Arrival in North America
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province
Livonia, Michigan
F
History Books of This Province
The Felician Sisters of Livonia, Michigan: First Province in America
By Sister Mary Janice Ziolkowski
Pioneers of the Gospel: A History of the Felician Sisters Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province, Livonia, Michigan, 1976-2009
By Sister Rose Marie Kujawa and Sister Joyce Marie Van de Vyver
The Educational Work of the Felician Sisters of the Province of Detroit in the United States, 1874-1948
By Sister Mary Jeremiah Studniewska
r. Jozef Dabrowski, a Catholic priest in rural Polonia, Wisconsin, wrote to the Felician Sisters in Poland requesting sisters to come and teach Polish immigrants in his parish. Five sisters arrived in 1874, and within two weeks, they opened a school. More significantly, in another week, a young girl asked to join the Congregation. Vocations became so numerous that by 1877, the Congregation in Polonia became the first American Felician province, taking the name Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In Polonia, the sisters founded their first orphanage in America, beginning with the care of an 18-month-old girl who had traveled on the same ocean liner with them and whose mother died at sea. They also assisted Fr. Dabrowski in his mission work among the Winnebago, a Native American group that lived in camps in the neighborhood. Many were baptized, and Mother Mary Monica Sybilska served as godmother.
Mother Mary Cajetan Jankiewicz, a teacher by profession, worked with Fr. Dabrowski to set up schools. When they realized textbooks could not be gotten, Fr. Dabrowski bought a printing press and worked with Mother Cajetan to compile, edit, and print books in Polish.
As Poles arrived and spread out into areas where they could find work and build community, the sisters were sought as teachers and followed. By 1882, they moved to Detroit, Michigan, to be centrally located to their expanding field of endeavor. In Detroit for 50 years, they experienced substantial growth; by 1900, they were supervising four orphanages and 53 schools in 16 states.
In 1932, provincial superior Mother Mary DeSales Tocka acted on plans for a move that had previously been tabled. She prudently purchased 320 acres in rural Livonia, Michigan, that could accommodate the home for orphan girls, the novitiate and sisters, and a secondary school to provide aspirants a general education and teacher preparation courses.
Funds were not available to lay the cornerstone of the new provincial complex until 1935, as construction occurred during the Great Depression. Though the chapel remained incomplete, the monastic-style Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province was officially established in Livonia, Michigan, in 1936, with grounds designed in the shape of a chalice. Its campus has housed ministries at every level of education, from early childcare to university, a hospital, rehabilitation and nursing care, and a hospice facility.
History Books of This Province
Check with the archives for availability.
The Felician Sisters of Livonia, Michigan: First Province in AmericaBy Sister Mary Janice Ziolkowski
Pioneers of the Gospel: A History of the Felician Sisters Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province, Livonia, Michigan, 1976-2009
By Sister Rose Marie Kujawa and Sister Joyce Marie Van de Vyver
The Educational Work of the Felician Sisters of the Province of Detroit in the United States, 1874-1948
By Sister Mary Jeremiah Studniewska
Milestones
1874
1875
First Orphanage
St. Clara Orphanage was founded in Polonia, WI, with an 18-month-old girl, whose mother died at sea while aboard the SS Ethiopia, having made the trans-Atlantic crossing with the five Felician Sisters.
This photo of St. Clara Orphanage is circa 1920.
1877
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province Founded
When scores of young women sought to join the Felician Congregation, establishment of a novitiate and province in North America became necessary.
This undated photo of Father Dabrowski and Felician aspirants was most likely taken some years after the first province was founded.
1882
Relocation to Detroit
The Felician Sisters moved to Detroit, MI, following waves of Polish immigrants who sought jobs in that city. The sisters maintained a presence in Polonia.
1887
Entering Health Care
The sisters ventured into health care with the acceptance of “Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Home for the Aged, Crippled and Orphans” in Manitowoc, WI, that would become St. Mary's Home and today is known as Felician Village.
1912
Founding of St. Joseph Home for Children
Initially intended as an academy, the sisters used the former Thompson mansion they had acquired in Jackson, MI, as a home for boys. Fifty years later, a new building accepted girls.
St. Joseph Home for Children closed in 1976.
1932
Relocaton to Livonia
The Felician Sisters relocated from Detroit after building a new provincial house in Livonia, MI. Villa St. Felix was built on a 320-acre campus to provide space for many Felician ministries.
