NC-2025-Spring

Nazareth
SISTERS OF
THE HOLY
FAMILY OF
NAZARETH
HOLY FAMILY
PROVINCE
// VOL 19 //
// NO 1 //
SPRING 2025
CONNECTIONS
FAMILY IS THE HEART OF OUR MISSION
Way of Love
STORY ON PAGE 9

MESSAGE FROM THE
PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR
Dear Friends,
The theme for this edition of Nazareth Connections
is Way of Love. As I draft this letter, I am sitting
in a Chicago airport on a day midway between
Valentine’s Day and Good Friday, two days when we
are automatically drawn to remember ways we have
loved and been loved. Romantic love, platonic love, or
sacrificial love are ways of expressing how meaningful
others are in our lives.
Throughout this magazine, you will see pictures
and hear stories of our sisters and their grace-filled
experiences of loving and being loved. As ministers of
God’s love, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
focus attention on building the Kingdom of God’s love
here on earth, something we have done for the past
150 years. In the history of the Church, our history is a
mere fraction of time. Yet, when you think about it, 150
years of faithful service to any initiative is significant
and a reason to celebrate.
Some of you will be joining us on the pilgrimage and while
we would like to have everyone who is interested, space
is limited. To inquire about any remaining spaces, please
visit bit.ly/150thJubileePilgrimage. If you are not able to join
us in Rome, we look forward to seeing you at one of our
regional events. As you might expect, the pilgrimage is not
without expense. If you are interested in supporting our
sisters who will be participating in this important event
in our history, please scan the QR code below or go to
bit.ly/150JubileeDonation to donate.
In this year of jubilee, may we all continue to find Ways
to Love one another. In doing so, we continue our call to
build God’s Kingdom on earth.
With love and prayers,
Sister Thea Krause
Provincial Superior
Throughout this year, we will be celebrating with you.
We will be praying for you and your families. We
will be gathering with you in many of our cities and
communities across the United States where we have
served. We will remember the ways in which you have
touched our lives and we yours. For a week around the
First Sunday of Advent 2025, as we close this year of
jubilee, we will make a pilgrimage to Rome. The Eternal
City is not only the center of the Church but the center
of our Nazareth Congregation. It is where we were
founded and from where our Foundress journeyed
on her way to America. There, we will meet other
Nazareth sisters from around the world who, like us,
have tried to share God’s love with those whom they
encounter.
Scan the QR code
to donate!
2

VOLUME 19 //
NUMBER 1 //
SPRING 2025
Nazareth Connections is published
three times a year by the Sisters of
the Holy Family of Nazareth
in the USA.
Editor:
Emily Dillon
Contents
4
5
8
9
10
11
12
13
15
16
17
ARTICLES
150th Anniversary Celebration
A Jubilee Pilgrimage
Nazareth’s 150 Years
Above All Have Love
Mother Foundress & Nazareth
Nazareth’s Legacy
Hidden Beauty of Nazareth
Through the Looking Glass
IN MEMORIAM
Sister M. Beata Czyl
of Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sister Elaine Marie Klugiewicz
of Victim of Love
Sister Maria Nahida Al Sawa
of God’s Love and Peace
Sister M. Delores Platko
of Jesus, Infinite Love
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/aboutus.
Contact Sister Emmanuela Le, CSFN, National Vocation Director, at
(682) 203-9675 or vocations@nazarethcsfn.org.
18
19
DEVELOPMENT
Facebook Fundraiser
Prayer Remembrance Program
Our 150th Jubilee logo depicts the Holy
Family portrayed in an irregular heart shape,
symbolizing St. Joseph and Mary surrounding
Jesus with their love. Designed by Father Rafal
Ochojski, MSF, in cooperation with Sister Rafala
Kamecka (Warsaw Province).
Sisters in the Paul VI Audience Hall in Vatican
City, from left to right: Sisters Clare Marie
Butt, Thea Krause, Janice Marie Blados, Janice
Fulmer, Rebecca Sullivan, and Daniela Bronka.
Our Mother Foundress, Frances Siedliska, the
Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd.
Proofreaders:
Sister Angela Szczawinska
Sister Pia Marie Shelton
Katherine Barth
Sister Lucille Madura
Amanda Giarratano
Province Communications Committee:
Sister Angela Szczawinska
Sister Pia Marie Shelton
Amanda Giarratano
Katherine Barth
Heidi Scheuer
Sister Emmanuela Le
Sister Maria Magdalena Rybak
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
communications@nazarethcsfn.org
nazarethcsfn.org
facebook.com/csfn.usa
instagram.com/csfn.usa
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2025
3

