175 in the Praga borough. Father Matulewicz supervised this institution. True, he did not take up residence there, but he visited very often and not only on holidays. One of the teachers recalls seeing Fr. Matulewicz rolled up his sleeves and fi xed the clogged toilet.”17 With his love for the poor, Fr. Matulewicz “infected” all those whom he attracted to his renewed Congregation. Let’s recall here at least some of the fi rst novices from Bielany of 1915: Władysław Łysik (“Father of the Poor”), Zygmunt Truszyński (“St. Francis of Marymont”). They were great social and charitable activists. Also, the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary displays the same social attitude as its Founder. Our Constitutions, although briefl y but forcibly, especially § 50, call us to the service for the poor: §30—living by the three theological virtues, we must have caritas for God and people; §44—we “should be poor in fact and in spirit”; §48—we may “totally renounce any patrimony, which [we] have acquired or may acquire, especially in favor of the poor”; §50— “the Congregation (...) should strive to witness a manner of corporate poverty. (...) Avoiding every appearance of luxury, of excessive profi t and the accumulation of goods, the Congregation should contribute something of its own goods to other needs of the Church and to the support of the poor, whom the members should love, both by Gospel mandate and apostolic admonition, not in word or in speech, but in deed and in truth.” In the Marian Community Prayers recited daily, we ask the Patron of the poor: L.: Saint Vincent de Paul, All: Teach us to zealously serve the poor and the suffering. There also are many sick, homeless, hungry, lonely and poor people today. Each of our religious houses has in its fi nancial budget a certain sum of money for the poor. But let’s be frank: this “little money” is often more symbolic than anything (to placate our conscience, perhaps?). We have the Caritas charitable centers at our parishes: some are more active than others are. There also are centers for children of poor and dysfunctional families (i.e., “Okruszek” on Wileńska Street in Grudziądz). A true center for the sick and the elderly worth its salt is the „House of Mercy” founded in Gorodok Podilskiy in Ukraine by the late Fr. Władysław Vanags. We should also name other confreres zealously serving the poor: the late Fr. George Margis from Argentina and Fr. Stanislaus Chryc from Poland. The hospital in Turvo, Brazil which is sponsored by the Marians, also serves the poor. Naturally, there are other efforts, actions, and campaigns on 17 Ibid., pp. 123-124.
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