November 30, 2019 The USA Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus held celebrations to mark the 125 Anniversary of the Congregation, the 60th Anniversary of our Sisters' presence on American soil, and the 50th Anniversary of Sr. Klaudiana Jozefowicz's arrival to America on July 4, 1969. A Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving was held at St. Francis Xavier Church in Cresson, Pennsylvania on November 30, 2019 at 11:00AM, followed by a dinner in the parish hall. The celebrant and homilist was Father Leo F. Arnone, Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Cresson, Pennsylvania, and toastmaster for the dinner was Fr. Aron M. Maghsoudi, Pastor from Queen of Angels Parish in Central City, Pennsylvania. Both priests had attended our Congregation's celebrations with our Sisters in Poland in June, 2019.
November 29, 2019 Mother Provincial Klara Slonina and Father Thomas Acklin, OSB of St. Vincent Archabbey and Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania met with local Superiors of our American Province for a day of renewal at Sacred Heart Province in Cresson, Pennsylvania.
November 28, 2019 Sisters of the American Province gathered for Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Joseph Convent in Munster Township, Portage, Pennsylvania.
November 16, 2019 Sr. Ryszarda Wittbrodt, and Sr. Monica Marie Scodari met in Easton, Pennsylvania with our lay associates, the Rays of Merciful Love. If you are interested in learning more about joining this group of dedicated souls who follow our spirituality, please see https://www.sacredheartsisters.org/lay-associates.html or call our Province hours at 814.886.4223.
November 8, 2019 Mother Klara Slonina and Sr. Mary Joseph Calore were at St. Paul on the Lake Parish in Grosse Pointe Farms where they gave a presentation on St. John Paul II and Divine Mercy to a gathering of families as part of the parish's ongoing spiritual evangelization. Mother Klara and Sr. Mary Joseph met many wonderful, zealous Catholics in that area. They also visited the Shrine and Tomb of Blessed Solanus Casey, OFM, Cap, bearing intentions of many recommended to our prayers.
November 2, 2019 Ssters of the Province house community, Cresson, PA and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque community, Middletown, PA went to Gettysburg National Cemetery and Museum for a community day.
October 30, 2019 Sr. Augustine Marie Molnar attended a Vocation Day for the Diocesan Catholic High Schools, held at Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
October 27, 2019 Sr. Ryszarda Wittbrodt and Sr. Mary Joseph Calore participated in a Youth Retreat at Lancaster Catholic High School for Confirmation students.
September 13, 2019 The 12th annual Sacred Heart Sisters' Golf Tournament, The Invitational was held at Cresson Summit Country Club. Jim Ostinowsky's Team (Jim Ostinowsky, Andy Ostinowsky and Tyler Torchia) won the coveted trophy. Thank you to all organizers, participants and supporters!
August 22, 2019 Sister Theresa Marie Kukla, SSCJ, a perpetually professed Sister of the Congregation of Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, entered into eternal life on Thursday morning, August 22, 2019, the feast of the Queenship of Mary, at Family Hospice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following a brief illness. Sister was among the first Americans to enter the Congregation nearly 50 years ago in Portage, Pennsylvania.
August 17, 2019 Sr. Gabriela Strachowska observed her 25th Jubilee of Profession in Poland on June 16, 2019 and on August 17, 2019 at Sacred Heart Parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
August 15, 2019 Sr. Angela Marie Igou renewed her temporary vows at Sacred Heart, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
June 26-July 9, 2019 Several Sisters of the USA Province traveled to Poland to participate in Jubilee celebrations of our Congregation, which observed 125 years since our founding in 1894 by St. Joseph Sebastian Pelczar and Blessed Klara Szczesna. Sisters also visited holy places related to our Founders and Polish Patron Saints.
June 17-24, 2019 Sisters observed annual retreat in Munster Township, Pennsylvania under the direction of retreatmaster, Fr. Thomas Acklin, OSB of St. Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
February 16, 2019 Sr. Ryszarda Wittbrodt and Sr. Mary Joseph Calore met with some of our Lay Associates, the Rays of Merciful Love, at St. Jane de Chantal Catholic Church in Easton, Pennsylvania.
February 8-10, 2019 Sister Mary Joseph Calore and Sr. Augustine Marie Molnar attended Mount 2000 Retreat, from February 8-10, 2019 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This annual event is a Eucharistic Retreat for high school students coordinated by the seminarians of Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland. Eight hundred students attended the event this year, at which our Sisters were able to host a display table with our brochures and make our charism known. The seminarians were interested in the life of our Father Founder, and several expressed the hope that they can become devoted to our Saint who was also a diocesan priest.
January 25-27, 2019 Our Sisters organized a retreat for girls from January 25-27 at St. Joseph Convent in Munster Township, Portage, Pennsylvania. Twenty-nine young women attended this retreat, which focused on the theme of generosity. The weekend included Holy Mass, Adoration, Conferences, and even the activity of making soap.
December 27, 2018 - January 2, 2019 Our Junior Sisters observed their annual days of retreat and renewal, led by Fr. Nathanael Polinski, OSB of St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, joined by the perpetually professed.