Join Us In Prayer As We
Celebrate 150 Years Of God’s
Faithful Love To Us.
We are pleased to share that we have been granted by the Holy Father the special
grace of a jubilee indulgence for the entire year (from the First Sunday of Advent,
December 1, 2024, until November 30, 2025). This plenary indulgence is both for
all our sisters who will pray in the private chapels of our communities, as well as for
all those who, during this period, will join us in devotional and liturgical celebrations,
particularly in the chapels of our convents as well as through the recitation of the
Prayer to the Holy Family:
O Holy Family, bless and protect all the families of the world.
Safeguard their unity, fidelity, integrity, and dignity.
Enable them to live according to God’s law that they may fulfill their sublime vocation.
May their lives be a reflection of yours and may they enjoy your presence forever in heaven. Amen.
Our 150th Jubilee Logo:
The logo depicts the Holy Family
portrayed in an irregular heart shape. The
outline of the heart symbolizes St. Joseph
and Mary who are surrounding Jesus with
their love. Jesus is shown as hidden within
them and, at the same time, as the center
of the Holy Family.
The logo was designed by Father Rafal
Ochojski, MSF, in cooperation with
Sister Rafala Kamecka, CSFN (Warsaw
Province).
Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd
4

ARTICLES
A Jubilee Pilgrimage
to Rome
By Sister Rebecca Sullivan
The sisters in Holy Family Province were asked to submit
their name if they were interested in attending the opening
celebration for our 150th anniversary of our founding in
Rome, the first Sunday of Advent, which was on December
1, 2024.
“What are the odds of my going?” I thought as I submitted
my name. “It was worth a try.” A few weeks later after
a Sunday dinner in Des Plaines, a box was brought in
containing the names of 18 sisters. Of those, three names
would be drawn. We were all eager to hear who would
be making this trip to Rome. As the names were pulled,
my name was called along with the names of Sisters Clare
Marie Butt and Daniela Bronka. I sat stunned; I was going
to Rome on this wonderful trip for our jubilee celebration.
This awesome adventure started the day before
Thanksgiving. I flew from Chicago to Philadelphia and met
up with Sisters Clare Marie and Daniela. From there, we all
traveled together to Rome. We had a chance to rest before
the noon meal. When we walked into the dining room, the
U.S. delegation — which also included Sisters Janice Fulmer,
Janice Marie Blados, and Thea Krause, who had not yet
arrived — was treated to a Thanksgiving meal Roman style.
It was a very thoughtful gesture on the sisters’ part and we
enjoyed the meal very much.
Friday morning, there was a knock on my door. Sister
Janice Marie asked if I would like to go shopping with her
and Sister Janice Fulmer. As we rode into Rome, we passed
many stores that had signs in their window that said, “Black
Friday Sales,” or, “Black Friday Week Sales.” I was shocked.
I said, “Wait, I’m in Rome, not in the U.S. They have Black
Friday Sales, and they don’t even celebrate Thanksgiving.”
Goes to show we live in a global world. We had a fun day
exploring the many shops in the shadows of Vatican City.
After our two days of resting and getting used to the time
difference, the real reason for our trip began Saturday
morning. Those of us (the other sisters representing our
other provinces or countries where we ministered) who
wished took part in a shortened version of “Walking in
the Footsteps of Mother Foundress.” We visited several
churches she would pray at and reflect on her newly
established Congregation. We had Mass at Santa Maria
Maggiore with Father Jordan Turano, OP in English. This
was the church where Mother Foundress asked for graces
needed for our American roots to be blessed and fruitful.
We met at Machiavelli (our Motherhouse) with the sisters
living there, then met the sisters not on the walking tour
for a pizza lunch. There were many pizzas to choose from;
who would have thought mashed potatoes on pizza could
taste so good? Later as I reflected on the day, it amazed me
as I walked through the city — not for the first time — that
a city could be that old and have seen so much history and
survived it all, and to know our Mother Foundress walked
these same streets just boggles my mind.
Sister Rebecca Sullivan walking with Sister Greta Marie to a tour
of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy.
Sisters posing in front of the Basilica della Santa Casa in Loreto, Italy,
from left to right: Sisters Clare Marie Butt, Janice Marie Blados, Janice
Fulmer, Rebecca Sullivan, Thea Krause, and Daniela Bronka.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2025
5

