![[Frances Siedliska picture]](Mother_Franciszka.JPG) |
![[Frances Siedliska picture]](Fran_0707.JPG)
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Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd (her religious name)
Founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
Born into a wealthy and cultured family at the palatial estates of her parents, Adolph and Cecilia Siedliska, near Warsaw, Poland on Nov. 12, 1842, young Frances was a very gifted child. Educated privately by governesses, Frances' keen intelligence, vivacity and personal warmth offered prospects for a bright future in Poland's noble society. Yet, another deeper yearning had captured her heart from her youth, and a strong relationship of love with God and firm faith were dominant features of Frances' life.
After the death of her father, she consecrated herself to the service of
God, becoming the foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth, established in Rome in 1875. Her religious name
was 'Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd.' In her role as foundress, Mother
Mary worked zealously to inspire her Sisters to make God's love known in
their service to others throughout the world without regard for distinctions
in nationality, race or social standing. A naturalized American citizen, she
died in Rome on Nov. 21, 1902, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on
April 23, 1989.
About the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN) in the United States
In 1885, Mother Mary received a request to bring her community to America to minister to the thousands of immigrant Poles who were seeking a better life in the United States. Responding with characteristic generosity and courage, she and 11 sisters - one-half of the fledgling community - arrived in New York Harbor, providentially, on July 4th, 1885. They proceeded to Chicago, IL, where they immediately set about establishing schools and caring for orphans.
The congregation in America grew quickly, and from the original foundation in Chicago, the ministry of the Sisters spread to Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut during the lifetime of the foundress. During their 125 years of service in America, the Sisters have ministered to the family of God in 19 states: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin, as well as in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Today, more than 340 Sisters in the U.S. continue to bring God's message of love and goodness to families. Internationally, more than 1,000 Sisters also serve God's people in Australia, Israel, the Philippines and eight European nations.
From: Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN) 2011 Calendar (125th Anniversary of the order in the USA)