Sr. Mary Heliodora (Leokadia Matuszewska)

She was born on February 8, 1906 in Stara Huta under Prussian rule. Her parents owned a farm. Sister Heliodora finished fourth grade at a German elementary school. Later she worked in an elastics factory in Grudziądz while rooming with her sister. During this time she became actively engaged in the life of the local parish, belonging to all possible church groups and eagerly participating in the holy sacraments. She undoubtedly deepened the faith she had brought from home and also developed her organizational skills. She was accepted into the Congregation in January, 1933 in Kalisz. In July 1935 after completing her novitiate in Grodno where she made her first vows she left for Nowogrodek in July 1935. She was assigned numerous household tasks cleaning at the school and being a portress. Sister Heliodora was characterized by integrity, honesty, diligence, and innate intelligence. She was loved not only by the sisters, but also by the residents of Nowogrodek. Sister Veritas wrote: “Full of true joy and God’s bliss. Eyes and mouth always smiling. At that, she was energetic, hardworking, nimble and adept at her work – whatever she took on, she always did well”. During the Soviet occupation, she was in charge of housekeeping at the home of the director of the then-Soviet-run school (a Russian and a party member), and during the German occupation she devoted herself to handwork, weaving and sewing.