6
The big day came to celebrate the opening of our jubilee
year! Sunday, December 1, 2024, started out on the cool
side and sunny. Mass started by the opening of our own
“Holy Doors,” the doors that open directly from the chapel
to the outdoors. Cardinal Grzegorz Rys celebrated the Mass
in Italian. For those of us who didn’t know Italian, it was
translated into English and Polish simultaneously with the
help of technology and two very talented sisters. The chapel
was full, and the singing was touching; the choir consisted of
sisters from around the world. In all, it was a very prayerful
experience, a day I will cherish for a long time. After, we
were invited for a festive lunch. The food was delicious
and the conversations were lively. We ended the day in
the evening with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with
praise and worship music.
On Monday, we boarded a bus and went to Loreto. This
trip almost didn’t happen for me. The schedule for the day
said we would leave promptly at 6:00 a.m. Well, the night
before I set my alarm for 5:00 a.m. The next morning,
I woke up and the clock said 5:52 a.m. Why didn’t the
alarm go off? I dressed and grabbed my coat, shoes, and
the bag containing my breakfast and ran. As I ran out the
door dropping my shoes, the image of Maria Van Trapp
running through the abbey because she was late for prayers
popped into my head. Both the front and back doors of
the bus were open, and I slipped into the back door. The
clock on the bus said 6:08 a.m. and a second headcount
was conducted — all were accounted for and off we went.
After I put my shoes on and caught my breath, I pulled out
my phone. The alarm said 5:00 p.m., not a.m. Thank you,
guardian angel, for waking me up. The trip going and coming
was mostly in the dark, but once the sun rose, the scenery
was awe inspiring; the Alps were covered in snow.
Loreto was an important place for Mother Foundress to
pray as she sorted out what the image of the community
would be. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked
into the Holy House; it was much smaller than I thought
it would be. Nonetheless, to stand in a holy place that
is centuries old and touching its walls was an awesome
experience. Again, the thought of our Blessed Foundress in
this very spot was mind boggling. Yet in a way, I felt a closer
connection with her.
Yet another busy day awaited on Tuesday, December 3.
For those of us who wanted to go, there was a private
guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica with Father Waldemar
Turek. The tour was about an hour-and-a-half long and was
interesting. Sister Karolina was again our translator, but
most of the time it was hard to hear because of so many
people in the Basilica. Such a rich history within those walls
is amazing; if only the walls could talk. After, we took public
transportation to St. Bartholomew Church.
Sisters from around the world gathering for the Opening
of the 150th jubilee year in Rome.
Sister Rebecca Sullivan greeting Pope Francis.

In 1999, then-Pope John Paul II dedicated this church to
honor all the modern martyrs of the Church. He wanted
the people to know ordinary people can become saints. We
toured the museum and looked at all the displays of secondclass
relics of the martyrs. A second-class relic is something
used and/or created by a person who was declared a
martyr. It was touching to see all the personal items and
stories behind them. Later, there was a solemn prayer
service to enshrine the relic representing Blessed Stella and
Her Ten Companions. The relic was a tabernacle curtain
made by one of the sisters. This was another honor for our
sisters who died doing a courageous act.
After a late night, we had an early departure on public
transportation at 5:50 a.m. This was to be the last of
our great adventures that week. We were on our way to
Vatican City for a private audience with Pope Francis.
Once we arrived at the appointed gate, we waited longer
than planned because the Pope had a meeting with a
diplomat from another country. We didn’t mind; we were
just excited to be there. We waited yet again in the Paul VI
Audience Hall. Here, we found ourselves on the platform
where the Pope sits during his indoor audience. The hall
looked much different from this angle. Finally, we were
ushered into a private room big enough for our large
group.
When Pope Francis finally entered, we were very excited
to be in the same room as him. He spoke to us in Italian,
but we had his words printed in English at our place. He
congratulated us on beginning our Congregation’s 150th
anniversary celebration at the start of a new liturgical year.
He went on to say, “I pray, then, that your celebrations
will help the members of your Congregation, and all who
assist in its various apostolates, to grow in contemplative
“I LEFT ROME FILLED
WITH NEW HOPE THAT OUR
CONGREGATION IS STILL ON
THE RIGHT PATH AFTER
150 YEARS.”
trust in the Incarnate Son of God, especially in the Blessed
Sacrament and in the people you serve.” Toward the end
of his address, he said, “May your communities always be
‘thresholds’ in and through which those families that are
the focus of your charism can find refuge, hope, and peace
in Christ our Savior.” After he finished speaking to us, we
were allowed to come forward and personally greet him.
My mind was blank as I took my turn to greet him. I was
so nervous when it was my turn; I mumbled it was an
honor to meet him, and I walked away. As I walked away,
I thought, “I’m never going to wash my hand again,” but
then I said to myself that could be yucky, so I better wash
my hand.
I left Rome filled with new hope that our Congregation is
still on the right path after 150 years. The spirit of Mother
Foundress lives in each of us, her spiritual daughters. Yes,
she might do things differently if she were still among us
yet. But in a way, I guess that’s what goes through a parent’s
mind. Did I get my message across? Are they hearing
what I’m saying or am I talking to a brick wall? Is there
something else I should have done? I think she would be
happy to see all we have done in the last 150 years, that
we are still working to make the world a better place to
be by spreading the Kingdom of God wherever we go and
support families the best we can. May God continue to
bless us for another 150 years.
Sisters sharing lunch in Loreto, Italy, from left to right: Sisters Janice Fulmer,
Janice Marie Blados, Thea Krause, Rebecca Sullivan, and Lucyna Fraczek.
Sisters participating in a private Mass celebrated in Loreto, Italy.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2025
7

