ORDER OF THE PENGUINS – Sr. M. Happy Feet
Order of the Penguins – Sister Ludmilla “Milly” St. Wenceslaus of Our Lady of the Snows, O.P. “Sister Mary Happy Feet, O.P.” Ordinis Penguinorum † A testimony to warm devout hearts worshipping in below zero temperatures † “Every Community is a Little Heaven.”
Founder: Archbishop Guillermo José Garlatti, Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca, Argentina
Place: Coats Island, Belgrano Base II, Antarctica (800 miles from the South Pole) † the southernmost place of worship in the world †
Year: 1979 A.D.
Her Charism: Antarctica is officially considered a “desert.” But even in this icy, barren landscape, this intrepid Sister braves the harshest of climates to bear witness to the beauty, kindness, and universality of the Catholic Faith. She literally “goes to the ends of the earth” to bring the Good News of the Gospel as she defies the destructive power of polar winds. Embracing the Salesian spirituality she possesses pastoral charity, joy and optimism, a strict Puritan work ethic, a sense of community, and a strong devotion to Our Lady. These are etched in her heart. She prays in Our Lady of the Snows Ice Chapel for the souls of those who have lost their lives in various expeditions and for the protection of pilgrims, aviators, and travelers. The Ice Chapel (her Paradise) is a cave church that consists of a complex system of chambers and corridors with walls of ice. This Sister’s unique apostolate is to assist the scientific researchers and teachers, oversee the operation of a birth facility, and provide spiritual support to help them stay close to God and His Holy Mother during their time in Antarctica. Her patron saints are St. John Bosco, St. Agnes, St. Ludmilla, and St. Wenceslaus.