Bridging with our culture in Upper Silesia,
Poland, to enrich our Texas heritage.
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Notables Father Felix Zwiardowski founded a new community of sisters in Panna Maria, Texas, in 1873, called the Community of Immaculate Conception. He also designed their habit made of blue material, and the blessed habits were given to each sister before the entire congregation in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Panna Maria. These sisters were often referred to as the “Blue Sisters” because of their habit. They opened schools in Cestochowa, Meyersville, St. Hedwig, Bandera, and San Antonio (Dworaczyk, pages 48-49). After five years, this order of teaching nuns whose original Motherhouse was in Panna Maria transferred to St. Hedwig. Two years later, the community was dissolved, and the nuns were allowed to enter other congregations if they so desired (Dworaczyk, page 54). The "Blue Sisters" who were born in Texas of Silesian descent:
This 1875 photograph taken in Panna Maria, Texas has an inscription on the back of the original that says, "Mary Hedwig." According to letter No. 34743 written by Father Felix Zwiardowski to Father Bakanowski on April 20, 1875, one of the Silesian girls, Pauline Urbanczyk, was Sister Maria Jadwiga [Baker, 1979, page 215, note 65]. The Dziuk family who loaned the photo to the Institute of Texan Cultures said it may be of Pauline Urbanczyk which seems very likely given her religious name as Sister Maria Jadwiga or Mary Hedwig as written on the back. If so, this may be the only surviving photo of the habit designed by Father Zwiardowski and made of blue material worn by the "Blue Sisters" of Panna Maria.
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Felician Foundress |
This
order is officially known as the Congregation of Sisters of Saint Felix of
Cantalice Third Order Regular of Saint Francis of Assisi (CSSF). The Felician
Congregation was founded in 1855 by Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska who was born
in Kalisz, Poland. When Father Joseph Dabrowski invited the Felician Sisters to
come teach in Polonia, Wisconsin, five answered the call in 1874 establishing
the Felician Sisters American foundation. In 1882, the motherhouse was
transferred to Detroit, Michigan. From 1900 – 1953, six more American provinces
were established. In 1976, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province
was transferred from Ponca City, Oklahoma, to Rio Rancho, New Mexico. These
Felician-Franciscan Sisters of the Southwest have some homes and ministries in
Texas.
The following Felician Sisters were born in Texas of Silesian descent:
Geraldine Ann Bienek: Sister Mary Geraldine 1950-2009
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Born on May 30, 1950, in San Antonio, Texas [St. Michael Church, Baptism Record, page 44, entry #91] |
| Daughter of Bernard Leon Bienek and Pauline Dylla |
| Perpetual vows made on August 2, 1977 |
| Photograph from San Antonio Express-News, March 20, 2009, page 4B, and Today’s Catholic, April 10, 2009, page 5 |
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Died on March 18, 2009; buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Albuquerque, New
Mexico |
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| Image on Front of Card | Funeral Card |
Geraldine Ann Bienek- Sister Mary Geraldine |
Danat Mary Brysch: Sister Danat Marie
| Born in Cestohowa, Texas |
| Daughter of Elias Stanley Brysch, Sr. and Frances Ann Krawietz |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1978 |
Mary Margaret Ann Dworaczyk: Sister
Mary Fermine 1929-2008
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Born on June 14,
1929, in Yorktown, Texas |
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Daughter of Arcadeus Dworaczyk and Veronica Muschalek |
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Entered Felician Sisters Convent in Chicago, Illinois, on August 22, 1947 |
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Sister Mary Fermine later returned to her baptismal name of Margaret |
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Died on December 15,
2008; buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
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Sister Mary Margaret Ann Dworaczyk |
Jubilee Card | Image on Front of Card |
Florence Gawlik: Sister Mary Angela
| Born in Cestohowa, Texas |