Nazareth’s 150 Years
By Sister Barbara Sudol, CSFN
150 years is but a grain
Of sand,
In the hourglass of time.
A miniscule atom in
The planetary firmament.
But, for Frances Siedliska,
1875 was the Kairos moment,
The God-given grace
To begin Nazareth.
Prayer for the Holy Father
And for the Church,
A family spirit based on
Love great enduring Love.
Thousands of Sisters
Have heard that clarion call.
Myriads of families
Have been blessed
By Nazareth’s charism.
May generations to come
Be sanctified
By Mother Foundress’s
Vision of hope.
Always enhancing
The Kingdom of His Love.
8

Above All Have Love
By Sister Eileen Therese Przybylowski, CSFN
“We are here today — tomorrow we are gone. The
only thing that will remain for us is what we perform
for God because of our love for Him.”
Ever since I read these words some years ago, I have
been in awe that Mother Foundress shared on her
deathbed how she endeavored to live her life and
mission. She herself was facing “gone tomorrow.”
As we celebrate our 150th jubilee, I offer my gratitude to
and for Mother Foundress and all our sisters who lived
and worked with Love Above All. Two particular sisters
influenced my vocation by living these words through
their ministry of love: Sister Aldona Ostrowska and
Sister Francis Assisia Bilda.
In sixth grade, Sister Aldona invited us students to
keep repeating quietly the words, “My Jesus Mercy,” at
dismissal. As we proceeded down the stairway to the
exit, I repeated them. I had a wonderful experience of
talking to Jesus in my heart. I even began the habit of
mental prayer.
In ninth grade, also at dismissal, Sister Francis Assisia
stood with us waiting for the signal to leave. The girls’
line stood quietly but the boys usually started “kidding
around” with Sister, who stood calmly smiling.
One day, arriving home after one such dismissal, I
stopped by a picture of the Sacred Heart and asked
Jesus, “How could Sister be so patient with those
uncooperative boys?” Immediately, inwardly, I heard the
answer, “You can do the same.” My heart leaped with joy
as I was tending in the direction of a religious vocation.
Even my mother noticed this tendency and affirmed
me when I shared it with her. She supported me in my
entrance in 1950. Both Sisters Aldona and Francis Assisia,
Sisters of the Holy Family, shared the spiritual dynamism
of “Above All Have Love” and thus, led to my vocation.
Now, 75 years later, I look back at my religious life and
the life of our Congregation with this perspective. I
have seen and experienced personally and communally
whatever is done through love remains. Love is the seed
growing into a deeper relationship with the Trinity, and
the Holy Family in our mission and ministry. Yes, we
have chosen to follow Mother Foundress’s words and
example, Above All Have Love.
In our mission and ministry, for families for 150 years,
we celebrate and are grateful for Mother Foundress’s
dynamic dedication to love and our faithful following
her example.
From the Article “Above All Have Love,” from the writings
of Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, pages 42-45,
Feast Day Prayer Book for November 21, compiled by Sister
Franciszka Chuda, vice-postulator for her Cause.
Sisters in Rome posing with love around a statue of the Holy Family.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2025
9

Mother Foundress & Nazareth
By Sister Barbara Sudol, CSFN
As I write this memory, I am 64 years in our Nazareth
community. They have been happy years with no regrets.
Initially, I wanted to join the Maryknoll Sisters and to work
in Africa. Then, in high school, I considered joining the
Sisters of St. John the Baptist. However, my mind and heart
always seem to focus on Nazareth.
The two aspects of my Nazareth religious life I cherish
most are my love for Mother Foundress and our Nazareth
charism, which I believe are inextricably bound together. I
read an excerpt from Mother Foundress’s writings every
day and I grow deeper in the conviction that she truly
loved Jesus, and she allowed Him to take over her life.
Her letters to Father Lechert tell the story of a woman
possessed by God whose entire life was the gift of herself
to Him. Mother Foundress constantly urges the sisters to
do the same, to fall more deeply in love with Jesus and not
to keep back anything from Him.
I believe her great love was the impetus that guided her
initial inspiration to found our Nazareth community based
on the Blessed Trinity and modeled on the earthly Trinity of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
Love is ever embracing. Our charism spreads itself to
families in whatever missioning output we are engaged
in. Children and young adults today often do not have or
have not experienced the nurturing love of parents or
from loving adults. We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of
Nazareth, can guide them to a genuine comprehension of
what love is as expressed by our Nazareth charism.
As we celebrate our 150th year as a Congregation, I give
thanks to God for my vocation and for His Guidance in
leading me to Nazareth.
“I BELIEVE HER GREAT
LOVE WAS THE IMPETUS
THAT GUIDED HER INITIAL
INSPIRATION TO FOUND
OUR NAZARETH COMMUNITY
BASED ON THE BLESSED
TRINITY AND MODELED ON
THE EARTHLY TRINITY OF
JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH.”
Our Mother Foundress, Frances Siedliska, the Blessed Mary of Jesus
the Good Shepherd.
10

