uffalo, New York, was home to the fastest-growing Polish community in the United States during the 1880s to the 1920s. Felician Sisters were summoned to teach in Western New York parochial schools as early as 1881. Demand for teachers grew rapidly, as did admissions to their Congregation.
Having experienced the grueling travel from their Detroit province to Buffalo, and knowing that the Detroit province would eventually be divided, Mother Mary Monica Sybilska determined early that Buffalo would be a logical second province. In 1893, she bought land on William and Kennedy Streets in Cheektowaga, a suburb of Buffalo.
A complex was built on the site to serve as both a provincial house and a home for children, and for a time, elderly women and men. It also housed aspirants, and during summer months, sisters home from distant teaching assignments. From the beginning, the property was cramped, and as the sisters and orphans increased in number, it became unbearable.
On August 19, 1900, overseen by Mother Mary Brunona Pydynkowska, Immaculate Heart of Mary Province was officially established. The new province grew to such an extent it was divided again in 1913 to form a province in Lodi, New Jersey, but soon doubled again.
To finally alleviate the chronic lack of space, in 1921, Mother Jerome Schenk purchased a ten-and-a-half-acre property on Pine Ridge Road and Doat Street in Cheektowaga. This location, near the Buffalo city line, was close to many of the schools the sisters taught. The property had an existing two-story frame dwelling that was used as a temporary base of operations while plans were made to build a new provincial house. Inspired to make the new site a center of religious activity inclusive to the public, the sisters had a replica of the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto built on the grounds a year after the purchase.
Mother Angelina Duszynska was responsible for overseeing the construction of the Villa Maria complex based on already drawn blueprints. However, the Superior General was visiting sisters in Chicago who were also working on a provincial house. Impressed with the design, she took the blueprints back to Buffalo for the Villa Maria project.
The dedication of the new provincial headquarters chapel and academy took place on the Feast of Corpus Christi, May 30, 1929.
The Gothic-style building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. That same year, Villa Maria Academy closed, and in 2023, the building was repurposed as Angela's House to provide affordable housing.
Felician Sisters began teaching at St. Stanislaus and numerous other Buffalo area parochial schools for nearly two decades before establishing a province there.
This photo is of St. Stanislaus Convent, where Felician Sisters first resided while teaching St. Stanislaus School.
Built on William and Kennedy Streets, when the orphanage opened, it became home to 54 girls, ages three to thirteen.
Informed by their work at an immigration center on Ellis Island, Felician Sisters staffed a building in New York City to provide housing for young immigrant women in the workforce.
This ministry would transfer to the Immaculate Conception Province in 1909.
The provincial superior of the Detroit province, Mother Mary Brunona Pydynkowska, divided the province to form a second province in Buffalo on land purchased by Mother Mary Monica Sybilska. Mother Mary Cajetan Jankiewicz was appointed provincial superior in Detroit.
This photo, taken in Detroit in 1909, is of sisters who led the establishment of the second province: MM Catherine Pyterek, MM Wenceslaus Zubrzycka, MM Brunona Pydynkowska, MM Monica Sybilska, MM Bonaventure Stawska, and MM Cajetan Jankiewicz.
Originally a home for convalescent children, the sisters reconceived it as a full-service, loving home for children with severe disabilities.
The photo is of SM Sebastian Zawodzinsk, a nurse who served at St. Rita's Home for Children.
Sisters from Buffalo were the first missioned to Niteroi, Brazil, to educate the children of Polish immigrants, many who fled to Brazil during WWII.
This photo was taken in the first hour of arriving in São Francisco. L-R: SM Gualbert Kazmierczak, SM Dulcilia Rys, the secretary of the bishop, the Bishop of Niterói Dom Antonio, Mr. Nodari, MM Alexis Trojanowska, and Mrs. Nodari.
Gifted with professionally-trained and highly-talented music teachers, many students of Villa Maria Institute of Music went on to successful careers in music. Sister Mary Evangeline Pieniaszek and Sister Mary Martinelle Niemic founded the school.
Villa Maria Institute of Music closed in 2008 after nearly 52 years serving the Buffalo area.