| Daughter of Anthony Gawlik and Cecilia Mika |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1960 |
Jane Mary Gawlik: Sister Jane Mary
| Born in Cestohowa, Texas |
| Daughter of Adolph John Gawlik, Jr. and Mary Julia Kotara |
| Perpetual vows made on August 12, 1980 |
Dorothy Ann Janysek: Sister Mary Martha
| Born in Runge, Texas |
| Daughter of Conrad Janysek and Rosie Pawelek |
| Perpetual vows made on July 29, 1973 |
Barbara Philomena Jaskinia: Sister Mary Gerard 1923-1995
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Born on September 23, 1923, in
Cestohowa, Texas |
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Daughter of Peter Jaskinia and Julia Pruski |
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Entered Felician Sisters Convent in Chicago, Illinois, on October 4, 1941 |
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Perpetual vows made on August 22, 1949 |
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Photograph from 125th Anniversary, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Cestohowa, Texas 1873-1998, page 61 |
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Died on December 24, 1995; buried
in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
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Barbara Philomena
Jaskinia - |
Albina Barbara Jendrush: Sister Mary Bernardia 1922-2004
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Born on November 23, 1922, in Cestohowa, Texas [Nativity of the BVM Church, Baptism Records, page 62, entry #45] |
| Daughter of Bernard Jendrush and Margaret Jarzombek |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1951 |
| Died on May 21, 2004; buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
Helen B. Korzekwa: Sister Mary Janelle
| Born in Kosciuszko, Texas |
| Daughter of John Korzekwa and Cecilia Jarzombek |
| Perpetual vows made on July 26, 1963 |
Lucy M. Korzekwa: Sister Mary Lucy
| Born in Kosciuszko, Texas |
| Daughter of John Korzekwa and Cecilia Jarzombek |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1959 |
Pelagia Korzekwa: Sister Mary Loritta
| Born in Kosciuszko, Texas |
| Daughter of John Korzekwa and Cecilia Jarzombek |
| Perpetual vows made on August 22, 1958 |
Mary Angelee Kowalik: Sister Mary Angelee
| Born in Helena, Texas |
| Daughter of Anton Albert Kowalik and Martha Caroline Janysek |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1959 |
Balbina Sowa: Sister Mary Gabriel 1861-1906
| Born on March 30, 1861, in
Victoria, Texas [St. Mary Church, Baptism Record, Book I, page 119, entry #812] |
| Daughter of John Sowa and Mary Schefzik |
| Entered Sisters of Divine Providence Convent in Castroville for less than a year circa 1873 [Callaghan, page 106] |
| Next entered the Community of Immaculate Conception or “Blue Sisters” which was dissolved in 1879 [Dworaczyk, pages 49 and 54] |
| Finally entered the Congregation of Felician Sisters in Detroit, Michigan |
| Perpetual vows made on August 26, 1900 |
| Photograph from The Sowa Family History: Six Generations of Polish Texans published in 1981, page 124. The photograph was courtesy of Christine Sowa Hudek, New Boston, Texas. |
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Died on February 13, 1906; buried in Mount Olivet, Leavenworth, Kansas |
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Balbina Sowa - |
Theresa F. Sturm: Sister Mary Ellen
| Born in Yorktown, Texas |
| Daughter of Herman Sturm and Eleanora Warzecha |
| Perpetual vows made on July 26, 1963 |
Edna C. Waclawczyk: Sister Mary Estelle
| Born in Cestohowa, Texas |
| Daughter of William Waclawczyk and Mary Dzuik |
| Perpetual vows made on August 23, 1955 |
Carolyn Rita
Wiatrek: Sister Carol Marie
| Born in Kosciuszko, Texas |
| Daughter of Stanley Wiatrek and Theresa Olejnik |
| Perpetual vows made on July 31, 1968 |
Cecilia B. Zigmond: Sister Mary Clementia
| Born in St. Hedwig, Texas |
| Daughter of Clemens Zigmond and Veronica Szafarin |
| Perpetual vows made on August 4, 1961 |
Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word - CCVI
CCVI is the acronym for the Latin phrase, “Congregatio Caritatis Verbi Incarnati” which means “Congregation of Charity of the Incarnate Word.” It refers to the Sisters who comprise the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The order was founded in 1866 by Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis, the second bishop of Galveston, Texas.
The nuns included below are of Silesian descent who
professed their vows in Texas.
