Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate

Endowment Fund in Memory of Sr. Amelia Kuska

SSMI History

The Congregation of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate was called to life in the Church on October 7, 1878, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, by Blessed Father Honorat Kozminski, a Polish Franciscan Capuchin. The main goal of the Congregation can be stated as:

"Guided by the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Sisters are to spread the Word of God, to help individuals strengthen their lives of faith and Christian morals, to increase devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary by imitating Mary's hidden life, to encourage others by their good example and deeds, and also by praying for the world and its particular needs through the recitation of the Rosary."

The Sisters Servants, living in the midst of the world, strive to give witness to the charity of Christ and with complete dedication, work towards the transformation of human society in the spirit of the Gospel. The members bind themselves by a public vow to observe the three Evangelical Counsels, (chastity, poverty and obedience), to lead a communitarian life, and to engage in apostolic activities.

The Sisters follow with particular love the examples of the hidden life of Christ and His Immaculate Mother Mary. Wearing no distinctive garb (known as "non-habited"), the Sisters live in a communal life with emphasis on communal prayer (Divine Office) and devotions (especially the daily recitation of the Rosary). The community members also strive to live a spirit of Franciscan simplicity, humility and joy.

The Motherhouse is located in Poland and presently there is a membership of 1,100 Sisters worldwide. There are houses in Poland, Italy, Lithuania and Africa. In the United States, the Congregation is located in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland; Washington D.C. and the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio.

The U.S. Sisters are engaged in various health, social, pastoral and parish work. They came to Cleveland in 1976 at the request of then bishop, James A. Hickey, to establish the Special Ministry to the Aged to serve elderly Eastern European immigrants living on Cleveland’s southeast side, known as Slavic Village.

In 2005, Cleveland Bishop Anthony Pilla asked the Sisters to provide pastoral care at the Holy Family Home for the Terminally Ill. The Sisters have selflessly taken on this added responsibility to assist both patients and their families during this difficult time.