Our Beginnings
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection was founded in Rome in 1891 by a widow, Celine Borzecka, and her daughter, Hedwig. The formation of the Congregation was the first time in the history of the Catholic Church that a religious community of women was founded by a mother and a daughter.
Today the Church recognizes both Mother Celine and Mother Hedwig as Venerable, or as persons who have lived lives of heroic virtue. Mother Celine and her daughter, Hedwig, lived lives that were permeated with the faith-vision and optimism so needed in our world today. They were confident that people needed a message of hope. They desired to help others discover the fact that Jesus lives and is with them always!
Today the Sisters of the Resurrection strive to live the spirit of their Foundresses.
The following are excerpts from their Decree of Heroic Virtues:
- “The Servant of God, Celine Chludzinska Borzecka, is an admirable example, deserving the attention of all the faithful, since in every state of life: virgin, mother of a family, widow and religious, she always strove towards Christian perfection.”
- “Hedwig Borzecka should be numbered among those religious who faithfully followed Christ: she witnessed to this by her actions and the obstacles she overcame; by the proof of the holiness of her life. She stood out by the integrity of her character, an unusual fervor in prayer, and a special devotion to the Resurrection of Christ.”