December 30, 2018 Our Sisters made a musical recording of hymns under the direction of Sr. Mary Daniel Jackson, SSCJ.
November 22, 2018 Our Sisters gathered for our Province Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Joseph Convent, Munster Township, Portage, Pennsylvania.
September 14, 2018 Our Annual Golf Tournament was held at Cresson Summit Country Club.
September 29, 2018 Our Sisters moved into a new convent location for Bl. Klara Szczesna Convent in Middletown, Pennsylvania. On November 16, 2018 the Most Holy Sacrament took up residence in the house, with Holy Mass by the Pastor, Fr. Edward (Ted) Keating, of Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Middletown, Pennsylvania.
August 3, 2018 On the First Friday of August, August 3, 2018, Sr. Marietta Therese Hanley, SSCJ, a perpetually professed Sister of the Congregation of Sister Servant of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, entered into eternal life at 12:35 am at St. Joseph Convent, Munster Twp., Portage, PA, surrounded by her religious Sisters, family and friends. The vigil for Sister Marietta Therese was held at St. Francis Xavier Church on Tuesday, August 7, led by Fr. Angelo Patti, with prayer throughout the day led by the Sisters and a Chaplet of Mercy led by All Saints Catholic School. S i s t e r Marietta Therese’s funeral Mass took place St. Aloysius Church Cresson, PA on Wednesday August 8 at 11:00 a.m., where, in the presence of the Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown, Most Rev. Mark Bartchak, the Celebrant, Very Reverend John Byrnes, JV, JCL, Homilist Rev. Dennis Carbonaro, nineteen priest concelebrants, Deacon Richard Golden, seminarians, religious, and family and friends, the church was filled to capacity, a tribute to the love and devotion of this Sister. The graveside prayers at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery were offered by Franciscan Friars Fr. Jim Mormon, Tor and Fr. Nathan Malavolti, TOR.
August 2, 2018 Mother Amabilis Dȩbicka observed her 65th Anniversary of religious profession. Within those 65 years, Mother has distinguished herself as a faithful and dedicated religious Sister who was entrusted with unique responsibilities in her religious life. Mother was the foremost pioneer for establishing our Congregation in the United States of America, where she served here as first superior, director of novices and later, first provincial superior. God has certainly used Mother’s intrepid spirit, her optimism and warmth with people to further the designs of His Sacred Heart for the benefit of countless souls in the United States and Jamaica. We give thanks to God for the gift we have in our beloved Mother Amabilis.
July 27-29, 2018 Sister Mary Joseph Calore and Sr. Augustine Marie Molnar joined 23 other religious Sisters to assist with the Fiat Camp for the Archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington, held at Mount Saint Mary's University and Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD. Sr. Mary Joseph Calore was a speaker at the event, delivering a lecture on Chapter VI of Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation, Gaudium et Exsultate, and Sr. Augustine Marie Molnar assisted with music. Both Sisters participated in group and panel discussions for the 52 young women present, discerning their vocation in life. The event was marked by a visit and Mass by one of the Auxiliary Bishops of Washington, Most Rev. Michael William Fisher as well as by the observance of the Memorial and veneration of the relics of Blessed Stanley Rother, first American-born martyr and alumnus of Mount St. Mary's Seminary.
July 16-20, 2018 Sister Gabriela Strachowska and Sr. Angela Marie Igou with four teachers and adult and teen volunteers organized Camp Logos at Sacred Heart Parish and Academy in Grand Rapids, Michigan for 60 children.
July 15-19, 2018 Sr. Mary Joseph Calore and Sr. Augustine Marie Molnar participated in the Fiat Days/Quo Vadis Discernment week for the Diocese of Allentown, at DeSales University in Center Valley, PA with the theme "Take Courage, Do Not be Afraid (Mt. 14:27)." Over 100 young people participated. Sister Mary Joseph joined the Bishop of Allentown, Most Rev. Alfred A. Schlert, the vocation director, Fr. Mark Searles and religious and seminarians in addressing the parents of those attending. Sr. Augustine Marie Molnar organized a youth choir and assisted with music for the week.
June 10-17, 2018 The Sisters made their Annual Retreat at St. Joseph Convent, Munster Township, Portage, Pennsylvania, led by the Benedictine monk Fr. Nathanael Polinski, OSB of St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA.
June 9, 2018 Our Sisters observed the Silver Jubilee of Religious Profession of Sr. Maria Anna Mellody with a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Francis Xavier Church in Cresson, PA, the principal celebrant being Most Reverend Mark Bartchak, Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown
June 8, 2018 The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was celebrated at St. Joseph Convent Chapel in Munster Township, Portage, PA by the celebrant, Fr. Matthew Reese. The Mass was followed by a social and fireworks provided by Fr. Michael Wolfe and Matt & Emily Wolfe and friends of the Sisters.
June 5-7, 2018 Our Sisters observed our annual Triduum of adoration and evening devotions before the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Joseph Convent Chapel, Munster Township, Portage, PA, with homilists, Fr. James Mormon, TOR, Fr. Michael Wolfe, and Fr. Matthew Baum.