Dorothy Helen Franckowiak: Sister Mary Winceslaus 1882-1934
| Born on February 6, 1882, in St. Hedwig, Texas [Annunciation of the BVM Church, Baptism Record, page 54, 1st entry] |
| Daughter of Andrew Franckowiak and Emelia Zoworka |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1906 |
| Died on May 3, 1934; buried in Incarnate Word Convent
Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas [Death Certificate stamped #21125] |
Julia Gola: Sister Mount Carmel 1870-1939
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Born on March 25, 1870, in
Martinez, Texas |
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Daughter of Anton Gola and Caroline Stanuś |
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Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1896 |
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Photograph below with Anna Kulesza (Sister Karolina), her half-sister; photograph originally provided to Doris Jaeschke Kosub by Dorothy Mann |
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Died on January 21, 1939; buried in
Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
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Rosa Dugosh; Anna Kulesza (Sister Karolina); Caroline Stanuś Gola Kulesza, mother of both nuns; Julia Gola (Sister Mount Carmel); August Dugosh; Frank Dugosh. Rosa, August, and Frank Dugosh are grandchildren of Caroline Stanuś Gola Kulesza. |
Emelia Korzekwa: Sister Cyrilla 1896-1982
| Born on May 28, 1896, in Cestohowa, Texas |
| Daughter of Frank Korzekwa and Hedwig Knuski |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1924 |
| Died on March 8, 1982 [Texas Death Index]; buried in Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas |
Albina Krawiec: Sister Mary Elizabeth 1864-1884
| Born on May 5, 1864, in
St. Hedwig, Texas [St. Mary Church, San Antonio, Baptism Record, page 101, 1st entry] |
| Daughter of Thomas Krawiec and Agnes Szyguła |
| First profession of vows on September 11, 1884 |
| Died on October 20, 1884; originally buried in San Fernando Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas |
| Remains transferred to Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery in 1930 |
Anastasia Krawiec:
Sister Mary Joseph 1854-1919
| Born on January 8, 1854, in
Świbie, Silesia, Poland [Św. Mikołaja, Baptism Record, entry #88] |
| Daughter of Thomas Krawiec and Agnes Szyguła |
| Perpetual vows made on July 22, 1877 |
| First photograph below with two other Silver Jubilarians; photo courtesy of Genny Kosub Kraus |
| Second photograph below with two of her siblings, Anna and Bronislawa;
photograph courtesy of Doris Jaeschke Kosub Died on March 15, 1919; originally buried in San Fernando Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas [Death Certificate stamped #9040] |
| Remains transferred to Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery
in 1930 |
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First Silver Jubilarians, CCVI (left to right): Sister Claude Esparza, Sister Francis Saint Pastour, and Sister Mary Joseph Krawiec. |
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Center: Anastasia Krawiec (Sister Mary Joseph). Left: Her sister, Anna Krawiec (Mrs. John Michalski). Right: Her sister, Bronislawa (Bernice) Krawiec (Mrs. Szymon Kozub). |
Mathilda Krawiec: Sister Mary Alacoque 1858-1881
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Baptized on March 25, 1858, in St. Hedwig,
Texas [Annunciation of the BVM Church, Baptism Record, entry VI; birth date not stated in record] |
| Daughter of Thomas Krawiec and Agnes Szyguła |
| Investiture on August 11, 1881; died prior to profession of vows |
| Died on November 19, 1881; originally buried in San Fernando Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas |
| Remains transferred to Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery in 1930 |
Barbara Krawiecz: Sister
Cecilia 1859-1895
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Born on November 29, 1859, in Panna Maria, Texas [Immaculate Conception of the BVM Church, Baptism Record, entry #102] |
| Daughter of Joseph Krawiecz and Catharina Korzekwa |
| Entered Sisters of Divine Providence Convent in Castroville and "probably received the habit in August, 1874" [Callaghan, page 106] and was named Sister Maria Kunegunda [Baker, page 215, note 65] |
| Next became a member of the Community of Immaculate Conception or "Blue Sisters" which was dissolved in 1879 [Dworaczyk, pages 48 and 54] |
| Finally entered the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word |
| Perpetual vows made on August 14, 1886 |
| Died on August 28, 1895; buried in Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas |
Agnes Krawietz: Sister Bronislaus 1888-1937
| Born on January 14, 1888, in Cestohowa, Texas |
| Daughter of Anton Krawietz and Constantina Zygmunt |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1912 |
| Died on April 21, 1937; buried in
Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
[Death Certificate stamped #19070] |
Mary Anna Krawietz: Sister Mary Teresa 1892-1985
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Born on June 12, 1892, in
Cestohowa, Texas |
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Daughter of Anton Krawietz and Constantina Zygmunt |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1916 |
