Blessed Celina Chludzinska

Biography

Blessed Celina Chludzinska, also known as Celina Chludzinska Borzecka and Celina Rosalie Leonard, was born on 29 October 1833 in Antavilis, Vilniaus rajonas, Poland (now in Lithuania). From an early age, Celina felt a strong calling to religious life, but she dutifully followed her parent's wishes and married Joseph Borzƒôcka in 1853.

As a devoted wife and mother, Celina and Joseph welcomed four children into their family, although tragically, two of them died in infancy. Despite this heartbreaking loss, Celina remained resilient and turned her faith towards helping others. Following the death of her husband in 1874, Celina devoted herself wholeheartedly to serving God's people.

Inspired by her profound faith and a desire to bring hope to those suffering, Celina founded the Congregation of Sisters of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The congregation was established in 1891 in Kraków, Poland, and aimed to provide spiritual solace and practical assistance to those in need, particularly the poor, sick, and marginalized.

Under Celina's guidance, the Sisters of the Resurrection dedicated themselves to the works of mercy and spreading the message of Christ's resurrection. They established numerous schools, orphanages, and hospitals, offering education, care, and support to the most vulnerable members of society.

Celina's leadership and unwavering commitment to her mission earned her admiration and respect from both her fellow sisters and the wider community. Her selfless dedication to serving others became a shining example of faith in action.

Blessed Celina Chludzinska passed away on 26 October 1913, in Kraków, Maloploskie, Poland, succumbing to natural causes. Her virtuous and exemplary life was recognized by the Catholic Church, and she was venerated on 11 February 1982 by Pope John Paul II, who declared her heroic in virtue. She was beatified on 27 October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Today, Blessed Celina Chludzinska's legacy lives on in the works of the Sisters of the Resurrection, who continue to carry out her mission of bringing hope, healing, and the message of Christ's resurrection to those in need. The feast day of Blessed Celina Chludzinska is celebrated on 26 October each year, honoring her life of faith and service.