Sister Servant of Mary Immaculate Ukraine

Sister Servant of Mary Immaculate –  Sister Mariya Joannina of the Trinity, S.S.M.I.                                                                   Byzantine-Catholic Rite in union with Rome                                                        † The first active Catholic women’s Congregation in the Ukrainian Catholic Church †                                                    “Glory to God!  Honor to Mary!  Peace to Us!”                                                                  “Educate the heart of the people and serve where the need is greatest”

Founders:  Blessed Michaelina Hordashevska  ( Sister Josaphata )                                                                       Reverend Jeremiah Lomnitsky, O.S.B.M.                                                                                                 Reverend Cyril Seletsky

Place:  Zhuzhel (Lviv), Western Ukraine

Year:  August 27, 1892 A.D.

Her Charism:  Responding to Christ’s call, this Sister dedicates her entire being and life to God.  She is a witness of Christ and a co-worker with Christ. for the salvation of the world by sharing her experience of God’s compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love.  Living a communal life modeled on the Holy Trinity, and built on the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, she strives to follow the example of Mary the Immaculate Mother of God – Theotokos – who is her patroness, inspiration, and protectoress.  Like Mary, she is attentive and open to God’s creating power.  Committed to a life of prayer, love, and service to God’s people, this Sister is a contemplative in action, living out the Gospel wherever the need is greatest.  By responding always with openness in the spirit of trust, total self-giving, humility, simplicity, hospitality, and joy, this Sister Servant educates and ennobles the hearts of the morally oppressed people who are yearning for spiritual uplifting and renewal.  She lovingly and tenderly cares for the young in schools and orphanages, heals the sick in homes and hospitals, and spreads God’s Word of hope and enlightenment through parish ministry and in spiritual retreat centers.  This Sister Servant’s apostolic horizons have  absolutely no limit.    Her nightly prayer is:                                                                                                                                                              “We fly to your protection, Virgin Mother of God – Theotokos –                                             Do not turn away from us in our time of great need, but deliver us from danger.                                                    You alone are pure.  You alone are blessed.”