| Changed her religious name from Sister Stanislawa to Sister Mary Teresa |
| Photograph below courtesy of Genny Kosub Kraus |
| Died on November 5, 1985
[Texas Death Index]; buried in
Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas |
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Mary Anna Krawietz - Sister Mary Teresa |
Anna Kulesza: Sister Karolina 1885-1972
| Born on October 19, 1885, in St. Hedwig, Texas [Annunciation of the BVM Church, Baptism Record, page 100, 1st entry] | ||
| Daughter of John Kulesza and Caroline Stanuś | ||
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1908 | ||
| Photograph below courtesy of Mary Carr. Also see photograph above for Julia Gola (Sister Mount Carmel), half sister to Sister Karolina | ||
| Died on December 21, 1972; buried in Incarnate Word
Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
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Joanna Moczygemba: Sister Ephrem 1860-1946
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Baptized on August 29, 1860, in
Panna Maria, Texas |
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Daughter of Joseph Moczygemba and Carolina Szyguda |
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Sister of Msgr. Thomas Moczygemba [see Notable priests] |
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Entered Sisters of Divine Providence Convent in Castroville circa 1873 but did not remain [Callaghan, page 106] |
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Next entered the Community of Immaculate Conception or “Blue Sisters” which was dissolved in 1879 [Dworaczyk, pages 49 and 54; referred to her as “Anna” Moczygemba] |
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Finally entered the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word |
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Perpetual vows made on March 9, 1891 |
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Died on May 9, 1946; buried in Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas [Death Certificate stamped #20728] |
Lucy Niemiec: Sister Mary Louise 1860-1933
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Born on December 12, 1860, in Texas |
| Daughter of John Niemiec and Barbara Brzytua / Brzytiva [Brzytwa] |
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Entered Sisters of Divine Providence Convent in Castroville and was invested as Sister Casimir on August 25, 1873 [Callaghan, pages 103-104] |
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Next became a member of the Community of Immaculate Conception or “Blue Sisters” in Panna Maria [Dworaczyk, pages 49 and 54] receiving the blue habit on Quinquagesima Sunday of 1875;order dissolved in 1879 [Callaghan, pages 106-107] |
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Finally entered the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word |
| Perpetual vows made on August 14, 1890 |
| Died on July 9, 1933; buried in Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas [Death Certificate stamped #30812] |
Salomea Olejnik/Olenick: Sister Sixtus 1906-1950
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Born on October 28, 1906, in
Cestohowa, Texas |
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Daughter of John Olejnik and Paulina Lyssy |
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Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1930 |
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Photograph courtesy of Olivia Blanchard |
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Died on February 5, 1950; buried in Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas |
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Salomea Olejnik/Olenick- |
Barbara Rakowicz/Rakowitz: Sister John Nepomucene 1885-1924
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Born on November 1, 1885, in St.
Hedwig, Texas |
| Daughter of John Stanislaus Rakowicz and Margarita Panek |
| Perpetual vows made on April 17, 1910 |
| Photograph courtesy of John and Katherine Korus Beard |
| Died on January 30, 1924; originally buried in Boerne Cemetery, Boerne, Texas [Death Certificate stamped #2406] |
| Remains transferred to Incarnate
Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas, in 1935 |
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Barbara
Rakowitz - |
Anna Stanuś: Sister Mary Clotilda ca. 1855-1879
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Baptism record to document her birth date not yet found in Texas |
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Appears as “Johana” in the 1860 Bexar County census with her birthplace as Texas |
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Daughter of Wojciech (Albert) Stanuś and Cecilia Badura |
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Perpetual vows made on May 5, 1879, the day of her death |
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Died on May 5, 1879; originally buried in San Fernando Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas |
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Remains transferred to Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery in 1930 |
Clara Stanuś/Stanush: Sister Mary Dominic 1897-1968
| Born on July 3, 1897, in St.
