Holy Name of Mary

Holy Name of Mary Province

Mississauga, Toronto

T

he greatest influx of Polish immigrants to Canada occurred between 1921 and 1931. Several Catholic priests requested Felician Sisters in Canada as early as 1935, and eventually, four from the Buffalo province were missioned to Toronto in 1937. There, Felician Sisters began an apostolate serving in the fields of social, religious, and educational ministry. They purchased a former mansion in the city proper on Augusta Avenue to serve as a convent and to operate a day nursery. A year later, they took on another assignment that required commuting for a full day of social work that included a day nursery and health clinic.
 
The sisters’ reputation spread, and they were called to many parishes, some beyond the city of Toronto, which involved hours of travel. Periodically, they conducted classes in private suburban homes, while permanent centers were established in distant locations. While visiting homes, the sisters witnessed the poverty of the people, which prompted intense Catholic social work. In 1954 alone, 4,967 social calls were made to homes and hospitals.
 
Summer school kept the sisters busy all year round. Some traveled to remote “vacation schools” to provide distant Polish communities with catechetical instruction, preparing these isolated people to receive the sacraments.
 
Opening their hearts to a Slovak parish, they accepted a post in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1944, where they assisted in the parish and operated a day nursery.
 
After World War II, the sisters assisted refugees, helping hundreds find employment, housing, and other needs, as well as acting as interpreters in official and legal matters.
 
In 1951, Mother Mary Sylvina Perska erected a novitiate in Oshawa to gain Canadian-born vocations, necessary for provincial self-governance. The sisters in Canada organized as a commissariat under the Buffalo province in 1953, and as Canadian-born women steadily joined the Congregation, they were able to transition to a vice province in 1965. By 1988, with a solid community of native-born sisters, Holy Name of Mary became an official province.
 
The sisters relinquished their Augusta Avenue convent, allowing it to serve more fully as a ministry for the homeless. They built a new provincial house and high school for girls in 1964 in Mississauga. Felician Sisters in Canada remain a positive influence on youth through education and retreat programs.
 

History Books of This Province
Check with the archives for availability.
A Tree in Bloom: The Canadian Branch of the Felician Sisters
By Sister Mary Seraphine Zimmerman

Milestones

1937

First Convent in Toronto

First Convent in Toronto
The Felician mission in Ontario began in a convent and day care on Richmond Street in Toronto, which the sisters quickly found was inadequate for operating a day nursery.
1937

Missioned to Canada

Missioned to Canada

Four Felician Sisters from the Buffalo province were sent to Toronto, Canada to assist struggling Polish immigrants.

Pictured are Mother Mary Sylvina Perska and Sister Mary Bogumila Czosynka who were missioned in 1937.

1938

Catholic Resettlement House

Catholic Resettlement House

Felician Sisters were contracted to take charge of a day care, staff a clinic, and perform office work, helping immigrants fill out forms and find their way at this immigration center.

Pictured are SM Dolores and SM Bertrand ministering at the St. Gerard Clinic at the Catholic Resettlement House in 1954, the same year the clinic closed. Felician Sisters terminated their service in this ministry in 1986.

1938

Purchase of Leadlay Mansion

Purchase of Leadlay Mansion
When property on Augusta Avenue in Toronto became available, the sisters purchased it to serve as a convent. A ballroom in the former mansion was used for St. Stanislaus Day Nursery and adult English lessons.
1940

St. Stanislaus Nursery Erected

St. Stanislaus Nursery Erected
Operating St. Stanislaus Day Nursery in the convent quickly became inadequate. A new building was erected on the property where an old garage had been. In the future, this building would become St. Felix Centre.
1942

Felician Sisters Day Nursery Opened

Felician Sisters Day Nursery Opened

Located in Hamilton, ON, the nursery successfully helped families with two working parents. The week it opened, 22 students enrolled, and during its existence, the sisters received generous donations for the nursery from the community.

Felician Sisters Day Nursery closed in 1966 after 24 years of service.

1951

Novitiate Erected

Novitiate Erected
Property was purchased in Oshawa, Ontario, for a novitiate when the Felician Sisters in Canada were presented with five Canadian-born postulants, allowing the Community to prosper.
1953

Organized as a Commissariat

Organized as a Commissariat
Sister Mary Sylvina Perska was appointed as the first Commissary under the jurisdiction of the Buffalo province, 
1964

Construction of New Motherhouse

Construction of New Motherhouse
The Felician Sisters in Canada built a new convent on property purchased in the Port Credit neighborhood of Mississauga in Toronto.
1964

Holy Name of Mary High School Founded

Holy Name of Mary High School Founded
Along with their convent, the Canadian Felicians also built a high school on their provincial property. Sister Mary Seraphine Zimmerman served as the first principal of the all-girls school.
1965

Mission in NWT

Mission in NWT

Three Felician Sisters began an apostolate of faith and education serving the Dene people 90 miles south of the North Pole.

SM Celeste Goulet, SM Vincent Bright, and SM Edward Recoskie posed for a photo next to the frozen Mackenzie River in 1979.

1987

Jericho House Founded

Jericho House Founded

Sister Jacqueline Keefe and Christian Brother Bill Carruthers coach youth to respect creation and each other in the splendor of nature through youth retreats, activities, and conferences.

