People are very familiar with the Norbertine men of St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado California and the cloistered Norbertine Canonesses of Tehachapi California.  Lesser known are the active Norbertine Sisters who came to Wilmington, California in 2011, sent by the General House of the Congregation of Norbertine Sisters in Slovakia.

This Congregation was originally founded in 1902 in the Czech Republic by Fr. Vojtech Frejka, a Norbertine Father from the abbey of Strahov in Prague, to renew the Norbertine way of life in the region. Since cloistered religious life had been suppressed in Czechoslovakia, the first three novices were sent to a Norbertine convent in Poland for their formation. They were instructed by their novice mistress, Sister (later-Mother) Michaela Andrusikiewicz, who would become the first superior of the new Congregation and is considered their co-foundress.

In the spirit of St. Norbert, the sisters have no specific apostolate but are prepared for every good work.  Their life is centered around daily Mass, praying the divine office, and a Eucharistic holy hour. They humbly implore the Virgin Mary to teach them to be completely devoted to God and to serve His people with total dedication.

In Wilmington, they help needy families by operating a poverty program, teach at SS. Peter and Paul school, work in the bookstore, help in the sacristy, and teach Catechism and Confirmation classes.

At their convent, which is also their formation house, there are three Sisters from Slovakia: Sr. Adriana Gacikova, S.Praem., Sr. Roberta Sprlakova, S.Praem., and Sr. Benedikta Hornikova, S.Praem., with five women in formation.

For young women, the sisters have regular Days of Recollection and a monthly Holy Hour. For more information, visit: www.CongregationofNorbertineSisters.org

email: norbertinesrswilm@gmail.com