
Reflection & Sharing
1. What do you dwell on in the depths of
your heart?
2. What causes unrest within your spirit?
3. What do you need to turn over to the infinite
Mercy of God?
4. How does hope help you to see yourself and
your life differently?
5. Have you ever renounced (“re-announced”)
something in your life — a relationship, a way of
thinking or acting, a pattern of behaving, or an
attachment to things?
6. What did it cost you, personally? How did it
affect your personal freedom?
7. How did it give you hope and draw you more
deeply into God’s love?
8. Can you identify in your own life something
that has shifted within you as you look at your
choices, behaviors, decisions, and activities in
light of the “eternal” and not only this passing
world?
9. What would you like to do differently?
10. Consider your most significant and
impactful relationships. What sustains
these relationships? What tests or
jeopardizes them?
11. Where is Christ in your relationships?
12. What do you need to mend?
13. What is the risk you are being called to take
today? Is it a leap of faith or just a few baby
steps in the right direction?
14. Where is God in the midst of this call?
15. What is the next “right thing” you need
to do?
16. What hope do you hold onto as you look
toward the future?
1 McArdle, A. (1977). “Tomorrow.” Theme song from the musical “Annie.”
2 Paulus, Trina (1972) “Hope for the Flowers” Paulist Fathers.
3 Siedliska, Frances (Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd) (1997)
“Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd: An Autobiography” Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth, Pittsburgh, PA.
4 Siedliska, Frances (Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd) (1976)
“Counsels from the Heart: Extracts from the Intimate Letters of Spiritual
Guidance and Religious Formation” Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Rome, Italy.
5 Ibid.
6 Winowska, Maria (2000) “Journey of The Soul of Frances Siedliska, Foundress
of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.”
7 Siedliska, Frances (Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd) (1997)
“Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd: An Autobiography” Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth, Pittsburgh, PA.
8 Siedliska, Frances (Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd) (1976)
“Counsels from the Heart: Extracts from the Intimate Letters of Spiritual
Guidance and Religious Formation” Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Rome, Italy.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Saint Augustine of Hippo.
12 Paulus, Trina (1972) “Hope for the Flowers” Paulist Fathers.
10

LCWR STIRS HOPE INTO FLAME THROUGH
Transforming Grace INITIATIVE
By Sister Mary Ellen Gemmell
The title “Transforming Grace: The Work of
Transformative Justice” caught my attention immediately
when our Assistant Director of Communications, Sister
Angela Szczawinska, sent me the LCWR information
about it. Without initially reading the description, I took
time to recall the definition of “grace” as defined in
the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “The gift of the
Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us … to associate with
His work … to enable us to collaborate.” As a child, I
learned grace enlightens our minds and strengthens our
wills. That memory prompted me to dig deeper into the
LCWR call.
I spent time thinking about “transforming”; that is, “lifechanging
experiences of conversion” that are already a
part of my life and the lives of others. Intrigued by the
subtitle, “The Work of Transformative Justice,” I read
the LCWR invitation, which encompasses prayerful
consideration and actions that aim to bring about peace,
centering on skills that can lead to sound decisionmaking
throughout our election process in the USA.
Hope, confidence, trust, and joy flooded my mind as I
studied the details of this LCWR initiative. I knew from
experience by working with our province’s Peace and
Justice and our Communications committees, we could
invite and empower others to spread the word with
new methods and new expressions, new means, and new
ardor as St. John Paul II inspired us.
The song “Pass It On” clearly states, “It only takes a
spark to get a fire glowing,” and the words of Jesus, “I
have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were
already blazing,” (Luke 12:49) along with its translation
in Spanish, “He venido a encender fuego a la tierra; y
¡cómo desearía que ya estuviera ardiendo!” added to the
enthusiasm within me.
So, along with Sister Maria Kruszewski, Sister Michele
Collins, the provincial administration team, the Peace
and Justice Committee and the Communications
Director Emily Dillon, and Assistant Director Sister
Angela Szczawinska, we invited all our sisters throughout
the province to embark on the journey of “Transforming
Grace,” asking them to consider utilizing their talents to
share the materials with others.
The spark has already ignited the fire! I have participated
in meetings and faith sharing where the door that
opened the year 2024 in the LCWR reflection served as
an opening to peaceful discussion of differing viewpoints.
In addition, videos and artwork, as well as questions for
reflection along with silent moments, have led groups
to a deeper understanding of challenging situations,
gently inviting dialogue that engenders peace. Inspiration
from the weekly reflections has sparked creativity. The
message is spreading and the fire is glowing and growing.
Sister Maria Kruszewski
shared her own
thoughts as follows:
"The format of each
weekly reflection of
‘Transforming Grace’ is
phenomenal — one page
with a variety of things
to consider! The art is
inspiring, the videos open our minds and hearts to new
ways of seeking a change, and the outcome of shared
experiences is amazing! The thoughts are touching to
my spirit in a special kind of way. … The first reflection
I used was during Advent 2023, when I looked to Jesus’
new birth and was born again as I found hope in
the songs.”
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2024
11

