Mother Mary Simplicita Nehring

In October 1932 amid the Great Depression, Mother Mary Simplicita Nehring began her role as provincial superior of the Felician province in Buffalo, New York. 
 
Her first accomplishment was repaying the debt incurred from construction of the new provincial complex, exacerbated by depression-era financial constraints. The history of the Buffalo province states, “This was a phenomenal feat since, at the same time, the province was struggling to meet the cost of constant repairs, building maintenance, operational costs for a private high school, and necessary improvements at Immaculate Heart of Mary Children’s Home.”
 
During Mother Simplicita’s tenure in Buffalo, she helped establish new ministries while bolstering many existing ones. Her commitment to the socio-psychological needs of the orphans at Immaculate Heart of Mary Home for Children led to the orphan’s greatly enhanced quality of life and raised the home’s standards of care.
 
She was also instrumental in establishing the first Felician mission in Toronto, Ontario in 1937.
 
In 1938, Mother Simplicita's was named provincial superior of Our Lady Queen of Poland Province in Warsaw, Poland, where she arrived just before it was invaded by Nazi Germany. Amid tremendous hardships during World War II, including her own nine-month detainment in Pawiak Prison, Mother Simplicita exhibited selfless care for everyone around her.
 
In 1946, Mother Simplicita was named superior general of the Felician Congregation and made numerous legacy contributions to the Congregation, including initiating steps toward the beatification of Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska.