The Eleven Nuns Of Nowogrodek

Looking for Truly Holy Sisters I recently Came Across This Web Site Sister Stella and Companions Sacrifice Offered - Sacrifice Accepted During the Second World War (1939 - 1945) people living on Polish soil were persecuted for their national identity and faith. At the Easternmost end of the Republic of Poland in Nowogrodek (presently Belarus), twelve Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth experienced the dark nights of military occupation: first the Russian and then the German. It was during the German invasion (1941 - 1945) that hatred of the enemy culminated in the dramatic execution of eleven Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. They were killed on August 1, 1943, in the woods, 5 km (about 3 miles) beyond Nowogrodek. Soon after this incredible event, Sister M. Malgorzata Banas, the sole survivor of the community, located the place of the Sisters' execution. Until her death (April 26, 1966) she remained the guardian of their common grave, and of the Church of the Transfiguration, known as Biala Fara (White Church). This Church was entrusted to the care of the Sisters and it is there that the earthly remains of these martyrs now rest. How did the martyrdom of Mary Stella and Her Ten Companions come about? The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth arrived in Nowogrodek in 1929 at the invitation of the Servant of God, Bishop Zygmunt Lozinski, to assume the responsibility of caring for the Fara and for the education of children. As a community, the Sisters became an integral part of the life in Nowogrodek and served the multicultural residents of the town. Open to the needs of the people in time of peace, they gave themselves still more completely during the occupation, by encouraging, helping, praying and empathizing with families who were coping with oppression, imprisonment, and murder. The Sisters invested great effort in preparing for the religious services heldin the Fara. Hence, liturgical prayer became a haven of hope for the people living amid the overpowering darkness of Evil.

Terror, associated with the German occupation of Nowogrodek, began in 1942 with the extermination of the Jews, and was followed by a surge of arrests of the Polish people, then the indiscriminate slaughter of 60 persons, including two priests. A similar situation was repeated on July 18, 1943, when more than 120 members of families were arrested and were destined to be executed. Aware of this tragic situation, the Sisters unanimously expressed their desire to offer their lives in sacrifice for the imprisoned family members. Sister Stella, in the name of the community, shared the Sisters' prayer and decision with Father Zienkiewicz, their chaplain and rector of the Fara, saying: My God, if sacrifice of life is needed, accept it from us and spare those who have families. We are even praying for this intention. Almost as an immediate response to the Sisters' offering of life, the plans for the prisoners were changed. They were deported to work camps in Germany and some of them were even released. When the life of the rector, Father Zienkiewicz, was threatened, the Sisters renewed their offering saying: There is a greater need for a priest on this earth than for us. We pray that God will take us in his place, if sacrifice of life is needed. God accepted their sacrifice. The imprisoned including the chaplain were spared. They were the first to witness and to proclaim the holiness of these Martyrs and their powerful intercession before God. By offering their lives, Blessed Mary Stella and Her Ten Companions fulfilled their Nazareth charism in the service of families to a heroic degree. In elevating the Martyrs of Nowogrodek to the honor of Blessed, the Church presents them as models of love and defenders against the numerous dangers that are threatening the contemporary family.

> Sister M. Stella, CSFN
> Sister M. Imelda, CSFN	> Sister M. Gwidona, CSFN
> Sister M. Rajmunda, CSFN	> Sister M. Felicyta, CSFN
> Sister M. Daniela, CSFN	> Sister M. Heliodora, CSFN
> Sister M. Kanuta, CSFN	> Sister M. Kanizja, CSFN
> Sister M. Sergia	> Sister M. Boromea, CSF

PRAYER TO OBTAIN GRACES

O Most Blessed Trinity, we praise and thank you for the example of Blessed Mary Stella and Her Ten Companions, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, who by imitating Jesus Christ, offered themselves as a sacrifice of love for others. God of mercy and compassion, throught the merits of their martyrdom and by their intercession, grant us the grace we humbly ask..., so that like them we may witness with our lives to the presence of the Kingdom of God's Love and extend it to the human fmaily throughout the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN. Blessed Martyred Sisters of Nowogrodek, pray for us.

Kindly notify the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Via Nazareth 400, 00166 Rome, Italy, of graces received through the intercession of Blessed Mary Stella and Her Ten Companions.

The Sisters of Nowogrodek

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Home S. Stella & Companions History Ministry Development Where Are We?
To find out more general information about the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, please visit our web site at: www.csfn.org

Contact Information:

Sister Carol Mockus, CSFN CSFN Development Office 4001 Grant Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19114 215.268.1040 Fax: 215.268.1076

Sister Michelle Vincent Fisher Vocation Office 2723 Holme Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19152-2015 215.335.6380 Fax: 215.335.3764

For comments on the site contact: Sister Maryann McKeogh, CSFN 9801 Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19114

All information is copyright of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. This page was last modified on 04/20/2006.