ARTICLES
Sister Maria shared the LCWR initiative with friends at the Franciscan Resource Center
in Pittsburgh, PA, and this is a testimony from Adelina García:
"We at the Franciscan Resource Center in Pittsburgh had not heard of this initiative until
a few weeks ago! Sister Maria Kru told us about it one day during a visit to our center.
We approached our provincial and offered to implement it at our center. We invited our
sisters and participants who come to our events. Today we had our first session and we
had 20 people, religious and laity (about half of each).
"It was on polarization. It was great! Everyone loved it. We used two videos — ‘U.S. and
How to Bridge the Path of Polarization’ and ‘Five Skills Needed in Communication.’ The
videos, reflection questions, music, and prayers were wonderful. People came with trepidation and hesitancy and left
with openness and joy and are looking forward to the next one! Key takeaways: Be open to growth and change, learn
to listen to learn, and ask questions to better see another view.”
Sister Michele Vincent Fisher shared her experiences with “Transforming Grace,”
as follows:
"These weekly doses of inspiration and challenge have been a bedrock for my ongoing
meditation, reflection, and in a particular way, for my daily consciousness examen. The
principles put forth in these prayer experiences can be applied at a core level to any
and all circumstances in which I find myself. Sometimes, it’s so easy to categorize these
nuggets of truth into something pertaining to a realm outside of myself. It would be easy
to say, ‘I’ll think about it someday,’ and then safely tuck it into my ‘to-do’ list. But the
nagging ‘one-liners’ in the songs, poems, prayers, and videos keep coming back to me
with more questions than answers.
"I was struck in a particular way as I listened to Dr. Martin Luther King’s recounting of his ‘Prayer at the Kitchen Table’
and that moment of total surrender to God as he names his fears and anxieties and proceeds to yield to the Spirit’s
higher calling. I ask myself, ‘Do I have the courage, trust, and humility to pray in such a way?’
"I am so grateful to those who have collaborated to create these weekly prayer encounters, and each time I sit down
to begin the week’s reflection, I imagine myself around a glowing campfire, singing, feeling the night breezes in the
trees, and standing side by side in solidarity and communion with those who share this journey of hope. It is a genuine
experience of the great Communion of Saints — earth and heaven united for a few brief moments of encounter.”
Let us keep this fire of Transforming Grace burning. Let us take the time
to reflect on the variety of reflections given by the LCWR and take to
heart the words of St. Paul, “I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God
that you have.” (2 Timothy: 1-6)
LCWR has given us a gift. Let ‘s use it to transform our lives and the lives
of our fellow citizens longing for peace during the challenging days ahead.
“Nothing is impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37)
12

Nazareth Retreat Center
Ministry to the Immigrants
in the Heart of Texas
By Sister Francesca Witkowska in collaboration with Sister Marcella Louise Wallowicz
The United States of America has always been known as a land of possibility and promise of a better life for
immigrants from all over the world. Nazareth Retreat Center (NRC), located on the border of the dioceses
of Dallas and Fort Worth, offers hospitality and programs to those seeking the Lord. Sisters Marietta Osinska,
Barbara Jean Wojnicki, and Edyta Krawczyk were instrumental in beginning the ministry of the NRC, a hidden
treasure in the hills of Grand Prairie, TX, since 2009.
The fastest growing demographic group in Texas are Hispanics, comprising 64% of the state’s population.
Not surprisingly, when calls are received at the NRC, the caller will begin by speaking in Spanish. Although
not all our sisters on staff are fluent in Spanish, the language of love and compassion enables them to respond
to the needs of the Hispanics and other first-generation immigrants who choose NRC for prayer and
retreat opportunities.
NRC provides one-day and overnight retreats in addition to community celebrations, workshops, and
couples retreats, as well as occasional wedding anniversaries. Quinceañeras are celebrated in the chapel.
One recipient of Nazareth hospitality is Talleras de Oration y Vida (TOV), or Workshops of Prayer and Life, a
movement started in Mexico by Father Ignacio Larranaga, OFM.
Private Retreatant
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2024
13