ARTICLES
Nazareth’s Legacy: Relationship,
Sacredness, & Hiddenness
By Sister Marcelina Mikulska, CSFN
The unexpected happens! Surrendering to God’s Will leads
to timeless peace and richness of insight. Mary of Jesus
the Good Shepherd understood the sacredness of life and
ordinariness. Her experiences did not overwhelm her;
they became her meeting place with God. She immersed
herself in the mindset of “Ecce Ancilla Domini” since
there is a tremendous beauty in fulfilling the Father’s
Will. Therefore, Nazareth’s legacy can be emphasized by
relationships, sacredness, and hiddenness. These aspects
become engraved in our hearts and form the foundation of
our Nazareth vocation.
Our relationships emanate from the Source of All Love.
The Most Holy Trinity is a model for all relationships.
Therefore, the Holy Family contemplates the mystery of
connection between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Also,
“See how they love one another” (Acts 2) should be the
defining statement describing all Sisters of the Holy Family
of Nazareth. In one way or another, we accompany one
another and others in our ministerial work as well. Some of
us facilitate pathways toward healing from anxiety, trauma,
abortion, sexual abuse, and so forth. In a professional and
personal accompaniment, others share their stories and
open their hearts to the mercy of God. Only in a mutual
relationship can the discovery of the infinite love God has
for us occur in the face of our sinfulness and brokenness.
charism. It is a lodestar of calmness and stillness of our
prayer, sacrifice, exhaustion, frustration, and so forth. While
going through these daily encounters, we find the meaning
and transformation of our pain, profound union with God,
and fidelity to the Holy Spirit. This is exactly what the
Eleven Martyred Sisters of Nowogródek endured in
intense yet abbreviated ways. Let us be empowered to use
our own suffering as a gift to build the Kingdom of God in
our hearts, communities, and ministries.
The unforeseen happens in the simplicity of Nazareth. God
surprises us constantly with His love and compassion. He
is our good God. Even when we feel He defers, He knows
exactly what he is doing, and He always comes on time
with His grace. Through the looking glass, we can proclaim,
“Fiat Mihi Secundum Verbum Tuum,” and accept it as
Nazareth’s rich and timeless legacy as exemplified by the
Holy Family.
Sacredness is experienced when we understand we are
called and set apart. Through our vocation in Nazareth,
we are humbly favored by our spouse, the Intelligent
Designer, who transcends our ordinary experiences.
This all-embracing sacredness is the greatest gift of our
Nazareth in which the King swells! He is present in the
Eucharist, in the quiet of our chapels. “Ecce Regnum Dei
intra vos est.”
Furthermore, Divine Love is present in our hearts when
we love one another, when we reintegrate the noxious and
shattered pieces of our lives into wholeness and holiness.
The hiddenness of Christ’s salvific work is present in our
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2025
11

Hidden Beauty of Nazareth
By Sister Mary Frances Przybylski, CSFN
The cross each sister receives at her First Profession and
that lies over the heart of every Sister of the Holy Family
of Nazareth — and has for the past 150 years — carries a
timeless, wondrous message from none other than Jesus,
Himself, which reads: “Behold, the Kingdom of God is
Within You!” For our dear Mother Foundress, this is the
reason, the very heart, for our existence in the church —
a deep, awesome mystery of God’s Love for His People, for
each of her daughters and we, for each other. In Mother’s
own words:
“O, GOD’S KINGDOM
OF LOVE IS HIDDEN ON
THE HEART OF EACH OF
MY SISTERS. THIS IS MY
GREATEST JOY!”
The following is a touching memory in my life that
illustrates and taught this to me more clearly. The precious
memory that held deeply in my heart took place in a
Friendly’s with an encounter with a small child and one of
our senior sisters. As we were standing in line to pay our
bill, a 5-year-old little girl spontaneously reached out, taking
Sister’s hand into hers, and gently ran her tiny fingers over
the gnarled, wrinkled hand of years of hard work. She then
looked into the face of Sister with such awe and reverence
and remarked “You’re beautiful!” A quiet stillness came over
everyone. It seemed at that moment, time stood still. People
gathered around to see the “beauty” and the source of the
remark. The child saw beauty as only God sees.
Sister was stunned. With tears in her eyes and a smile on
her face, she gave a special thank you hug to the little one
who recognized the hidden beauty within her.
Jesus taught, Mother Foundress encourages, and the eyes of
a child sees. Behold, the Kingdom of God is within and the
very Beauty of God hidden is in the face of one another!
Sisters praying in the Chapel of Machiavelli, also considered the Mother
House of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
12