Will you be praying for the canonization of these Sisters and asking for their powerful intercession?

Surprise Party for Anna

August 25, 2007 Michael and Anna Claire planned a surprise party for Anna Patricia and she was completely surprised!

Anna who has been home schooled her entire life, will begin her life tomorrow, out on her own. She has been educated as a martial artist and pianist, has talent in ballet and is now enrolled at the age of 17 in a pre-med program in college. She is aiming for an undergraduate degree that will enable her to later become enrolled in a veterinary school.

Her high school degree was attained over the Internet. There was no graduation ceremony so the surprise party made her feel very much appreciated and loved after her work as an international honor student through Keystone.

Anna's interests currently are fantasy literature. She is a Harry Potter scholar, pirate enthusiast, a "Ringer" (Lord of The Rings fan), a Washington National's baseall fan, and a very devout Catholic. She has been attending Mass every day for almost ten years.

Anna's college classes begin tomorrow. She is very excited and nervous at the same time.

Her party was very much fun. Wonderful gifts, candy of her favorite kind, balloons, graduation banner, confetti, and she shared her time with all members of her family.

Please pray for Anna Patricia if you are reading this, that God and Our Blessed Mother will always protect her and assist her in accomplishing her goals according to God's Holy Will for her!

Do you have a child entering college for the first time Fall Semester 2007?

The Brothers Visit

Yesterday we served religious Brothers who visited our home. We have been asked to serve their order and share time with the members since 1998.

Yesterday, we went to a movie and enjoyed a meal together.

All the members of this order do their best to serve God in poverty, chastity, and obedience. From year to year they are not completely certain what decisions their superiors will make concerning their future. Relying on God's Permitting and Ordaining Will, we have observed many members being let go and others proceed to Holy Orders, others continue to work and serve within the community. Some men have left deciding that religious life was after all, not their calling.

Sometimes the decisions that have been made are heart breaking and difficult to understand. Other decisions have brought great joy to our family.

I do not fully understand religious life, the life of professed religious men and women in the Catholic Church. When asked to serve them, we serve. When asked to let go we let go.

Serving the men in this particular order has assisted in guiding us to a deeper prayer life and a deeper commitment to sacrifice and detachment.

Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother are always assisting, always guiding, and merciful concerning the efforts we have made. They are just and consoling when we fail or disappoint in our efforts to assist.

Have you been asked to serve religious orders through penance, prayer, and sacrifice?

From Charleston to Birmingham

The long wait has ended.

Bishop Baker was born in Willard, Ohio, June 4, 1944. From 1962 to 1970 he studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum where he earned an A.B. in Philosophy and a Master of Divinity degree in Theology, and was ordained a priest of the Toledo diocese, March 21, 1970. From 1972 to 1975 he studied in the graduate program at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned S.T.L and S.T.D. degrees. Bishop Baker served on the faculty of St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, and was pastor of the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine, Florida, and pastor of Christ the King Church in Jacksonville. Appointed Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina on July 13, 1999, he was ordained 12th bishop of Charleston, September 29, 1999. He is a member of the Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry and the Ad Hoc Committee on Stewardship. Bishop Baker will be installed as Bishop of Birmingham, Alabama on October 2, 2007.

What does the Ad Hoc Committee on Stewardship do exactly?

Celebrating Family Life

When Mike and I had children, a decision was made that celebrating their birthdays would be very important, extraordinary, festive, and memorable family celebrations for as long as circumstance permitted us to continue birthday celebrations of their lives. There has always been, great laughter, wonderful cards and gifts, and hopefully joy and happiness at these family celebrations.

Two of those birthdays were celebrated this month at our home. Miranda and Adrienne, my first and second born daughters.

Miranda Joanne was born at Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville, North Carolina August 10. I had suffered through so much during her delivery that I committed to having no more children. I thought that I could not go through such a trial again (later I gave birth to four more children). Time passes and we forget to dwell on the pain. Miranda was wonderful company and so beautiful and intelligent.

A little less than two years later, on August 2, Adrienne Marie was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Athens, Georgia. She had blond hair and blue eyes, looked very different than Miranda but you could still see the family sameness years later, in their manner and attitudes and sense of humor. Adrienne is sensitive, beautiful, and very strong, she has always had an extraordinary memory.

Their lives are filled with responsibility and hard work now. But when they open their gifts, blow out their candles and cut their cake, all that has changed, somehow remains the same.

It doesn't matter where birthday's are celebrated, if one is happy and has been remembered by those they hold closest in heart through prayer, thought word or deed, on their birthday.

Are birthday celebrations very important in your family also?