ARTICLES
NRC Mission and Ministry Director Sister Francesca
Witkowska, commenting on the TOV, shared, “We are
witnessing their coming for periodic, silent, one-day
retreats for many years. I am edified how faithfully
they come to our retreat center, spending hours in
silent prayer with their Bibles and prayer books. They
choose to sit under the trees, on lawn chairs, by the
ponds, in the gazebo, or inside the buildings, in the
corners, sometimes where we least expect them,
meditating on the Word of God for a prolonged
period only to share the fruit of their prayer with the
group at the end of their retreat.”
The NRC provides retreatants with a safe space
for an encounter with God their Creator on their
personal journey. In the words of Alejandra, one of
the TOV retreatants, “The retreat center is a place
where I have encountered solitude, silence, and peace
to have intimate time with Jesus. No matter where
we come from or what we are struggling with, after
our silent time we always go home filled with a sense
of belonging and a purpose to continue our mission
as Guides of Prayer and Life Workshops.”
Another TOV member, Alma, who has brought her
groups to the NRC for eight years, shared, “Nazareth
is our home, where we love to keep coming back for
years. It is like coming back home each time we are
here. We love coming here.” In 2023 alone, the NRC
welcomed more than 540 TOV members for their
silent retreats. Spiritual Director Sister Mary Louise
Swift, who welcomes TOV members in their native
Spanish language, shared, “The TOV’s devotion to God
through this disciplined prayer method inspires and
evangelizes me as I see their spiritual boundedness
drawn by Jesus Christ. They come faithfully to our
doors to embrace and celebrate holiness within their
personal and communal lives.”
Hispanic groups of the Neocatechumenal Way also
frequent the NRC. Sister David Sibiski coordinates
this ministry. Last year, 530 adults, not counting
children, were welcomed. They come with their
families to celebrate Eucharist or for days of
catechesis. While the adults have their meetings, the
children play under the care of chaperones.
Jesús, a Neocatechumenal group leader and father
of nine, has brought Neo groups to NRC from the
onset. He emphasized, “We could go somewhere
else, but we love the sisters and we love coming
back to Nazareth to celebrate Eucharist and for our
meetings.” The NRC provides space for weekend,
overnight worldwide marriage encounter retreats,
hosting three to four yearly. The NRC also welcomes
Couples for Christ, a Filipino organization with a
similar mission of strengthening marriages in the spirit
of Christ.
Additionally, NRC offers healing retreats such
as Rachel’s Vineyard for women recovering from
abortion, and Project Joseph for men. Dawn of Mercy
Healing Retreats address the needs of women who
were sexually abused. These healing retreats are
offered in Spanish and English.
Another large demographic group served by the
center is the Asian population — in particular,
the Vietnamese and Chinese. Sister Mary Louise
provides programs for these groups and observed,
“Members of the Chinese Catholic Church here in
the Dallas-Fort Worth area found their way to our
NRC to explore the wisdom of nature in revealing
“Nazareth is our home,
where we love to keep
coming back for years.
It is like coming back
home each time we are
here. We love coming
here.” -Alma
14

the presence and activity of God in the world. The
participants directly encountered nature during
retreat days and produced individual expressions
of Asian art in each season’s retreat activities.”
Technology facilitates the ability of the NRC to
expand the outreach of selected retreat program
presentations to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Canada
via Zoom.
Each year, Sister Emmanuela Le prepares a Vietnamese
youth group from St. Joseph Parish for the sacrament
of confirmation. Other Vietnamese groups come for
their catechetical retreats and the Ignatian Spiritual
Exercises. The NRC hosts private retreats for
multinational participants. A recent retreatant, Sister
Duyen Nguyen, FMSR, commented, “The sisters have
shared with me their love, care, and prayers. I feel at
home. Thanks be to God. I have had a fruitful retreat.”
In recent weeks, the center has welcomed individuals
from Tanzania, Spain, Puerto Rico, and cities across
the United States. In 2023, the center accommodated
more than 3,100 retreatants, more than half of them
first-generation immigrants to Texas.
Sister Francesca expressed her gratitude to Sister
Monika Brulinska, local superior, and all the sisters
in the local community in Grand Prairie for the
support given to the NRC. For the past 15 years, the
sisters have supported this ministry of hospitality and
spiritual care for thousands of retreatants each year,
allowing them to experience the spirit of Nazareth.
TOV Group ending their day of silent retreat and inviting
Sister Francesca Witkowska to take a picture with them by
the Grotto of Our Lady.
Neocatechumenal group at the NRC, fall 2023.
TOV group led by Alma in Nazareth Retreat Center,
Nov 2023.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2024
15

