of Jesus Crucified
(Irene Trojanowski)
February 1, 1920 – February 21, 2003
Saint Joseph Province
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“. . . Use all your efforts to gain the confidence of the sisters entrusted to you, by showing affection, kindness, patience, and a mature understanding of their needs . . . ” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, 1885)
Irene Trojanowski was born on February 1, 1920 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the daughter of John and Anne Krasniewska. She grew up together with her three siblings, Robert, Therese and George. From her early years her mother had prayed that one of her daughters would become a religious. As a child, Irene became very close to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth who taught her and so her intentions were to enter religious life after completing the 8th grade at St. Stanislaus Parish in Erie. Her health, however, did not permit her joining at that very young age. Instead she attended St. Stanislaus High School for her freshman through junior year.
She admits in an early biography to enjoying those high school years, yet the thought of entering religious life continually came to mind. After much prayer to the Blessed Mother and to St. Andrew Bobola, she became staunch in her initial desire to become a religious, presented the request to her father and to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and prepared to enter. She became a postulant in the community on September 2, 1938, after a three-day retreat and also completed her final year of high school at Mt. Nazareth Academy in Bellevue that same year. Sister made her first profession of vows on July 16, 1941, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and her final profession on August 17, 1947, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Sister received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mt. Mercy College (now Carlow) in Pittsburgh, a first Master’s Degree from Duquesne University also in Pittsburgh and a second Master’s in counseling from the College of St. Thomas in Minnesota.
During these 64 Years in Religious Life, Sister Magdalen spent 26 years in education, 6 years teaching primary grades and the other 20 with secondary school students in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Cleveland and Lakewood, Ohio; and Allen Park, Michigan. Sister served as Formation Director for a total of 11 years within St. Joseph Province, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sister Magdalen served as house parent and counselor for young women at Carmelita Hall in Parma, Ohio from 1974 to 1976. She was then appointed to St. Augustine Academy, Lakewood, Ohio, where she was a member of the Administrative Team, teacher, and guidance counselor until her retirement to Holy Family Manor in 2000, where she served as receptionist and Latin tutor for students.
Frail and extremely thin, Sister accepted with a smile the comments and pleas from doctors and friends to put on more weight. A cancer survivor since 1974 she accepted with great patience the years of complications that followed initial radiation treatment given her in the 1970s. A magnanimous spirit complimented her physical weakness. Sister Magdalen was noted to be a deeply spiritual woman and served as companion to many, both in and outside of her own religious community. Particularly fond of the contemplative poet Jessica Powers, she would often read poetry to those who hungered for spiritual nourishment for their own journey. Several of these close friends kept vigil with her during her final week of life at Holy Family Manor.
After years of complicated physical health problems, Sister Magdalen Trojanowski of Jesus Crucified died on Friday, February 21, 2003, surrounded by those who loved her, including her brother George and niece, Georgianne. In her earliest biography she writes that her only desire was to give herself completely to Jesus. Her life is a testimony to the reality of that gift. Her funeral liturgy was held on Monday, February 24, followed by burial in St. Joseph Cemetery on the Provincialate grounds.
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