The final celebrations to mark  the end of the 125th Jubilee Year of  the presence and service  of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in the United States took place from the 1 – 4 July, 2011.  Over 160 sisters and a large number of lay people attended the festivities.  Among the invited guests were Mother Jana Zawieja, Superior General together with the General Councilors, Provincial Superiors, many Sisters  from all the former five American provinces,  Associates of the Holy Family and many friends and co-workers of the Sisters.  The celebrations centred on the the theme: Recalling the Past - Reverencing the Present - Envisioning the Future

The occasional addresses, multi-media presentations, displays, the sharing of personal stories of the Sisters and lay people revealed the richness, beauty and relevance  of the congregation’s charism and history in the United States.  The ministry of the sisters bore much fruit, evidenced by the number of vocations to the congregation, establishment of convents and apostolates throughout North America especially in the areas of education and health care, with the special focus of ministry to families.  Each day began and ended with common prayer.  The daily  Eucharist celebrated by bishops and priests from the dioceses in which the Sisters are working was the highlight of each day.

On July 4, the anniversary of the arrival of the first Sisters to America, Bishop Kevin W Vann from Texas celebrated the Mass of thanksgiving.  On the same day, during the final festive dinner to mark the end of the celebrations, Mother Jana Zawieja, Superior General, extended to the Sisters  the special apostolic blessing of Pope Benedict XVI.

The history of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in the United States began towards the end of the 19th century.  In 1885 Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Francis Siedliska, the foundress of a new congregation which numbered only twenty two sisters, received a request to establish a mission in North America in order to assist thousands of Polish immigrants and other refugees who were forced to leave their homeland.  Responding with her characteristic courage and generosity Mother arrived in New York on July 4, 1885 with eleven sisters.  After arriving in Chicago two days later she immediately began to form a committee of helpers to establish a school, a day nursery for the children and a medical centre for the sick in the immediate vicinity.

In the same year originated also the first American province in Chicago.  During this same year the first American province was established in Chicago.

The Congregation grew very quickly spreading across many states.  New provinces needed to be established in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Monroe and Texas.  From America the Sisters established missions in other countries, namely Australia and the Philippines, which today are independent provinces. 

In 2007 the congregation returned to its original organizational structure, that is, one province with its administration in Chicago.  The Province of the Holy Family consists of 340 members today.  The Sisters still conduct many ministries especially in education and health care across ten states in North America and in Puerto Rico.  New vocations are a source of hope for the province that its  mission on American soil begun so many years ago will continue for many years to come.

The 11th International Planning Meeting

The Eleventh International Planning Meeting was held from 5-10 July, 2011   at the Provincialate of Holy Family Province Chicago.  Its main task was to review the decrees and recommendations of the XXIII General Chapter held in 2010.  It was also an opportunity for the members of the General Administration and the Provincial leaders to share their views as to how these have been realized during the past year. An additional focus was to become more aware of our ministries  and needs in Eastern Europe (Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine); to become updated on the progress of our mission in Haifa (Israel) and also to discuss the establishment of a mission in Vietnam and Africa.  After much discussion and discernment the membership of the meeting supported the decision of the General Administration to share our charism with the Church and the people  on the African continent of Ghana. Each day’s activities began with participation in the Eucharist and faith sharing in two language groups. It was also an opportunity to share recent initiatives with the sisters in the local community in the Des Plaines area, namely those of Haifa and recent travels to Ghana.