Hedwig Borzecka

On January 6, 1891, Hedwig Borzecka and her mother, Céline, pronounced their perpetual vows in Rome before Cardinal-Vicar Lucido Maria Parocchi, thus formalizing the foundation of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This event marked a historical first in the Catholic Church, as a religious community was founded jointly by a mother and her daughter. Hedwig invested herself fully in the development of the institute, directing a girls' school in Rome and taking charge of the formation of novices. Endowed with a great sense of organization and deep solicitude, she assumed responsibility for the Roman community when her mother left to found new houses in Poland, notably in Kęty in 1891. In 1905, after the official approval of the congregation's constitutions by the Holy See, Hedwig was appointed Assistant General and First Councilor of the order, consolidating the expansion of the work which would soon extend to the United States.

Throughout her religious life, Hedwig Borzecka distinguished herself by an absolute fidelity to her vocation and a profound humility. She agreed to constantly efface herself behind her mother, acting as her most solid support and her "Cyrenian" in moments of doubt and trial, notably after the sudden death of their spiritual mentor, Father Pierre Semenenko, in 1886. Her spiritual life was deeply rooted in the Paschal mystery, uniting her physical and moral sufferings to the Passion of Christ to participate in his glory. The testimonies of her contemporaries describe a religious woman of exceptional integrity of character, animated by an ardent love for the Eucharist and an indefatigable zeal for the salvation of souls. Her reputation for holiness, already solid during her lifetime due to her charity and spiritual wisdom, spread rapidly after her premature death, prompting her sisters and the faithful to seek her intercession.

The cause for the beatification of Hedwig Borzecka was officially opened in the Archdiocese of Krakow on April 10, 1964. After a meticulous examination of her writings and testimonies regarding her life, the file was transmitted to Rome to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on June 27, 1969. The process progressed successfully and, on December 17, 1982, Pope John Paul II promulgated the decree recognizing the heroic nature of her virtues, thereby conferring upon her the title of Venerable. Her mother, Celine Borzecka, was beatified on October 27, 2007, by Pope Benedict XVI. For the Venerable Hedwig to be proclaimed Blessed in turn, the official recognition of a miracle attributed to her intercession by the Holy See remains necessary. Her liturgical feast is celebrated on September 26, particularly within her congregation and in the city of Kęty.

The spirituality of Hedwig Borzecka is based on the motto of her congregation: "Through the Cross and Death to the Resurrection and Glory." This Paschal ideal invites a continuous inner transformation, inspired by the evangelical Beatitudes, to bear witness to Christian hope in society. Today, the Sisters of the Resurrection continue the educational and charitable work initiated by Hedwig and her mother, working in schools, orphanages, and care centers in Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Belarus. The relics of Hedwig Borzecka rest alongside those of her mother in a common sarcophagus within the parish church of Saints Margaret and Catherine in Kęty, Poland. This place remains an important center of pilgrimage and prayer for the faithful who ask for graces through her intercession, perpetuating the memory of this devoted co-founder.