Through the Looking Glass
By Sister David Sibiski, CSFN
Nazareth’s rich and timeless legacy is LOVE! Looking
back, God was the Initiator, and Blessed Mary of
Jesus the Good Shepherd the vehicle in bringing our
Congregation to birth. “Fiat Voluntas Tua — Thy Will
Be Done,” the still small voice that echoed in the
heart of Frances as a young girl waited many years
before the right moment — God’s moment! The heart
listened in prayer and responded, looking deeply within,
peering gently at the wealth of treasured graces given
so generously throughout the years of waiting. The
bounteousness of God’s abundance is God’s gift to all,
and Frances knew that voice by listening intently in
her heart. It challenged her to leave her comfort zone
and take a risk while trusting wholeheartedly in the
One who provides everything. Through prayer, Frances
found the confidence to see God in all things and in
all people. Her relationship to God was strong and
solid. She connected easily with others giving them
hope, hope in the God who loves them and hope in
themselves. Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd leaves
a legacy of love. How fortunate as Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth to have such a holy example to
follow. We continue to strive to be “one mind in the
truth and one heart in charity.”
Sister David Sibiski posing in front of the Basilica of the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2025
13

14

MEMORIAM
In Memoriam
A TIME TO MOURN
Sister M.
Beata Czyl of
Immaculate Heart
of Mary (Harriet
Helen)
May 3, 1926 –
January 7,2025
Harriet Helen, the
third of five children
of Michael and Lucy Czyl, was born on May 3, 1926, and
baptized just six days later, May 9, at St. John the Baptist
Church in Harvey, IL. While growing up at home, only
Polish was spoken, so Harriet was called Jadzia or Jadwisia.
She attended St. Susanna School, a half-hour’s walk from
her home; there, she was taught by the Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth.
At age 14, she left home for Des Plaines and began her
high school education at Villa Nazareth, comprised mostly
of aspirants and postulants. Harriet became a postulant
in 1942 and graduated from Holy Family Academy. She
became a novice in 1943, made her First Profession on
August 4, 1946, and her Perpetual Vows on August 25, 1952.
Following her First Profession, Sister Beata embarked on
her college education and eventually graduated with a
B.S.Eds. from Loyola University. Years later, she received a
certificate in theology from Xavier University. Sister’s first
teaching assignment was at St. Hedwig School in Chicago.
Other assignments took her to St. Ann’s and St. Michael’s
(Chicago), St. Andrew’s (Calumet City), St. Thomas
Aquinas (Dallas), St. Vincent de Paul (Mott, ND), St.
Bernard (Belfield, ND), and St. Adalbert School (Whiting,
IN). Her teaching ministry was interrupted for two years
while she served as the local superior in Nazarethville caring
for our retired sisters.
On February 14, 1982, Superior General Mother Medarda
called Sister Beata to consider taking on the position of
vice-provincial superior in Texas and was officially installed
on August 28, 1982. Then in 1988, a new vice-provincial
administration was installed, and Sister Beata was asked to
remain as treasurer, a position she held until the formation
of one province in 2007. In September 1988, Sister Beata
assumed the role of editor of the province publication “The
Round-up,” became responsible for the construction of the
cemetery, and became the director of the Association of
the Holy Family in Grand Prairie the following year.
Among her treasured memories were pilgrimages to the
Holy Land and to Lourdes. She enjoyed gardening with
flowers, especially roses. Sister loved to grow and tend
her roses and other flowers. They were gifts to her sisters
when they graced the chapel or dining room table on a
special feast day.
May Sister Beata rest in God’s Eternal Peace and enjoy
the bliss of heaven for all eternity.
Sister Elaine
Marie Klugiewicz
of Victim of Love
April 26, 1930 –
December 10, 2024
Elaine Marie
Klugiewicz was born
in Chicago to Mary
(Sikorski) and John
Klugiewicz, the second of three children. She was baptized
at St. Wenceslaus Church on May 18, 1930, and given
the name Elaine. The family lived in St. Wenceslaus Parish
on the north side of Chicago. When she turned 6, Elaine
began her primary education at St. Wenceslaus School.
Later, her family moved, and Elaine found herself in second
grade at St. Casimir School, which later became Our Lady
of Tepeyac School and Parish and later Mother of the
Americas Parish.
Elaine began to think about becoming a teacher and
religious sister when she was assigned to look after a
second-grade class in eighth grade. After graduation, Elaine
enrolled in the local public high school, after which she
chose to attend Holy Family Academy, sponsored by the
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. After two years of
high school, she decided to enter Nazareth. Within two
weeks, Elaine found herself in the Aspirancy Program of the
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Elaine continued her education at Holy Family Academy
until she became a postulant on August 15, 1947, and
entered the novitiate on July 25, 1948, receiving the name
of Sister M. Deodata. She pronounced her First Temporary
Vows on August 5, 1950, and began her teaching ministry in
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2025
15

