Society’s Seventeenth Annual All Saints’/All Souls’ Pilgrimage, Prayer Service & Wypominki (Naming), Saturday, November 1, 2025
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield and Continued Celebration of the Felician Sisters’ 150 Years of Mission in North America
In keeping with a long tradition, the Society made an annual pilgrimage on All Saints’/All Souls’ weekend, this year to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. It had been two years since we held this event at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, and we decided to return there this year as we continued our celebration of the Felician Sisters’ 150 years of mission in North America. The cemetery has a special section dedicated to the Felician Sisters. In addition to many priests from the Archdiocese of Detroit, nearly 500 Felician Sisters are buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. A large monument in the shape of a cross marks the section dedicated to the Felician Sisters.
The event fell on Saturday, November 1, which happened to be All Saints’ Day this year, and began at noon in the Rotunda Chapel of the Main Mausoleum. Approximately 45 pilgrims slowly and quietly made their way into the Rotunda Chapel of the Main Mausoleum around 11:30 a.m. The mausoleum was filled with a sense of tranquility. Rev. Gary Michalik, the Society’s president, led the Prayer Service, which began at noon. We were blessed to also have with us our directors, Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak, Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Farmington, and Rev. Lawrence Zurawski, Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Garden City. Fr. Ptak led the singing of the hymns, which we always appreciate, as he is not shy when leading a group in song.
Our special guests included nearly 20 Felician Sisters from the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent in Livonia, along with their Local Minister, Sr. Joyce Marie Van de Vyver, CSSF. We were blessed to also have with us visiting groups of Felicians on mission from Vietnam and Haiti, and a Sister from Poland who had arrived from her mission in Rome, Italy.
The Prayer Service included the Wypominki, or the naming of our departed. All present named aloud those whom they wished to remember, and Society Directors Alina Klin, Ph.D., and Donna (Kutylowski) Czeski alternated in reading the names of all departed Society members—a list of 86 members who have now gone before us.
During the Wypominki, Sr. Joyce Marie Van de Vyver, CSSF, remembered the 495 Felician Sisters who have been buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery since 1924.
The closing hymn, led by Rev. Canon Walter J. Ptak, was the traditional, sacred, and ever-popular Witaj Królowo nieba (“Hail, Holy Queen of Heaven”).
As we continued to celebrate the Felician Sisters’ 150 years of mission in North America, we welcomed Sr. M. Andrew Budinski, CSSF, who gave a presentation on the Felician Sisters’ history, accompanied by a video. Sr. Andrew shared with us the struggles and voyage of the five pioneer Felician Sisters who traveled in 1874 to the unchartered territory of Polonia, Wisconsin, answering the call to serve. She also expounded upon the background of Rev. Józef Dąbrowski, who championed two causes. He not only called for the Felicians to travel to Polonia, Wisconsin, to serve the Polish immigrant community there, but he also established Ss. Cyril & Methodius Seminary, originally located on Detroit’s east side near St. Albertus Catholic Church. Fr. Dąbrowski served as the church’s first pastor. Later, in approximately 1909, the seminary relocated to Orchard Lake, Michigan. At the time, the Felician Academy was located just to the south of the seminary. It was not until 1936 that it moved to its current location in Livonia.
But those were just a couple of Rev. Dąbrowski’s numerous remarkable achievements. Many were not aware that, among his other accomplishments and attributes, Fr. Dąbrowski was also a carpenter, and he established a printing press to publish Polish books and newspapers. The books included Polish text books that were used by the nuns to instruct their Polish students.
The film shown by Sr. Andrew focused on the brave commitment, dedication, perseverance, and heroism of the Felician Sister pioneers, including Fr. Dąbrowski. The original five Felicians who responded to Fr. Dąbrowski’s call were Mother Mary Monica Sybilska (Detroit, MI), Sr. Mary Cajetan Jankiewicz (Poland), Sr. Mary Wenceslaus Zubrycka (Buffalo, NY), Sr. Mary Vincentine Salomea Kalwa (Chicago, IL), and Sr. Mary Raphael Swozeniowska (Detroit, MI). These nuns made and kept the vow professed by their foundress, Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska, which was to do God’s will wherever that may be.
From the mausoleum, the pilgrims processed into the cemetery, where we gathered at the Felician Sisters’ section around the large, upright cross-shaped monument that marks the area. Fr. Gary donated a beautifully decorated autumnal wreath on a stand, which he placed at the foot of the cross. Alina Klin donated two memorial candles, made in Poland and encased in glass, one of which was placed at the Felicians’ grave monument and the other of which was placed at the grave of a Polish American U.S. military service veteran, in honor of Veterans Day. This has also become a tradition for the Society at our annual All Saints’/All Souls’ Pilgrimage.
