Sr. Mary Gwidona (Helena Cierpka)

She was born on April 11, 1900 in Granowiec near Odolanów under Prussian rule, into a farming family. There is no information about her educational background but in light of Prussia’s schooling requirements, compulsory schooling for all children, it must be presumed that Helena went to school, albeit a German one. She joined the Congregation in Lviv in February, 1927. She completed her novitiate in Grodno where she took her first vows in January of 1930 then stayed on until July of 1933. Next, she left for a newly formed community in Ostrzeszów. She was involved in house duties, worked in the fields, and in the garden. In July of 1935 Sister Gwidona left for Grodno to prepare for her perpetual vows. After making her vows she was sent to Nowogrodek in 1936. There, she mainly took care of the garden and the household where the work was hard and exacting. Even so she was blessed with deep peace in her soul. Exactly such an image of Sister Gwidona – deep in prayer, hard-working, and cheerful – remained in the memories of sisters and residents of Nowogrodek.