Pictured is the Sacred Heart Catholic High School retreat held in Mono Mills, ON, in 1997, and facilitated by Jericho House.

1988

Holy Name of Mary Province Established

1993

Beatification of Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska

Beatification of Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska
On April 18 in Rome, (Saint) Pope John Paul II beatified the Felician Foundress, granting her the title “Blessed.”
1993

St. Felix Centre Beginnings

St. Felix Centre Beginnings

The former St. Stanislaus Nursery building evolved to meet the needs of the neighborhood. Felician Sisters made sandwiches for those who knocked on the convent door. Eventually, meals were served at a regular time.

Pictured are SM Irene Rajca and SM Teresa Mielech.

2009

Unification of Felician Provinces

Unification of Felician Provinces
All eight Felician provinces in North America united as Our Lady of Hope Province.

Beaded Fur Mittens

Beaded Fur Mittens

These beaded rabbit-fur mittens were made by a Dene Elder of the Tulita, NWT, community located within the Arctic Circle.

Beatification Banner

Beatification Banner

The depiction of Mother Mary Angela Truskowska that hung in front of St. Peter's Basilica for the beatification of the Foundress in 1993.

Carving of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Carving of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Mother Mary Angela gave this carving to Mother Mary Brunona Pydynkowski as the Buffalo province was founded. In 1956, it was moved to Mississauga, ON.

Catholic Resettlement House

Catholic Resettlement House

In 1938, the Felician Sisters took charge of the Catholic Resettlement House Day Nursery that included a clinic and office work.

Convents in Canada

Convents in Canada

From 1937 to today, three convents have been the center of activity for the Felician Sisters in Canada.

Dene Children's Book

Dene Children's Book

This book is from a series written and illustrated by Sister Mary Celeste Goulet for the Dene children in her ministry in Tulita, NWT.

Early Formation in Canada

Early Formation in Canada

In 1967, two graduates of Holy Name of Mary became Felician Sisters.

Early Parish Ministry

Early Parish Ministry

As early as 1938, Felician Sisters in Toronto began their days traveling to distant parishes.

Felician History Book

Felician History Book

"A Tree in Bloom," by Sister Mary Seraphine Zimmerman, chronicles the early history of the Canadian branch of the Felician Sisters of North America.

Felician Sisters Day Nursery

Felician Sisters Day Nursery

Felician Sister's Day Nursery opened with two children; by the end of that week, 22 were enrolled, so great was the need.

Holy Name of Mary Catholic Schools

Holy Name of Mary Catholic Schools

Founded in 1964 with sisters who ardently embraced their roles as educators and impressed upon students the importance of each person. 

Immigrant Education

Immigrant Education

Teaching English language and catechesis were essential to the mission of the Felician Sisters in Ontario.

Jericho House

Jericho House

Since 1987, thousands of youth and adults have been drawn to Jericho House programs that include youth leadership training, social justice, and eco-spirituality retreats.

Mission in Tulita

Mission in Tulita

Since 1979, Sister Mary Celeste Goulet has been immersed in the life of the Dene community she serves in Tulita, NWT. 

Mother Mary Raphael Skowronski

Mother Mary Raphael Skowronski

One of the first Felician Sisters in Canada, Mother Mary Raphael Skowronski succeeded Mother Mary Sylvina Perska in 1958.

Mother Mary Roselle Mistal

Mother Mary Roselle Mistal

Mother Mary Roselle Mistal was elected vice provincial superior in 1977 with 67 professed sisters, 51 of whom were engaged in teaching.

Mother Mary Sylvina Perska

Mother Mary Sylvina Perska

One of three sisters missioned to Canada In 1937, Mother Mary Sylvina Perska was appointed the first provincial commissary in 1957.

Mother Mary Tyburcia Szymczak

Mother Mary Tyburcia Szymczak

After entering the Buffalo province in 1932, Mother Mary Tyburcia Szymczak served in the Holy Name of Mary Vice Province for three decades.

Oil Painting

Oil Painting

This oil on canvas painting by Sister Mary Colette Michniewicz depicts the Felician Franciscan heritage.

Sister Mary Alexandrette Smith

Sister Mary Alexandrette Smith

Elected vice provincial in 1971, Sister Mary Alexandrette Smith was responsible for 64 sisters in final vows, 11 sisters in annual vows, and one postulant.

Sister Mary Alice Kwiecien

Sister Mary Alice Kwiecien

Sister Mary Alice arrived in Canada in 1966 to serve Polish immigrants. She is credited with the sponsorship of 6,000 refugee families freed from Soviet rule in 1980.

Sister Mary Celestine Giertych

Sister Mary Celestine Giertych

A founding teacher at Holy Name of Mary High School and later its principal, Sister Mary Celestine Giertych, began her tenure as provincial minister in 1989.

St. Felix Centre Early Years

St. Felix Centre Early Years

In 1993, the Felician Sisters committed their former convent to support the evolving needs of the community surrounding it.

St. Stanislaus Day Nursery

St. Stanislaus Day Nursery

In 1937, the Felician Sisters purchased the historic mansion at 25 Augusta Avenue that would serve many purposes, including a day nursery.

Woven "Pax et Bonum"

Woven "Pax et Bonum"

Woven artwork from the convent in Mississauga created by Sister Mary Colette Michniewicz.