At the Felician Sisters’ gravesite, a group of young nuns gathered together in front of the cross monument and sang hymns in their native language, harmonizing the beautiful melodies. What a touching moment that was.
We returned to Shield’s Pizza in Southfield this year for our luncheon. We went there two years ago, and the food and service were terrific. At the last minute, just a few days prior to the event, we learned that nearly 20 Felician Sisters were going to join us for the luncheon. What a blessing!
We arrived at Shield’s at around 3:00 p.m. and entered the banquet area, where two long tables had been arranged for our group. The restaurant was colorfully and amusingly decorated for Halloween, and there was a very loud Dixieland jazz band playing in the area adjacent to where we were sitting with a very loud, animated audience seated before them. The band seemed to be encouraged by the audience’s enthusiasm, playing off their energy. For a moment, we were unsure whether we would be able to withstand the noise. But that thought quickly subsided.
Before long, the Sisters’ ears that were covered with their hands became replaced by toe-tapping and gentle, shoulder-to-shoulder swaying to the music. We were almost disappointed when the band called it a wrap about 20 minutes later. But the best was yet to come.
Two of the band members came over to the head of the Sisters’ table and began serenading them with a jazz version of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” The Sisters were bellowing out the lyrics. They struck up a conversation with the two band members, and we were shocked to hear one of the African American musicians in this authentic Dixieland jazz band speaking in Polish with Sr. Joyce! What?
Shield’s Restaurant didn’t disappoint. The food was excellent, and once again the service exceeded our expectations. We’re grateful to the Shield’s management and staff for this experience.
As we reflect on the day, our hearts are warmed by and grateful to all those who contributed so much to make it possible, beginning with Fr. Larry, who served as our liaison with the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery administration. We’re grateful to the cemetery staff, who accommodated us beautifully. We’re so thankful to have had our three director priests present.
Alina Klin, Ph.D., coordinated Sr. Andrew’s presentation with her and brought all the equipment that she needed, and we can’t adequately express our thanks to her and to Sr. Andrew. In addition, Tom Koselka of the Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan generously donated his technological expertise so that Sr. Andrew was able to show the video. His help was invaluable.
To our anonymous photographer, who insisted that they not be credited or mentioned, our abundant thanks. The photos speak for themselves and enhance this story in ways that go beyond words.
To all the pilgrims, thank you for being there with us.
Finally, to the Felician Sisters, thank you—dziękuję—and may God continue to bless and reward you! Bóg zapłać! Sto lat!
For those who would like to learn more about the Felician Sisters, their history, and their mission, the below YouTube videos have been recommended by Sr. M. Budinski, CSSF:
To Love Is to Give: Tells of the hazardous journey of the Felician Sisters coming to America in 1874, as well as the hardships they endured to follow the directive of their foundress, Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska, “To serve where you are needed.”
A Movement in Harmony: Tells of the thriving ministries of the Felician Sisters in the footsteps of their foundress, Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska, and the pioneer Sisters who came to America in 1874. The congregation continues to serve where they are needed.
Photos:
- A large group of Felician Sisters, including Sisters from Vietnam, Haiti, and Poland (via Rome, Italy), gather at the Felician Sisters’ monument in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, marking the spot where 495 Felician nuns have been buried since 1924
- Pilgrims gather in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Rotunda Chapel Main Mausoleum
- Pilgrims gather in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Rotunda Chapel Main Mausoleum
- Rev. Gary Michalik, WSDPAHS president, leads the pilgrims in the Prayer Service. Visible in the front rows are the Felician Sisters who came from the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent in Livonia, as well as Sr. M. Andrew Budinski, CSSF, who gave the presentation on the History of the Felician Sisters
- Pilgrims gather for the Prayer Service in the Rotunda Chapel of the Main Mausoleum of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
- In accordance with tradition, Society Directors Alina Klin, Ph.D. (left), and Donna (Kutylowski) Czeski read aloud the names of all departed Society members during the Wypominki
- During the Wypominki, Sr. Joyce Marie Van de Vyver, CSSF, Local Minister of the Felician Sisters at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Convent in Livonia, collectively remembers all 495 Felician Sisters who have been buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery since 1924
- Sr. M. Andrew Budinski, CSSF, narrates the history of the pioneers of the Felician Sisters of North America
- The pilgrims are riveted on the screen as Sr. M. Andrew Budinski, CSSF, narrates the film documenting the history of the Felician Sisters and their pioneers
- Pilgrims gather around the Felician Sisters’ monument in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
