Franciszka Siedliska

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Franciszka Siedliska
Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd
Born 12 November 1842
Roszkowa Wola, Congress Poland
Died November 21, 1902 (aged 60)
Rome, Italy
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 23 April 1989 by Pope John Paul II
Feast 21 November
Saints Portal

Blessed Franciszka (Frances) Siedliska (12 November 1842–21 November 1902), also known as Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, was the founder of a Roman Catholic religious order of nuns, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

[edit] Life

In 1842, Franciszka Siedliska was born to a Polish noble family in Roszkowa Wola, Congress Poland.[1] Franciszka was educated privately by governesses, remaining indifferent to religion until she met a zealous Capuchin priest, who prepared her for her first Holy Communion, at which time she offered herself completely to God.[2] She strongly desired a religious vocation, but because her father opposed the idea, she had to wait to execute her mission of founding a new religious congregation.[2] Having submitted a petition on 1 October 1873,[2] Siedliska founded her new congregation in Rome on the first Sunday of Advent in 1875, having received the blessing of Pope Pius IX.[1] Siedliska named her order after the Holy Family, viewing it as the perfect model of total abandonment to the love of God.[1]

The congregation spread rapidly to Poland, England, France, and, in 1885, the United States. Siedliska led eleven sisters to found a community in Des Plaines, moving to Pittsburgh ten years later in August 1895.[3] Having taken the name "Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd", Siedliska devoted herself to her congregation, presiding at religious exercises, holding conferences, and writing letters of encouragement to her more than 29 foundations.[1][3]

Her efforts slowly drained her of physical strength and Franciszka Siedliska died in Rome on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary, 21 November 1902.[1]

[edit] Legacy and veneration

Thus I envisioned our life in Nazareth as a life of love externally given to work, service, performance of whatever Our Lord may require...

—Bl. Franciszka Siedliska[4]

Today, more than 1,500 Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth maintain ministries in 10 countries, including Italy, Poland, France, England, the United States, the Philippines, Russia, Australia, India, and Jerusalem. Franciszka Siedliska was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 23 April 1989, 86 years after her death.[1][3] In 2000, the pope also beatified eleven sisters of the order who had been murdered by the Gestapo in August 1943 in present-day Belarus, the Blessed Martyrs of Nowogródek.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f The Saints Among Us. Parish History. St. Parick - St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
  2. ^ a b c Blessed Frances Siedliska. Saints. Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
  3. ^ a b c d Bartos, Patricia. "Relic finds home in Pittsburgh", Pittsburgh Catholic, 2008-02-14. Retrieved on 2008-02-27. 
  4. ^ Our Ministry. Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
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