Mother Mary Veronica Kurczewski

Mother Mary Veronica Kurczewski served as the first provincial superior of Mother of Good Counsel Province from 1910 to 1920. Born in Prussian Poland, she entered the Felician Congregation in Detroit, Michigan at 25 years of age. Her close association with Mother Mary Monica Sybilska and Mother Mary Cajetan Jankiewicz prepared her to lead during the difficult years of World War I. 

Though crippled in her childhood, Mother Veronica grew up in the bustle of Detroit and never allowed her paralyzed leg impede her personal development. She served as an educator, provincial councilor, superior of the provincial house, and directress of the lay sisters. 

Mother Veronica accompanied the province through a sea of change, directing 23 houses allocated to the province, as well as St. Hedwig Orphanage in Niles, Illinois. This apostolate began the expansion of Felician charity in the Midwest during the next decade. Despite her physical disability, Mother Veronica frequently visited the homes of the new province.

She was an avid correspondent with the sisters, as seen in her letters, which were full of primitive Felician spirit. Preoccupied with World War I, she asked the sisters to pray for peace so the United States would not be drawn into the conflict.

In 1913, Mother Veronica began in the American provinces the Felician tradition of daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a practice that the Foundress had received permission for from Pope Leo XIII in 1899, months before her death.