16
September at St. Ann School on the south side of Chicago.
For the next six years, she taught at Assumption B.V.M.
School and St. Michael Archangel School.
Sister Elaine professed Perpetual Vows on August 15, 1956,
in Des Plaines, IL, taking the mystery of Victim of Love. She
continued her ministry of teaching at St. Michael School.
In 1958, she was transferred to Texas, which was a viceprovince
of the Chicago Sacred Heart Province. She spent
the next 12 years there teaching in several elementary
schools, namely St. Thomas Aquinas, Holy Family of Nazareth,
and St. Luke schools.
While in Texas, Sister returned to the Chicago area
during the summer to continue her education, obtaining
a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Loyola
University and a Master of Arts degree in library science
from Rosary College, now Dominican University. Sister
Elaine was assigned as high school librarian at St. Ann
School, where she ministered for the next six years.
In 1978, she was assigned to Holy Family Academy as
the librarian. In 1983, she also lived and served as local
superior at St. Josaphat Convent. The following year, she
was chosen to be a core member at the newly established
Nazareth House of Prayer in Schiller Park, where she
remained for five years serving also as local superior.
In 1991, Sister Elaine Marie moved to St. Emily Parish
Convent in Mount Prospect, IL, while taking a position
as director of Religious Education at St. Patrick Parish in
Dixon, IL. After six years, Sister Elaine returned to Des
Plaines and was appointed local superior at Nazarethville,
where she would serve for the next six years. In 2003, she
took time for a sabbatical and then returned to religious
education as director at St. Patricia Parish in Hickory Hills.
In 2009, Sister was assigned to the Formation Community
in Grand Prairie, TX. In 2010, she returned to Des Plaines
as part of the Formation Community and worked with
the Association of the Holy Family. She retired from active
ministry in May 2017 and lived in Divine Love Community.
In 2018, Sister Elaine was transferred to Nazarethville as a
resident and enjoyed a much-deserved “retired life,” able
to relax in the presence of her God recalling with gratitude
the many blessings she had received during her long and
fruitful life.
Sister Elaine Marie passed away quietly and peacefully
on December 14, 2024, and was laid to rest at All
Saints’ Cemetery.
Sister Maria
Nahida Al Sawa
of God’s Love and
Peace
July 6, 1964 –
December 28, 2024
Born on July 6, 1964,
in Damascus, Syria,
Nahida received her
baptism and confirmation in the Antioch Greek Orthodox
Church on October 20, 1964. Her parents, Suleman Al
Sawa and Rosien Akel, raised her and her one sister in
Damascus. Her birth mother died when Nahida was 7
years old. Her father eventually remarried and had three
more sons.
Nahida received her primary and high school education
in local schools. In her college education, she majored in
accounting. With seven-and-a-half-months of English, she
went on to work in an insurance agency and tobacco
company as a secretary and accountant.
One day, a Jesuit priest asked her to teach Arabic to
two of our Holy Family sisters who would be coming to
Damascus. For a time, Nahida entered the community
in Poland. However, the language and culture became
burdensome for her. Mother Maria Teresa Jasionowicz,
superior general at the time, assured her that the doors to
Nazareth are always open and waiting for your return.
Nahida returned to Damascus and the bishop permitted
her to make her vows as a consecrated virgin. After one
year, she made another retreat and was encouraged by
her spiritual director to re-enter the community. Rome,
Italy, was the venue for her Postulancy, Novitiate, and First
Vows. Grand Prairie, TX, was the site where Maria Nahida
pronounced her Final Vows and chose as her mystery
God, Love, and Peace. Sister received permission from the
Congregation for Eastern Churches to make vows in the
Roman Catholic Church.
After studying the English language in England for nine
months and engaging in the study of theology for two
years, she returned to Syria and worked with youth in
catechesis and in the parish kindergarten. Back in Rome,
she worked in the ministry of hospitality. She began
her Final Vow preparation in the Philippines, Rome, and
eventually in Texas where she professed her Final Vows on
March 29, 2009.

