Mother Mary Laura Sentkowska

At the start of her tenure as provincial superior in 1953, Mother Mary Laura Sentkowska oversaw 397 Felician Sisters serving in 35 schools and ministries throughout New England and southeastern New York. Expansion of the province created challenges and opportunities as the numbers of sisters, societal needs, and ministries increased.

Mother Laura decisively spearheaded construction of the long-awaited provincial house after 17 years of sisters living in dormitory-style rooms with curtains separating beds and habits hung on curtain rods in lieu of closets. 

The three-story red brick “E” shaped provincial house was completed in 1957.

Mother Laura saw sweeping changes in the educational arena and prioritized the need for enhanced teacher education. She encouraged sisters to enroll in colleges and universities, including many in New England and more distantly, Notre Dame University in Indiana and Fordham University in New York City. It was recorded that, “At no time in the history of the province have so many sisters enrolled in institutions of higher education as during Mother Laura’s tenure.”
 
Though Mother Laura Sentkowska passed away in 1963 before her term ended, the expansion and advances that took place during her 10-year tenure are a tribute to her foresight, patience, and driving energy. 

Felician historian Sister Mary Amadeus Ruda wrote,

“Discouragement could beset even the most venturesome superiors, but not Mother Laura. A real surge of hope filled her heart at the very outset of her administration … and she worked towards its accomplishment with a clearness of vision born of faith and courage.”