Blessed Celine Borzęcka - Poland / Belarus

Co-Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection

Mother Celine Chludzińska Borzęcka, also known as Blessed Celine Borzęcka (born Celine Chludzińska; October 29, 1833 – October 26, 1913), was a foundress, along with her daughter Hedwig Borzecka, of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection, a Roman Catholic religious order.


Celine was born in Antowil, Orsza, formerly Poland, today in Belarus, one of the three children of wealthy land-owning parents, Ignatius and Petronella Chludzińska. Growing up, she considered a religious vocation, but out of obedience to her parents she married Joseph (Józef) Borzęcki in 1853 becoming Celine Borzęcka. During their marriage, Celine gave birth to four children, two of whom died in infancy. She helped her husband manage their estate and educated her two daughters, Celine and Hedwig (Jadwiga), at home.

In 1869 her husband Joseph had a stroke and was struck by paralysis. Seeking out the best medical treatment for her husand, Celine and her family moved to Vienna. Joseph died a few years later, after which Celine went with her two daughters, Celine and Hedwig, to Rome.

In Rome, she met Fr. Peter Semenenko, a co-founder of the Congregation of the Resurrection, who became her spiritual director. In 1882, Celine Borzęcka along with her daughter Hedwig (her daughter Celine had married) and two other women began living as a religious community. In 1887, Celine Borzęcka opened her first school, where Monsingor Giacomo della Chiesa (the future Pope Benedict XV) served as chaplain.
On January 6, 1891, the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection was officially founded, and the two co-foundresses, Mother Celine Borzęcka and her daughter Mother Hedwig Borzęcka made their final vows. In the fall of 1891, the order's first house was opened near Wadowice in Poland. Other houses soon followed in Bulgaria, Poland, and the United States. Mother Celine Borzęcka continued to lead the order until 1911. She died in Krakow, Poland.  She was known for being a faithful saint because instead of following her own wishes, she stayed with her husband and followed her parents orders.  
 
She was beatified on October 27, 2007