DEVELOPMENT
Faith & Family
Intertwined
By Amanda Giarratano
It is truly a beautiful thing to see how the love of
Nazareth shapes families. For Kathy Wyszynski, the
mingling of her family history with that of our sisters got
its start nearly a century ago and continues to this
very day.
It all began in 1939 when Kathy’s parents, Dorothy and
Richard Wyszynski, met in the first grade while attending
St. John Cantius School in Philadelphia. There they were
taught by many of the sisters of the Holy Family of
Nazareth, who were serving the parish and school. This
early connection would come to be a lifelong relationship
that would span generations, with these two young
children having no idea of the journey their lives would
take together.
While in high school, Dorothy and Richard briefly parted
ways when Dorothy continued her education with our
sisters at Nazareth Academy High School, an all-girls
institution, while Richard went on to an all-boys high
school. Among Dorothy’s classmates was Peggy Seigman,
Mary Rosica, and the late Sister Jeanette Lawlor, who
would go on not only to teach at St. John Cantius school
but also serve as principal at Nazareth Academy, and later
on, the Provincial Superior of Immaculate Conception
Province, Philadelphia. But there was something special
calling the Wyszynskis back to Nazareth.
Years later, Dorothy and Richard married and had four
children of their own who were all born at Nazareth
Hospital in Philadelphia, the very hospital founded by
our sisters. The young couple allowed their daughters
to decide where they would attend high school, but for
Kathy and her sisters, there was nowhere they felt at
home but Nazareth Academy.
“Our parents had given us a choice as to where we
wanted to go,” Kathy explained, “but when we all visited
Nazareth and met with the sisters and staff, we all decided
that it was the place for us. The 'sisterhood' of the school,
the focus on an academic curriculum, the mission of the
sisters, and the fact that my mother and two aunts had
attended helped quite a bit in our decision.”
It was during her time as a Nazareth Academy student
that Kathy became acquainted with many of the very
sisters who had taught her own mother, including Sister
Francesca Onley and Sister Flavia Wawrzynowicz, who
taught Spanish language classes at Nazareth Academy for
20 years. She had even mistaken Kathy for her mother
due to their great familial resemblance, calling her by her
mother’s name more than once!
16

In her own words, Kathy’s connection to Nazareth
“became more of a family affair” as the years passed,
seeing her extended family continue the tradition
of sending their children to Nazareth Academy with
a maternal aunt becoming part of the Wesolowski
family by marriage – and cousin to Sisters Regis and
Loretta Wesolowski, and to Sister Maria Annette
Mallen. While residing in Philadelphia, Kathy and
her parents could also be found attending events at
Mount Nazareth, including the Nazareth Academy
High School Graduation in 2017 with Sister Maureen
McGarrity and Sister Virginette Rypniewski, as
well as the NAHS Alumnae Mass. Even years after
graduating, Kathy still felt a draw towards giving back
to Nazareth.
“I feel strongly that the educational and professional
successes I have had throughout my career were due
in part to the sisters and my time at Nazareth,” Kathy
explained. “The sisters instilled a bit of confidence in
me that I didn't have in myself and that carried me
through my career.” Kathy went on to serve on the
board at Nazareth Academy alongside both sisters
who had taught her and sisters who had taught her
parents as well.
Even after a move out of state that made
continuing on the school board too difficult, Kathy
has remained active within the Nazareth community
by becoming the Class of 1977 Ambassador. It was a
moment of great joy when in 2017, 40 years after her
own graduation from Nazareth Academy, Kathy was
able to present her niece, Paige, with her diploma.
It’s wonderful to see the impact that our sisters have
had on the Wyszynski family throughout the years.
They are one of the many families the sisters have
served with a love that extends beyond one another
to the community at large and for God. We cannot
wait to see what the future brings for the Wyszynski
family and for our sisters as they continue this
journey of love, faith, and family together.
NAHS Class of 1951 Reunion Luncheon.
Sister Maureen McGarrity, Sister Virginette
Rypniewski, Kathy Wyszynski - Nazareth Academy
High School Graduation, 2017.
The late Sister Jeannette Lawlor, Dorothy Wyszynski,
Mary Rosica - Nazareth Academy Class of '51
classmates - NAHS Alumnae Mass.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2024
17

