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Neomisia, M. Sister CSFN Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth a.k.a. Josephine Rutkowska (Rutkowski)
Born: Dec. 5, 1898
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Rutkowska, Sister Maria, Neomisia, Ph.D.
Born in Philadelphia, Dec. 5, 1898; early education in the Catholic schools of that city; in 1914 entered the Community of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth; A.B., St. John's University, Brooklyn, N. Y., June, 1927; A.M., The Catholic University of America, June, 1928. In 1928-1929 pursued graduate studies at the Catholic University of America. Directress of the Nazareth Academy, Torresdale, Pa., 1929-1935. Conducted courses in Polish at the Catholic University of America in Slavic languages, literature and history and general linguistics, 1935-1937; at the same time instructor in Polish at the Catholic Sisters' College. In June, 1937 appointed Assistant in Slavic Languages and Literatures at the Catholic University of America; from 1938-39 devoted to study and research at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland, on a scholarship granted by the World Wide League of Poles. In September, 1939 resumed post as Assistant in Slavic Languages and Literatures at the Catholic University of America and instructor in Polish at the Catholic Sisters' College. In 1941 received Ph.D. degree at Catholic University, Washington, D. C. Wrote a book: "Bishop Adam Naruszewicz and His History of the Polish Nation."
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943
Holy Family College Founder Honored by Joseph S. Wnukowski
Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia inducted Sr. M. Neomisia Rutkowski, C.S.F.N., as an Honorary Member on Sunday, May 5, 1974 during its annual pilgrimage-luncheon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown. Lunch was served immediately after the 11 o'clock Mass, which the Heritage Society members attended in conjunction with the delegates of the Executive Board of the American Council of Polish Cultural Clubs, meeting in quarterly session that weekend.
A native Philadelphian, Mother Neomisia attended Saint Adalberts Parish Grade School and John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School before entering the Community.
After several years of teaching in the schools conducted by the Community, she was assigned to the Catholic University of America, where she obtained her Master's and Doctor of Philosophy degrees and where she taught languages and literature in the Slavic Department. She also studied abroad and traveled extensively.
As an educator, Mother Neomisia was the first principal of Nazareth Academy for Girls in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1929 to 1935, an institution which expanded from an enrollment of 70 to the present 325, and which for its incoming freshmen class of 100 students has had a record of 500 applicants.
In 1954, she became the Founder and first President of Holy Family College, the first Catholic college for women in the Greater Northeast Philadelphia area, which, since its first Commencement, in 1958, graduated over 1,162 seniors.
Before her election as Superior General, Mother Neomisia served as local superior in two convents. In 1947, she was appointed Provincial Superior of the Immaculate Conception Province, a position she had held for 12 years. Besides the founding of Holy Family College, the many accomplishments of her term of office are the expanded facilities of Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, including the hospital convent and a residence home for married interns; a new dormitory for women and a faculty house in conjunction with the college; a rest home for Sisters, in Riverhead, Long Island, New York; and now novitiate quarters in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania.
New convents opened and schools staffed include the faculty house for the Sisters teaching in diocesan high schools; Our Lady of Peace in Ardsley; Visitation in Norristown; and Our Lady of Calvary, Torresdale, for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; and St. Joseph's in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, for the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey.
Among the several accomplishments of her 12-year span of office as Superior General, she was responsible for the building of the new Generalate in Rome and for guiding the world-wide Congregation through the religious renewal and adaptation of the directive of the Vatican II Council.
Since 1969, she is once again connected with the College as consultant serving on its Board of Trustees and Advisory Board and teaches a course in the Polish language.
As an Honorary Member of Polish Heritage Society, Sr. Neomisia joins an illustrious list of Polish-Americans from the Philadelphia area, including John Cardinal Krol, Edward J. Piszek, Very Rev. Michael Zembrzuski, O.S.P., Founder and Director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, and Dr. Mieczyslaw Gergielewicz, Professor Emeritus of the University of Pennsylvania.
From: "Gwiazda" (Polish Star), Philadelphia, Pa., May 9, 1974
Sr. M. Neomisia Rutkowski
Holy Family College Founder Honored
by Joseph S. Wnukowski
Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia inducted Sr. M. Neomisia Rutkowski, C.S.F.N., as an Honorary Member on Sunday, May 5, 1974 during its annual pilgrimage-luncheon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown. Lunch was served immediately after the 11 o'clock Mass, which the Heritage Society members attended in conjunction with the delegates of the Executive Board of the American Council of Polish Cultural Clubs, meeting in quarterly session that weekend.
A native Philadelphian, Mother Neomisia attended Saint Adalberts Parish Grade School and John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School before entering the Community.
After several years of teaching in the schools conducted by the Community, she was assigned to the Catholic University of America, where she obtained her Master's and Doctor of Philosophy degrees and where she taught languages and literature in the Slavic Department. She also studied abroad and traveled extensively.
As an educator, Mother Neomisia was the first principal of Nazareth Academy for Girls in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1929 to 1935, an institution which expanded from an enrollment of 70 to the present 325, and which for its incoming freshmen class of 100 students has had a record of 500 applicants.
In 1954, she became the Founder and first President of Holy Family College, the first Catholic college for women in the Greater Northeast Philadelphia area, which, since its first Commencement, in 1958, graduated over 1,162 seniors.
Before her election as Superior General, Mother Neomisia served as local superior in two convents. In 1947, she was appointed Provincial Superior of the Immaculate Conception Province, a position she had held for 12 years. Besides the founding of Holy Family College, the many accomplishments of her term of office are the expanded facilities of Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, including the hospital convent and a residence home for married interns; a new dormitory for women and a faculty house in conjunction with the college; a rest home for Sisters, in Riverhead, Long Island, New York; and now novitiate quarters in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania.
New convents opened and schools staffed include the faculty house for the Sisters teaching in diocesan high schools; Our Lady of Peace in Ardsley; Visitation in Norristown; and Our Lady of Calvary, Torresdale, for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; and St. Joseph's in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, for the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey.
Among the several accomplishments of her 12-year span of office as Superior General, she was responsible for the building of the new Generalate in Rome and for guiding the world-wide Congregation through the religious renewal and adaptation of the directive of the Vatican II Council.
Since 1969, she is once again connected with the College as consultant serving on its Board of Trustees and Advisory Board and teaches a course in the Polish language.
As an Honorary Member of Polish Heritage Society, Sr. Neomisia joins an illustrious list of Polish-Americans from the Philadelphia area, including John Cardinal Krol, Edward J. Piszek, Very Rev. Michael Zembrzuski, O.S.P., Founder and Director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, and Dr. Mieczyslaw Gergielewicz, Professor Emeritus of the University of Pennsylvania.
From: "Gwiazda" (Polish Star), Philadelphia, Pa., May 9, 1974