of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(Jane Polinska)
June 1, 1914 – January 5, 2006
Sacred Heart Province
Des Plaines, Illinois
“My unceasing concern is the preservation of true charity... .founded on the love of God, permeated with kindness, understanding and sacrifice.” (Counsels from the Heart. Letter to Mother Paula, September 1, 1893).
On June 1, 1914, John and Alexandra Polinski welcomed the birth of their first child, Jane. They presented her for baptism at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Chicago. For a very brief time Jane enjoyed growing up in a very happy family with her three brothers and one sister. As a young girl her life was tranquil and uneventful. She enjoyed first grade at St. Hedwig School. Suddenly, at the tender age of eight, life changed for her. In 1922, her mother died of a ruptured appendix, two weeks later her father died of pneumonia. For a short period of time, her Godmother raised Jane. However, her Godmother developed a heart condition and could no longer care for Jane. It was then that she joined her three brothers at St. Hedwig orphanage. Once again, Sister would experience sorrow for soon three different families adopted her three brothers leaving her alone. She became familiar with our Sisters, because her best friend, Irene, had an aunt who was a Sister of Nazareth. When Irene’s father died, she asked Sister Janine to help her run away. Sister packed all of Irene’s belongings in a pillowcase and dropped them to her. It was the last time Sister saw her. Years later, she learned that Irene entered our community in Philadelphia and was known as Sister Martha. Sister preceded Sister Janine in death two years ago.
Sister Janine left St. Hedwig orphanage when her sister, Lillian was killed in a car accident. Lillian’s stepmother decided to take Sister Janine home. God’s plan was beginning to take root in Sister’s life. Her stepmother enrolled her in St. Hyacinth School where once again she met our Sisters. Sister Gustawa encouraged the children to pray for vocations. However, the girls had the impression that they could join the convent only when one of the sisters died. When Sister Gustawa told them that Sister Rosaline died, Sister Janine asked if she could enter the convent and take Sister’s place. Her prayers were answered and on June 7, 1928, at the age of 14, Sister Janine entered Nazareth. She was invested June 12, 1930 and received the name Sister M. Modesta. She professed her vows January 6, 1932 and made her perpetual vows July 3, 1938 taking the Sacred Heart of Jesus as her mystery.
Sister’s first assignment was teaching fifth grade at Assumption School. After a brief time in education she was transferred to St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital School of Nursing and became a registered nurse in 1940. She continued her education at DePaul University receiving a bachelor’s degree in nursing education. She attended the University of California, Loyola University and received a Government scholarship to Catholic University in Washington to study psychiatric nursing. She took courses in San Antonio for polio nursing and attended EEG courses in Galveston, Texas. She ministered to the sick in all of these fields at St. Mary’s in Chicago, St. Jude in Montgomery, Alabama, and Mother Frances Hospital in Texas.
Sister was grateful for her calling to serve the sick, especially for the years she was assigned to care for the sick sisters in the infirmary at St. Mary’s and for the years she was the local superior of Nazarethville. Sister looked upon this ministry as a time of great grace. She was compassionate, caring and solicitous about the needs of each sister. She enjoyed going shopping and bringing back something that she knew that a particular sister needed or simply enjoyed. Her trips to the local stores and markets always meant that each of the sisters would receive a special treat that day.
In addition to the compassionate care and the dedicated service to the sick, Sister Janine had many other talents. One of her specialties was her Christmas fruitcake. Each one was carefully made, baked and wrapped in a rum soaked cloth, then tucked in a special cake tin. The sisters, friends and benefactors looked forward to receiving one. Sister also had a deep faith and never gave up on a project she knew would bring pleasure to others. On Holy Thursday, she decided to make Easter cookies. The dough was prepared, refrigerated and ready for cutting on Good Friday. She discovered that there were no cookie cutters for Easter. Her search at the local stores all resulted in disappointment. Her last hope was Ace Hardware, where a kind gentleman hearing her story searched the store high and low until he found several Easter cookie cutters. On Holy Saturday the cookies adorned the table with the rest of the foods to be blessed.
These many little acts of charity, concern and attention were typical of the way Sister Janine lived her entire life. Nothing was too big or too small when it came to caring for the Sisters. She even went out of her way to stop a thief, while she was out walking Omar, the convent dog. She sent Omar to hold down the thief, while she called the police. When the story was featured in the newspaper and she received accolades from everyone, Sister said the next time she has to face such an incident she will make sure no one knows about it.
Sister Janine found the source of her love, strength and courage in the Eucharist and her great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Daily she prayed the Chaplet of the Holy Wounds and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Her love for Jesus was reflected in the way she ministered to the Sisters and to those who cared for her. From early childhood her faith gave her the strength not only adapt to life situations, but also to lovingly embrace them, knowing that God’s grace was there for her. Although her sight began to fail as a result of macular degeneration, she never lost sight of her desire to live her life to the fullest, serving God in whatever circumstance He placed her. As the days progressed, Sister became weaker and as silently as she lived, she peacefully accepted the Lord’s invitation to “Come Home.” May the Christ whom you served welcome you to paradise.
Digitized by S. Brendan O'Brien, CSFN
Instructor
School of Arts & Sciences
History Department
Holy Family University
9801 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19114
215-637-7700 x3279
srbrendan@holyfamily.edu
http://web3.holyfamily.edu/srbrendan
Last updated: February 2006