This photo is of the dedication ceremony in 1937.
1935
Ministry at Orchard Lake
Five Felician Sisters were missioned to supervise the domestic department of the seminary in Orchard Lake, MI, that was founded by Father Joseph Dabrowski.
This photo, taken in 1974, is of Sister Dorothy.
1937
Madonna University Founded
Mother Mary DeSales Tocka initiated the province's higher education ministry when she and her council established a junior college within the new motherhouse. In 1947, the name changed to Madonna College with the acceptance of lay women, and with master's level programs in 1991, Madonna University.
This photo is of a biology classroom in the junior college.
1938
Guardian Angel Home Established
Serving orphaned or homeless girls ages two to eighteen in the former provincial headquarters in Detroit.
Guardian Angel would eventually close in 1964.
1942
Health Care Mission in Canada
Five Felician Sisters were missioned to Grandview in Manitoba, Canada, to administer Grandview Hospital of the Divine Child. The province also intended to establish a hospital in Langenberg, Saskatchewan.
The healthcare mission was recalled after six years due to difficulties encountered in Canada's socialized medicine.
1950
Ladywood High School Opens
Founded as a private all-girl school to serve Livonia and the surrounding area. Enrollment tripled after the first year, with generally 100 percent of students going on to attend post-secondary school.
Ladywood High School closed in 2018.
1956
Kinderheim Marianum
Four Felician Sisters were missioned to Carlsberg, Germany, to serve in a shelter for orphaned or parentless Polish children displaced after WWII.
This photo is of the first permanent residents of the Kinderheim Marianum shelter.
1959
St. Mary Hospital Founded
Located on Five Mile and Levan Roads in Livonia, MI, the hospital opened with 100 percent occupancy. The name eventually changed to St. Mary Mercy Hospital.
1967
Maria Nursery School Opened
Founded in Detroit to assist families as women entered the workforce, the nursery school relocated to Livonia in 1977. Sister Claudine Forys was the director.
In this photo, Mother Mary Clarentine Dzienis is visited by the nursery students dressed for Halloween. Maria Nursery School closed in 1981.
1976
Montessori Center of Our Lady Opens
Founded in the Livonia motherhouse with Sister Mary Paulita Bikowski as the first administrator. The highly successful school moved to its own space on the campus in 2008.
Pictured is Sister Mary Paulita Bikowski with a student.
1976
St. Joseph Day Care Center Opens
The former St. Joseph Home for Children in Jackson, MI, transitioned to serve day care needs for families.
This photo is of Sister Mary Thaddea Meyers during the 1976 open house.
1981
Maryville Retreat Center Opens
Selling the former Guardian Angel Home summer camp in Holly, MI, was not an option, so Mother Mary Clarentine Dzienis and her council led its transformation into Maryville Retreat Center.
1985
Angela Hospice Founded
Sister Mary Giovanni Monge with financial support from the Archdiocese of Detroit, opened the hospice opened in a small Madonna University office. In 1994, Angela Hospice opened the first freestanding inpatient hospice in Michigan, located on the Felician campus in Livonia.
1989
St. Mary Child Care Established
At first, this day care center for St. Mary Hospital staff was located within the hospital. In five years, the program was so successful that a stand-alone center was required. Sister Mary Joyce Van de Vyver designed a stunning center that opened in 1996.
Pictured is Sister Joyce Van de Vyver, designer of St. Mary Child Care Center and its first administrator.
1991
Marywood Nursing Care Center and Marybrook Manor Established
With the vision of Sister Mary Harold Lopata, this highly-rated assisted living home for seniors opened on the Felician Livonia campus, offering seniors levels of care.
This photo is of Archbishop Adam Maida (left) placing the cornerstone with provincial minister Sister Mary Dennis Glonek, Sister Mary Modesta Piowar, Mayor Robert Bennett, and John Landis, chairman of the Marian Village board of trustees.
1992
Senior Clergy Village Established
At the request of Adam Cardinal Maida, this unique living arrangement provides 20 condominiums for retired priests to live in community on the Felician campus. The sisters collect a fee and provide maintenance and meals.
The photo is of the groundbreaking with Sister Rose Marie Kujawa, Adam Cardinal Maida, and Sister Mary Dennis Glonek.
1993
Beatification of Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska
2009
Unification of Felician Provinces
All eight Felician provinces in North America united as Our Lady of Hope Province.
