HAMMOND – The nine Albertine sisters who dedicate their energies to a care and hospitality ministry welcomed Bishop Robert J. McClory and area clergy to their home for Epiphany, which included Mass, room blessings and a lunch.
Residents of the senior care facility came out from their rooms to gather for the liturgy and then witnessed a phalanx of religious walking through the halls with the bishop whisking holy water and priests fanning incense at the annual event.
To start his homily, Bishop McClory said, “I will say Merry Christmas once more.”
He spoke about God presenting himself as a gentle baby in the nativity and His constant presence of tenderness and mercy.
Bishop McClory compared that gentle scene to the care and compassion shown by the Hammond-based Albertine sisters.
“So, we know that the Lord calls us to live as we ought – we know that there’s right and wrong. But the defining quality of God is his love for us and how much he has come into our midst,” the bishop said.
According to the sisters, the late Bishop Dale J. Melczek loved starting his year with the Epiphany blessing at the Albertine home. Bishop McClory recalled the former diocesan leader, noting that he “held the Albertines and the residents of this community so dear to his heart.”
Father Bronislaw “Bruno” Socha, O.C.D., who was joined by fellow Carmelite priests from Munster in concelebrating Mass with Bishop McClory and accompanying him as he blessed the residents and their rooms, echoed the diocesan leader’s remarks about the “defining quality” of God, in describing the essence of the sisters’ service.
“They help the elderly people and have taken very good care of them,” said Father Socha.
Father Socha called his fellow religious true “brothers and sisters. Our orders’ patrons were beatified on the same day in Kraków, Poland,” he said.
A native of Poland, Father Socha carried on a European tradition of marking “20 + C + M + B + 23” on the doorpost beam of each room. The chalk writing represents the year surrounding the first letter of the traditional name of each of the three wise men who visited Jesus: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. It also represents the Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, or “May Christ bless this home.”
Traditionally the Mass, blessing and meal are held close to the date of the Epiphany, with respect to the availability of the bishop. A cornucopia of Christmas vignettes were displayed in virtually every corner of the Albertine home.
Those decorations stay up far beyond the advertising world’s Dec. 26 “end of Christmas.” In the Polish tradition, the birth and childhood of Jesus are recalled as decorations remain up for the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Epiphany and through the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, on Feb. 2.
At the Albertine Home each resident has private quarters but experiences the care and culinary craft of the Polish nuns throughout the facility. At the Epiphany celebration, the sense of fellowship extended throughout the building as the party of blessing clergy walked down each corridor to the accordion-led tunes sung in Polish by resident Michael Gibson.
Peeking out of her two-room quarters, Sandra Klyber, formerly of Montreal, Canada, readied her living space to host a brief visit by Bishop McClory.
Klyber said after exploring other senior residences with her family, the Albertine Home turned out to be head over heels a superior living arrangement.
“This is wonderful; everything in my room is mine,” the one-year resident said, pointing out her vintage 1963 Christmas village. “It sure is better than some of those other (senior living homes).”
Bishop McClory went on to bless dozens of rooms and say prayers with many of the Albertine Home’s residents. He met a few centenarians and thanked support staff members.
Senior priest Father Michael Hoffman, who has resided at the Albertine Home for one year said he is happy to contribute to the residence by celebrating Mass in their chapel. The retired clergyman who has served the diocese since 2005 said his family members felt he would be in good hands at the Hammond home.
He agrees with that conclusion.
“Here I am and here I’ll stay,” said Father Hoffman, with a smile. “I’m very comfortable and the help that I need with my medications and other care (is good) as I’m terribly undisciplined.”
The Albertine sisters, most of whom serving in the U.S. are Polish-born, are preparing to celebrate 50 years of service in Northwest Indiana next year. Another anniversary for the ministry will recall the 1984 dedication of the three-story residential structure, which houses mostly lay people with a few senior priests.
“That’s only God – we’re just serving,” said Albertine Sister Zygmunta “Ziggy” Wojtusiak, responding to the compliments from the bishop and residents.
The Albertines concluded their conversations when the time came to serve the next round of lunches.
“We’re one beautiful family,” said Albertine Sister Maksymiliana Szwajnos, as she prepared cookies and ice cream.