Hearing the news that Mother Amabilis Urszula Debicka, SSCJ, age 94, entered into eternal life on July 16, 2020, is a reminder to thank all of the religious communities who were the initial founding members of the IRL 46 years ago. We were touched to read in the obituary that Mother was remembered as “one of the first major superiors to belong to the Institute on Religious Life.”

Mother was born in Poland in 1926 and had an amazing life story. She was abducted at the beginning of World War II by the Nazi’s when she was in the eighth grade, enslaved, and sold to an SS family who wished to adopt her. As the war was ending, Mother managed to escape from her captivity and walked back to Poland where she spent time in a sanitarium recovering from tuberculosis.

In 1950, she entered the Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and in 1961, came to America to serve in the Congregation’s fledgling foundation in the United States.  In addition to her administrative roles in the community, Mother was an organist, kindergarten teacher, catechist, and sodality director. She will be remembered for her “personal holiness, Franciscan joy, wit, and wonderful personality that drew many to seek her counsel and prayers.”

To read the full obituary, please visit the sisters website:(www.sacredheartsisters.org)