Hedwig, Texas [Annunciation of the BVM Church, Baptism Record, page 10, 4th entry] |
| Daughter of August Stanuś and Anna Kaczmarek |
| Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1924 |
| Died on June 27, 1968; buried in
Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
[Death Certificate stamped #39606] |
Eva Stanuś: Sister Mary Incarnation 1853-1936
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Born on July 10, 1853, in
Świbie, Silesia, Poland |
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Daughter of Wojciech (Albert) Stanuś and Cecilia Badura |
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Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1882 |
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Died
on October 24, 1936; buried in Incarnate Word Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
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Pauline Urbanczyk: Sister Mary Veronica 1858-1942
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Born on May 19, 1858, in Panna
Maria, Texas |
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Daughter of Matthew Urbanczyk and Francisca Dziuk |
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Original
member of Community of Immaculate Conception or “Blue Sisters” in 1873
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Next entered briefly Divine
Providence Convent as Sister Maria Jadwiga |
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Finally entered the Sisters of Charity and made first profession of vows in 1882 |
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Perpetual vows made on March 19, 1887 |
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Celebrated golden jubilee in 1932 as shown on card below |
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Died on April 3, 1942; buried in
Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
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Pauline
Urbanczyk |
Golden Jubilee Card of Sister Mary Veronica Urbanczyk |
Image on Front of Card |
Elizabeth Winkler: Sister Mary Dominic 1858-1916
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Born on December 12, 1858, in Panna
Maria, Texas |
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Daughter of Carl Winkler and Carolina Wiatrek |
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Perpetual vows made on August 15, 1882 |
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Died on February 20, 1916; buried
in San Fernando Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
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Remains transferred to Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery in 1930 |
Paulina Zienc: Sister Mary Clara 1861-1891
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Born on February 9, 1862, in San
Antonio, Texas |
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Daughter of John Zienc and Mina Morawietz |
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Perpetual vows made on March 19, 1886 |
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Died on December 10, 1891; buried in Incarnate Word Convent Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas |
This congregation was founded in 1625 in Roanne, France, by Jeanne Chezard de Matel. Responding to an invitation from Bishop Jean Odin, the first Bishop of Texas, five of the IWBS nuns arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1852 and founded the first American convent in Brownsville the following year. In 1866, an independent house, Nazareth Convent, was established in Victoria, Texas.
The nuns included below are of Silesian
descent who professed their vows in Texas:
Margaret Moczygemba: Sister Charlotte 1912-1991
| Born on August 28, 1912, in Falls City, Texas |
| Daughter of William Moczygemba and Barbara Jarzombek |
| Perpetual vows made on August 17, 1935 |
| Died on December 26, 1991; buried
in Catholic Cemetery No. 3, Victoria, Texas |
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Margaret Moczygemba - |
Helena Mzyk: Sister M. Edith 1915-2008
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Born on May 17, 1915, in Cestohowa,
Texas |
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Daughter of Jerome W. Mzyk and Victoria Pruski |
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Perpetual vows made on August 24, 1936 |
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Died on August 12, 2008; buried in Catholic Cemetery No. 3, Victoria, Texas |
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Photograph from Victoria
Advocate obituary on August 14, 2008 |
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Helena Mzyk - |
Cecilia Sczepanik: Sister Jean Marie 1913-2005
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Born on November 22, 1913, in Falls City, Texas |
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Daughter of Vincent Joseph Sczepanik and Nimpha Dugie |
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Perpetual vows made on August 17, 1932 |
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Died on January 16, 2005; buried in
Catholic Cemetery No. 3, Victoria, Texas |
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Cecilia Sczepanik- |
Mary
Agnes Warzecha: Sister Maria Goretti
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Born in Falls City, Texas
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Daughter of Isidore Warzecha
and Clara Brysch
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Perpetual vows made on August 6,
1960
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Mary Agnes Warzecha - |
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