of the Holy Face
(Sophie Smolinski)
August 1, 1912 – November 2, 2005
Sacred Heart Province
Des Plaines, Illinois
“I asked Jesus for the grace that, united with him and sustained by his love, I may be able to carry my daily cross with love and joy.” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Journey with Her)
On August 1, 1912 John and Agnes Smolinski welcomed their first-born child and took her to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church where on August 11, she was baptized Sophie. This small family of three was blessed with three more children, Helen, Joseph and Edward.
Her parents nurtured Sophie’s love for God and devotion to Mary from a very early age. The Sisters at St. Josaphat School together with her parents instilled in young Sophie a deep faith and a love for prayer that helped her recognize and respond to God’s call.
At the early age of fifteen, during the Corpus Christi procession Sophie made her final decision. She would become a Sister of Nazareth and enter on July 16, 1927. She was invested on July 17, 1928 and received the name Maristella. This brought great delight to Sister because of her great devotion to Mary. Throughout Sister Mariestella’s religious life, Mary remained her hope, her refuge and her guiding light. Not only did her name reflect her devotion, it was the source of joy that emanated from her very being to those with whom she lived as well as those to and with whom she ministered.
After completing her secondary education at Holy Family Academy, she entered St. Mary of Nazareth School of Nursing and received her nursing degree in 1933. She pronounced her perpetual vows on August 15, 1936 taking “The Holy Face” as her mystery. Once again, she allowed Christ to fill her soul with the grace to reflect her devotion to the suffering Christ. Sister Maristella ministered to the sick with compassion and understanding, recognizing the face of Jesus in the sick and the infirm.
For fifty-five years Sister dedicated her life to caring for the sick at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago, Mother Frances in Tyler, Texas, Nazareth Hospital in Mineral Wells, Texas and Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, New Mexico. Sister was the supervisor of medical, surgical, emergency nursing. For sixteen years, Sister Maristella managed the nursery at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital. In those years the nursery was often over crowded and posed a problem for Sister. However, being very creative, she simply emptied the cabinet drawers, cleaned, sterilized and lined each one with blankets to create makeshift cribs.
When Sister served at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, she was given additional responsibilities. She was sent for special courses in housekeeping and became the Executive Housekeeper at Mother Frances hospital, a position she held for ten years. She was the founding member of the Texas Society of Executive Housekeepers and served as President for two years.
In 1975 Sister Maristella was assigned to the Provincialate in Grand Prairie, Texas and worked in the infirmary as the charge nurse. As always her “signature service” to the Sisters reflected Christ’s compassionate and loving care. After ten years, Sister retired to the Provincialate in Des Plaines where she continued to help wherever she was needed.
In July of 1986 Sister Maristella started to work in the laundry/linen department at Nazarethville. She became a staff member on January 9, 1987. During her time in the laundry/linen department she worked hard to keep the first floor residents “Spic and Span.” Her sensitive and loving nature always was searching for a way to bring joy and ease the burdens of others. This is especially reflected in one of many ways. One particular day she noticed that one of the Sisters who came to visit her mother, was taking home her mother’s laundry. Sister quietly approached Sister and questioned why she was taking the laundry home. It was not surprising that Sister Maristella told Sister that she no longer needed to worry about her Mother’s laundry – she would be happy to do it.
After it became more difficult to continue to work in the laundry, Sister began to deliver the mail to the residents. Once again, she fulfilled this responsibility conscientiously delivering not only mail but also sharing prayer and her joyful spirit. In 1990 her health began to fail. Sister Maristella became a resident and now reflected love to those who ministered to her needs. Her body became trapped, but her mind was active and alert. As in her active ministry, Sister continued to model joy and peaceful serenity. She suffered silently, accepting her inability to care for her own needs and was grateful for the smallest service rendered to her. Over the years, Sister continued to find her strength by joining her suffering with Christ and following Mary, her guiding light.
By the end of October, Sister Maristella’s strength was failing. On November 2, she quietly followed Mary, her Morning Star to her heavenly reward. Sister continued to see his Holy Face in the sick to whom she ministered as a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth for seventy-eight years, now she will behold Him in all His glory.
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