The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

CHAPTER SIX EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE PASTORALWORK OF THE SISTERS IN ROSICA SISTER JOSEPHA ZUK, SJE In 1941, when the Germans occupied our Polish territories and also some Russian areas during World War II, the house of the Handmaids of Jesus in The Eucharist in Druja on the Dvina River survived the tempest of the war untouched, like Noah’s Ark during the Flood. Approximately 40 Sisters lived in the house, together with the postulants and novices, and for a while some young boarders as well. After the Germans occupied a significant part of Russia, people from the Russian territories came to the Polish areas to seek God and the Church. They asked to be taught about God and to be prepared for the Holy Sacraments. The Marians and Eucharistic Sisters in Druja were glad to fulfill their requests. Those people, though, wanted even more; they wanted the priests and Sisters to go to the Russian territories occupied by the Germans to teach religion there to all people of good will and to prepare them for the Holy Sacraments. The German authorities did not forbid them to do so. A few of our Eucharistic Sisters — Sister Apolonia Pietkun, Sister Hedwig Wirszuto, Sister Elizabeth Woronko, Sister Maria Jasinska — went there to find out about the working conditions and then came back to report to their superiors. Mother General Josepha Zuk went to Vilnius to discuss this work with Archbishop Romuald Jalbrzykowski. After obtain- ing his approval, she called a meeting of the General Council of the Congregation. At that time, Sister Apolonia Pietkun was the First Counselor. The authorities of the Congregation decid-