As she stated, she lived on Straight Street in Syria for
32 years. This is the same street that St. Paul was called
to after his conversion. In August 2009, Sister Nahida
was transferred to Saint Katherine of Siena Convent
in Philadelphia where she began studies at Holy Family
University. At the same time, she served as the director of
religious education at St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church.
Later she served at Nazareth Academy Grade School
where she was loved by the children. She was a library
assistant, book purchaser, and assisted in the Development
Office until 2024.
For 10 years, she valiantly fought the good fight against
cancer and the effects that the treatments had on her.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents dawned on December
28, 2024, and before the day turned to dusk, the Holy
Innocents came and escorted our Innocent, Sister Nahida,
to her heavenly home.
Sister M. Delores
Platko of Jesus,
Infinite Love
February 18, 1932 –
January 25, 2025
Delores Platko’s
pilgrimage in life began
early morning on a
snowy winter day of February 18, 1932, in Spangler, PA. Her
simple living as a coal miner’s daughter was very uneventful.
She was the eldest of three girls.
Delores was educated in her parish school until fourth
grade and then attended public school. After high school
graduation in 1951, she applied to a nursing program but
was not accepted. She was also told that there was a spot
on her lung. She needed to find a job, so she travelled to
Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. After nine months
away, she returned home for a check-up and the spot was
gone. She was healed. It was suggested she try the radiology
field to be an X-ray technician, so she applied to Mercy
Hospital in Altoona, PA, which was staffed by the Sisters
of the Holy Family of Nazareth. There, she met a sister
who oversaw the X-ray department and was invited to the
provincialate to participate in an Investiture and Temporary
Vows ceremony. On December 8, 1953, Delores entered
the convent.
At her Investiture, she received the name “Laetitia” but
later returned to her baptismal name. When she made
her temporary vows, she was sent to Altoona for nursing
school. After being evaluated, she was instead transferred
to Detroit, MI, to pursue elementary education and
ministered for 11 years. However, her heart led her back
to the desire to go into hospital ministry, so in 1968, she
returned to study radiology. She completed a two-year
program and passed her registry exam. After working
for some time in radiology, she was trained in nuclear
medicine, a specialized department in radiology.
Sister ministered at Mercy Hospital for 30 years before
being transferred in 2003 to the provincialate in Pittsburgh.
Sister engaged in a variety of community services there until
she retired in 2014 when she went to reside at Holy Family
Manor in Pittsburgh.
In her retirement, she remained active, driving, gardening,
and feeding the wildlife on the property. Sister remained
faithful to her prayer life and her local community. She
frequently mentioned the needs of God’s people aloud
during the petitions at Mass as well in her personal prayer.
On January 25, 2025, after the Saturday Vigil Mass Sister
was anointed once again and died an hour later. Her journey
came to an end on a snowy winter evening.
Memorial Donations
We know our sisters have touched the lives of so many
over the years and some may wish to honor the memory
of those who have passed on. Donations in the 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.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2025
17

Why Not Host a Facebook
Fundraiser to Support Our Sisters?
Would you like to share your special day with our
sisters? Thanks to Facebook’s fundraising tools, you
can help support our sisters by setting up your own
birthday fundraiser!
With so many of us having grown accustomed to
sending out birthday greetings over social media,
it seems like a natural progression that we let our
friends and family know that they can choose to make
donations to a favorite nonprofit in honor of our
birthdays! These gifts allow those who care about you
a way to honor the day you arrived in the world and
provide much-needed funding to an organization you
hold dear.
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 Facebook Fundraisers menu
(facebook.com/fundraisers). Then, click “Raise
Money.” Search for and select Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth in the USA. Fill in the missing
details, and a few clicks later, your fundraiser will be
ready to go! Share the link with your friends and invite
them to 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. 137, 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 the QR code to the right.
18

DEVELOPMENT
WE INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR
PRAYER REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM
There are so many reasons to reach out to a friend or
loved one, from joyful celebrations such as birthdays or
anniversaries to more sensitive occasions like an illness or
the loss of someone dear. Our sisters are here to help you
to express your sentiments and honor those special people
in your life in a meaningful way while also offering a gift
to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth – USA, Inc.
When you take part in our Prayer Remembrance Program,
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 names will also
be added to the Prayer Remembrance book that resides in
the chapel at our Provincialate House, and any contributions
made to the Prayer Remembrance Program will be used
to help care for our elderly and infirmed sisters along with
those who continue their mission to minister to families.
If you would like to participate in the Prayer
Remembrance program, order from our website
(nazarethcsfn.org/donate/request-spiritual-greetingcards),
call us at (847) 298-6760 ext. 137, 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. After your request, we will send your
greeting cards so you can send them to your relatives
or friends, as well as a convenient reply envelope for
your contribution.
SPIRITUAL GREETING CARD ORDER FORM
If you would like to order spiritual greeting cards, please complete the order form below.
After your request, our office will send your greeting cards.
Please send me Prayer Remembrance cards in the amounts I have indicated:
____ General Card
____ Birthday Card — Floral
____ Thinking of You Card
____ Birthday Card — Scenic
____ Get Well Card
____ Anniversary Card
____ Memorial 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__________
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // SPRING 2025
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
CELEBRATE OUR
150TH ANNIVERSARY!
In 2025, we, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, are celebrating
150 years since the founding of our Congregation. We invite you to
join us and participate in our Midwest area celebration.
• On July 4, 2025, we will join the Fourth of July Parade in Des
Plaines, IL, with a float depicting our presence in the community
we love and continue to serve.
For more information about the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth,
our mission, and our 150th anniversary, please contact Sister Clare
Marie Kozicki at (847) 298-6760, ext. 237.
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.