Fifteen Felician Sisters from the Livonia-based Central Convent of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary attended the 18th Annual Opłatek, organized by the West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society (WSDPAHS) on Saturday, January 4.
The Sisters were there to receive well-deserved recognition for – as the commemorative plaque reads – “faithfully serving West Side Detroit’s community and for contributing to the good and benefit of Polonia”. The plaque, featuring the history of the Order which was founded by Sister Angela Truszkowska in 1855 in Poland, was presented by Laurie Gomulka, the WSDPAHS Vice President and Executive Director, and accepted by Sister Joyce Marie Van de Vyver, Local Minister of the Livonia Convent.
Also recognized at the “Opłatek” was St. Hedwig Cemetery and Mausoleum of Dearborn Heights, on their 100th Anniversary. The cemetery, which was consecrated on Memorial Day in 1924, has been owned and operated by the Conventual Franciscans of the St. Bonaventure Province, based in Chicago. Dianne Staroscik accepted the award.
The “Opłatek” was attended by close to 140 people, many of them former students of the Felician Sisters, eager to reconnect with the Sisters, and express their appreciation for the education or other help they received from the Felicians over the years. One of the institutions run by the Order and very much appreciated is Angela’s Hospice, located next to the Livonia Convent.
Forty sisters, now retired, most of whom worked earlier as teachers and school principals, reside at the Livonia Convent, which is the Order’s former Motherhouse. The convent is located just a few miles down the road from St. Collette’s Church and Activities Center where the “Opłatek” took place. Their Chaplain, Rev. Gary Michalik, the WSDPAHS President and until 2023, St. Collette’s pastor, cohosted the event with Laurie Gomulka.
After the award presentations, came the “featured entertainment”, a special concert of Polish Christmas carols and folk songs performed by a new local trio “Siostry Folklorystyczne” (Julia LaRocca, Lucy Bemiss and Rachel Parker). Especially beautiful and enjoyable were three-part harmonies in such songs as an acapella rendition of “Cicha noc” which captivated the audience who sang-along and clapped. The concert was a meaningful musical gift from “Sisters (Folklorystyczne)” to “Sisters (Felician)”, who – although not all of them of Polish origin – happily joined in singing Polish Christmas carols. As we found out, learning to sing the carols in Polish has been the Order’s long-time tradition and every Christmas Eve the Felician Sisters sing Polish kolędy.
After the concert, there was “opłatki sharing” and exchanging of good wishes for the new year followed by an excellent Polish dinner prepared by Veronica’s Catering. Accordionist Frank Urbiel played more Christmas music during the dinner, which was followed by DJ Doug Fallance leading a kolędy sing-along, and socializing.
Saturday’s tribute to the Felician Sisters of North America complements a year-long celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the Sisters’ arrival in the US, on November 20, 1874, at the northern Wisconsin town of Polonia.
The milestone sparked more interest in the Felician Sisters’ formidable work, which includes education at all levels, childcare, refugee and immigrant assistance, health care, missionary work in Brazil and Haiti, care for the elderly and hospice care, and pastoral ministries in parishes.
Among recent articles written about the Felician Sisters of North America’s work and legacy are “The Felicians: Midwives of Polonia” by Dr. John Radziłowski of PICROL, available on the Polish Weekly website, and “FelicianSisters reflect on 150 years of the ‘work of Mother Angela’ in North America” published by the Detroit Catholic. The links to both of these interesting and informative articles are below this text.
In the words of Sister Joyce Marie Van de Vyver, which she included in her welcome address delivered at the beginning of the Holy Mass on December 15 at the Convent’s Chapel: “The Sisters here in Livonia have healed the sick, cared for the elderly and the dying, taught the little children and have prepared so many young people to go out into the world and spread the Good News.”
Honoring Polish American institutions, organizations and individuals who have significantly contributed to Detroit’s Polonia has been a very important and worthwhile part of the WSDPAHS activities, for which the Society deserves our gratitude.
Text and photos: Alina Klin
The links to the articles mentioned in the post:
https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/felician-sisters-reflect-on-150-years-of-the-work-of-mother-angela-in-north-america
