Venerable Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik

Josephine Dudzik was born on August 30, 1860 in the Polish village of Plocicz.  Her parents, Jan and Agnieszka, also had four other children:  Rosalie Frank; Józef; Franciszka; and Katarzyna Dudzik.  Seeking a better life, in 1881 she emigrated to Chicago with her family.  They settled in the West Town neighborhood and became parishioners of St. Stanisalus Kostka Parish.
   
In 1886, the Third Order Secular of St. Frances was established at the parish. Looking to deepen her spiritual life, Josephine and her friend Rosalie Wysinski were among the first members. After her father’s death in 1889, Josephine lived alone with her mother. The economy was experiencing the Long Depression and the result was significant poverty across the big cities of the United States. Feeling moved by the plight of those around her, she began taking the impoverished and abandoned into her home.

Father Vincent Michael Barzynski, C.R. was the founder of the Resurrectionist missions in Chicago, the Pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, and Josephine’s spiritual director. She asked for his consent to care for those in need with other women from the parish. Additionally, she sought to purchase a larger home to care for more people in need. Fr. Barzynski would only give his approval if the women agreed to form a religious congregation: taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as well as the outward sign of a religious habit.

In 1894, Josephine began inviting the members of the Third Order Secular of St. Francis to establish a new congregation called the Franciscan Sisters of the Blessed Kunegunda. Blessed (now Saint) Kunegunda’s cause for canonization was being promoted by the Congregation of the Resurrection at that time. (She is now also known as St. Kinga of Poland.) Due to the relationship between the Resurrectionists and the promotion of Blessed Kunegunda’s cause, Fr. Barzynski encourage the new order to take that name. The new order began on December 8, 1894 and is the first order of religious women founded in Chicago. Today they are known as the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago.

"I was overcome with a kind of misgiving, I knew that it would not be easy to learn how to be a good religious. How could I impart such knowledge when I myself was simple and uneducated both in spiritual and secular matters? I considered myself a fool and recognized my need of education in the proper techniques to guide others. Nevertheless, I only wished that God's Will be done. I place all my trust in Him and would readily submit to His design."

– Venerable Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik

Between 1894 and 1900, the Sisters did various work to support themselves and their ministries:  garment work, growing flowers for cemetery bouquets, cleaning rectories, and when necessary, begging. Their ministries included building and operating St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged and Crippled and St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum.

Four Sisters made their first profession of vows on June 3, 1900.  Those included Sister Mary Anna Wysinski, Sister Mary Angeline Topolinksi, Sister Mary Agnes Dzik, and Sister Mary Theresa Dudzik. They expanded their ministry to include education and daycare.

Just ten years later, Fr. Barzynski removed Sister Theresa from her role as superior of the community due to malicious rumors that she was using the funds she was collecting, to further the Order’s mission, for herself and her family. Her friend, Sister Anna Wysinski, was made the superior.

Despite these actions, she never waivered in her faith or obedience, and she humbly took on the most menial tasks given to her.

"I often chose the hardest tasks. I say this not to praise myself, but to admit God's ready assistance. As much as I was able to, I reassured myself with the thought that whatever I did, I would do it for the greater glory of God."

“Now that the burden was taken away from me, it suddenly seemed as though a heavy stone fell from my head, and very often I perceived unusual happiness."

– Venerable Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik

After founding a religious order that focused on the poor, the orphaned, educating youth, and providing medical and nursing care, Sr. Theresa died of cancer on September 20, 1918 in Chicago.   The religious order had grown to 160 members.

She was posthumously given the title of Mother recognizing her role as foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago.

In 1960, Rev. Henry Malak, a priest and former prisoner in the Dachau concentration camp, began research on the life of Mother Mary Theresa and was appointed postulator in 1963. In 1979, a tribunal was appointed by Cardinal John Cody to study and promote her cause. 

The title of Venerable was given by St. Pope John Paul II in 1994. This is the first step in the cause for canonization and evidences that she lived a life of holiness and virtue. Efforts continue to spread the news of her life so that people will seek her intercession in times of need  and, with miracles realized, she can receive the title “Blessed” and eventually declared a Saint of the Catholic Church.

On April 23, 2017, Cardinal Blase Cupich celebrated the 150th anniversary Jubilee Mass at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church. During the Mass, a newly carved statue of Mother Mary Theresa was dedicated and blessed.  Prior to the blessing, our Pastor, Father Anthony Buś, C.R., shared words celebrating the life of Venerable Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik. 




On the third Saturday of every month at the 5:00 p.m. Mass, the intention for the Beatification of Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik is prayed at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.