DEVELOPMENT
We Invite You to Participate in Our
Prayer Remembrance Program
When a relative, friend, or loved one passes away, celebrates a birthday or anniversary, or is
experiencing ill health, you can express your sentiments, honor them in a meaningful way, and offer a
gift to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth – USA, Inc. Those you choose to honor will share in
the spiritual works and prayer of the sisters and be remembered during daily liturgy and a special Mass
each month. Their name will also be placed in the Prayer Remembrance book located in the chapel at
our Provincialate House. Contributions to the Prayer Remembrance program are used to help care
for our elderly and infirmed sisters as well as those who continue to minister for and with families.
If you would like to participate in the Prayer Remembrance program, order from our website
(nazarethcsfn.org/donate/request-spiritual-greeting-cards), or call us at 847-298-6760 ext. 143, email
us at csfn_development@nazarethcsfn.org, or write us at Development Office, Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth – USA, Inc., 310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016-1211. We will send you as
many greeting cards as you would like, so you can send them to your relatives or friends as well as a
convenient reply envelope for your contribution.
18

Why Not Host a Facebook
Fundraiser to Support
Our Sisters?
Did you know you can help us raise money to support
our sisters by setting up your own birthday fundraiser
on Facebook?
So many people are already accustomed to using Facebook to send birthday
greetings to their friends and loved ones that it seems a natural progression to
request people make donations to your favorite nonprofit in honor of your birthday.
The gift allows those who care about you a way to honor your birthday and
provides much-needed funding to an organization you hold in esteem.
There are two ways to do this and both are easy!
If you have your birthday listed in your Facebook profile, you will receive a prompt about two weeks prior to your
birthday encouraging you to host a fundraiser in honor of your special day. Setting up the fundraiser takes just a few
clicks. Once the fundraiser is started, your friends will see it and can donate quickly through a simple process, publicly
or anonymously.
If your birthday is not included in your Facebook profile, go to the CSFN Facebook page (facebook.com/csfn.usa), click
the Fundraisers tab at the top of the news feed, then click “Raise Money.” A few clicks later, your fundraiser will be
ready to go and you can then share the Fundraiser with your friends.
MEMORIAL DONATIONS
Donations in memory of a deceased sister may be mailed to the Development Office, Sisters of the Holy Family
of Nazareth – USA, Inc., 310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016. Please include a note with the name of the
sister in whose memory you are giving. Donations may also be made online at nazarethcsfn.org/donate.
Donate To Support Our Sisters
Mail: Send donations to the Development Office, 310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016.
Website: nazarethcsfn.org — click “Donate” to use a credit card or checking account.
Facebook: facebook.com/csfn.usa — click “Donate”
Call: (847)298-6760, ext. 237, our Development Office
Text-2-Give: Text the word REGISTER to (847) 994-4483. You will then be asked to
provide contact and credit card information.
SCAN TO DONATE!
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2024
19

310 N River Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60016
www.nazarethcsfn.org
Non-profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
Paid
Des Plaines, IL
Permit No. 340
SPIRITUAL GREETING CARDS ORDER FORM
If you would like to order spiritual greeting cards, please complete the order form below.
You are welcome to order as many of each type as you would like. Our office will mail your cards.
Please send me Prayer Remembrance cards in the amounts I have indicated:
____ General Card
____ Birthday Card - Scenic
____ Memorial Card
____ Birthday Card - Floral
____ Thinking of You Card
____ Get Well Card
____ Anniversary Card
____ Thank You Card
Please return your completed card order form to:
Development Office, 310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016.
Name_____________________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________________
City_________________________________________State________ Zip Code__________
We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, are called to extend the Kingdom of God’s love among ourselves and
others by living the spirit of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph whose lives were centered in the love of God and one another.
We witness to this love through dedicated service to the Church, especially in ministry to the family.