reflection by Little Servant Sister of the Immaculate Conception
Transcription
reflection by Little Servant Sister of the Immaculate Conception
Order’s ministry focuses on needy, especially children, poor, sick Imagine, the Little Servant Sisters of ters arrived by steamship at Brookthe Immaculate Conception owe their lyn, N.Y., from their Motherhouse in origin in 1850 as a congregation to a Stara Wies, near Brzozow, Poland, remarkable lay apostle of the landed at the invitation of Father Wojciech gentry in Poland, Blessed Edmund Malusiecki, pastor of St. Mary Parish Bojanowski, celibate, (1814–1871). in Reading, Pa., where they opened a Their founder’s kindergarten and great love for youth ministry in God and devotion a former rectory. The hallmark of the to Mary bore fruit Five years later, in compassionate including almost present St. Joseph service toward two years at an Senior Home on orphaned and unorphanage on an cared for children, old farm in WilmSt. Joseph Terrace with the disadvantaged ington, Del., the its beautiful chapels and the sick. As community was a precursor of providentially led and facilities is comVatican Council to purchase the II, Blessed EdHampton Cutter passion and caring mund’s witness mansion property with the and service of in Woodbridge, love of neighbor with charitable Sisters faithful to had its source funds and the Blessed Edmund’s in the Gospel, added help of dependent on a Father Joseph Urfounding charism. living union with ban, pastor of St. Christ, especially Stephen Parish in Every good person is in the Eucharist, Perth Amboy. The like a candle burning and His Church. new residence, He was beatified a prayer center, for others by Pope St. John became St. Jo—Blessed Edmund Paul II in Warsaw seph’s Home for in 1999. orphans from Today, the Little Servant Sisters 1931 to 1945. Local vocations were continue to witness to Christ world- accepted. Religious education was wide, living the evangelical law of conducted in nearby parishes and total love of God and love of neigh- still continues. During World War bor, in imitation of Mary, the humble II, countless refugees were assisted handmaid of the Lord, and ministering at the convent, clinic and adjacent to the needy, especially children, the hall. The existing Mt. Carmel Home poor, the sick and the elderly. This Visiting Nursing Service was started. mission through baptism and religious Various functions were held and St. consecration with public vows and a Joseph’s Charitable Society was acreligious habit, in a community of tive until the 1990’s. prayer and works of mercy, is a parIn 1968, St. Joseph’s Home beticular relationship with Christ in their came the Provincial House with the vocation. establishment of Holy Trinity ProvIn 1926, five Little Servant Sis- ince, until 1987 when the center of the Heal a child’s heart Prepare a teenager for a successful future Make a difference that will last a lifetime! Become a Treatment Parent Child’s Expenses Reimbursed TREATMENT FAMILY HOMES PROGRAM... Where Children Grow Best in Families Reflection by a Servant Sister Feeling estranged and alone in a foreign country, I turned to God for help. I found it at the Our Lady of Czestochowa Sanctuary, where the Most Sacred and Most Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary waited for me. Steadily my heart was ¿OOHGZLWKJUDFHVRWKDWLWEHJDQWRUDGLate with love. As my fervor for prayer increased so did my thoughts about religious life. I began to comprehend that Little Servant Sister of the Immaculate Jesus was inviting me to a more perfect Conception Sister Joanna Sopala life. Jesus’ words “come and follow me” were persistently on my mind. This is By Sister Joanna Sopala, LSIC what I wanted and desired with all my KHDUWEXWIRXQGLWGLI¿FXOWWREHOLHYH-R\ $WWKHDJHRI,KDGP\¿UVWFKHULVKHG intermingled with fear. encounter with God after the tragic death Consequently, in Czestochowa I of my younger brother. Despairing and met the Little Servant Sisters of the Imwith a broken heart, I searched for con- maculate Conception, whose charism is solation and healing in prayer. God in to love God above all and follow Jesus’ his fatherly goodness dried my tears and example in serving the needy, especially strengthened me. the children, the poor and the sick. This Sadly, the love and faithfulness of charism perfectly matched my yearnmy young heart began to diminish. Slow- ings! Finally, I understood that this was ly, my religious devotions took a back my vocation — to be a Little Servant seat as I became totally absorbed by my Sister. studies. However, God waited patiently What can I say or do in response to for me and did not allow me to forget the Jesus’ love? On my knees, I can repeat precious experience. He poured into my with Mary, “I am the handmaid of the heart an increasing desire to return to his Lord, let it be done according to your Eternal Love. In turn, I choose nursing as word,” and with a grateful heart whisper a means to express my love to God by – thank you, Jesus. ministering to my neighbor, but it was Sister Joanna Sopala serves as dinot enough. My heart felt empty, so in rector of nursing at St. Joseph Senior my search for happiness, I emigrated. Home, Woodbridge. MAY 7, 2015 1 866 247 HOME Saint Joseph Senior Residence for 60 residents. Today, the facility is an Assisted Living Home. In 1992, the adjacent Saint Joseph Nursing Center was added for 51 residents. In 2005, a new annex was opened at St. Joseph Convent. Thus the dream of the Little Servant Sisters was realized through trust in Divine Providence, hard work and fundraising with the collaboration of the religious community, the Church and benefactors. The hallmark of the present St. Joseph Senior Home on St. Joseph Terrace with its beautiful chapels and facilities is compassion and caring with the Sisters faithful to Blessed Edmund’s founding charism. Every good person is like a candle burning for others (Blessed Edmund.) THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT Open Your Heart and Home to Foster a Child American Province was transferred to the new Provincialate in presentday Cherry Hill, where the Novitiate was established in 1942. It is near St. Mary’s Catholic Home, which the sisters pioneered on a diocesan farm from 1940. In 1973, the hall in Woodbridge became Strawberry Hill Senior Day Center, welcoming up to 100 guests until inevitable demolition in 2004. From 1973 to 2013, the Little Servant Sisters staffed Our Lady of Lourdes School in Milltown and from 1994 to 1996 St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Sayreville. In 1981, the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception entered a new venture in Woodbridge, with the dedication of their newly constructed OUR DIOCESE Part 4: Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception 11 Religious Communities serving in Diocese of Metuchen