Sister Mary Beata Harriet Helen Czyl

Having loved her God, having acknowledged him as her Lord and Creator, Mary had but one desire—to love him above everything else, to give herself to the spreading of his glory and love.” (Letter of Mother Foundress, November 19, 1891)

Harriet Helen, the third child of Michael and Lucy Czyl, was born on May 3, 1926. She was a beautiful child and very tiny so her parents had her baptized just six days later, May 9, at St. John the Baptist church in Harvey, Illinois. Of her five siblings, Joseph and Frank were older and Benedict, Lucy and Stanley were younger. While growing up at home only Polish was spoken, so Harriet was called Jadzia or Jadwisia. Hers was a good Catholic family. They prayed mealtime prayers together and the children were taught to say morning and evening prayers. The family participated at Mass each Sunday and confession each Saturday. She attended St. Susanna School, a half-hour’s walk from her home; there she was taught by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Harriet enjoyed outdoor activities and stated that she preferred playing baseball with her brothers on the street in front of their home; she didn’t recall ever playing with dolls as most girls do growing up.

In the eighth grade, Harriet prayed fervently to Our Lady to guide her in her vocational choice; she was attracted to being a mother and also to being a sister like the sisters who taught her in school. At age 14, she left home for Des Plaines and began her high school education at Villa Nazareth, comprised mostly of aspirants and postulants. As her third year was coming to an end, her parents invited her to come home for her brother’s graduation and, on the same day, celebrate her father’s birthday. Although her parents were not fond of the choice to become a sister Harriet decided not to go. She remained at school convinced that this is where God was calling her. Harriet became a postulant in 1942 and graduated from Holy Family Academy since Villa Nazareth was closed due to a small enrollment. She became a novice in 1943. At a previous recreation, the provincial, Mother Richard asked the postulants what names they would like. Harriet saw the name “Beata” in a list of deceased sisters and thought she would like that name which means “blessed.” Sister made her First Profession on August 4, 1940, and her Perpetual Vows on August 25, 1952, because of her great devotion to Mary the Mother of God, she took as her as her mystery, “Immaculate Heart of Mary.”

Following her First Profession Sister Beata embarked on her college education and eventually graduated with a B.S.Eds. from Loyola University. Years later she received a certificate in theology from Xavier University. Sister’s first teaching assignment was at St. Hedwig School in Chicago. She enjoyed doing whatever the community asked of her. Other assignments took her to St. Ann’s and St. Michael’s, Chicago; St. Andrew’s, Calumet City; St. Thomas Aquinas, Dallas; St. Vincent de Paul, Mott, North Dakota; St. Bernard, Belfield, North Dakota; and St. Adalbert School, Whiting, Indiana. Her teaching ministry was interrupted for two years while she served as the local superior in Nazarethville caring for our retired Sisters.

On February 14, 1982 Mother Medarda, Superior General, called Sister Beata to consider taking on the position of vice-provincial superior in Texas. Sister’s response was, “Yes, if it’s God’s will. On March 19th Sister Beata received a call from Mother Medarda confirming her role. Sister was officially installed on August 28, 1982. As vice-provincial superior Sister Beata attended the General Chapter in Rome Italy, a day after the General Chapter ended, July 27th, 1983, Sister Beata received the news that her mother had died in her sleep. Her father had passed away years before August 24, 1967.

Sister Beata was wise in looking to the future of the vice-province and considering its needs. She asked Mother Celeste, Superior General, at the end of the General Chapter in 1983 to send at least two sisters from Poland with the promise that the vice-province would educate them and care for their needs. The answer she received was that two sisters from the Krakow Province and two sisters from the Warsaw Province would arrive every two years. The last to come arrived in 2005. By then, other American provinces were requesting sisters from Poland. Sister was pleased and felt this was her greatest accomplishment and joy.

In 1988 a new vice-provincial administration was installed. Sister Beata was asked to remain as treasurer, a position she held until the formation of one province in 2007. By 1993 Texas became Blessed Frances Siedliska Province. In September of 1988 Sister Beata assumed the role of editor of the province publication “The Round-up,” In the same year, Sister was responsible for the construction of the cemetery. It was completed and blessed, along with the Sacred Heart statue by Bishop Thomas Tschoepe. The following year Sister became the Director of the Associates of the Holy Family in Grand Prairie. Already as the associate director, sister had cared for them; she knew them all by name, their prayer intentions and needs and helped the sisters to know and love them as well.

Among her treasured memories were pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to Lourdes. She enjoyed gardening with flowers, especially roses. Sister loved to grow and tend her roses and other flowers. They were a gift to her sisters when they graced the chapel or dining room table on a special feast day.

Following a stroke Sister retired but walked the hallways of the building without fail. After a second stroke which caused her to fall while walking, she slowly lost the ability to walk and to speak. Sister was confined to her room: to her bed and to her chair. She enjoyed visitors who came from time to time.

On a card found in her Breviary she wrote: “O my Jesus, it is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer this sacrifice to Thee.”

Sister Beata, as you shared with us the joy of your life serving God through others, we believe that as you enter the heavenly glory with your beautiful smile, your beloved Jesus and His Loving Mother, welcome you with a bouquet of roses splashed by the morning dew. May you rest in God’s Eternal Peace and enjoy the bliss of heaven for all eternity.