Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate
The Sisters are committed to a communal life of prayer
and the service of God’s people.
and the service of God’s people.
Welcome to the Home of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Canada
Welcome to the website of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Canada.
The Congregation of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate is an international congregation of Sisters of the Ukrainian Catholic Church (of the Byzantine rite, in union with Rome). Founded over 100 years ago in Western Ukraine, the Sisters Servants strive to follow the example of their patroness, Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God. The Sisters are committed to a communal life of prayer and the service of God’s people, primarily but not exclusively, those of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
May you come to feel at home with the Sisters. May you find comfort, be enriched and grow in joy and peace, as you get to know them.
About the SSMI Crest
The crest of the Sisters Servants features …
~ the letter “M”: The Sisters, under the protection of Mary Immaculate, walking in faith and trust as she did;
~ the Cross: The Sisters …
- are followers of Christ
- have taken up their own cross
- hold Christ’s cross as their glory and salvation
~ three stars, symbolizing …
- the religious vows of obedience, chastity and poverty
- the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity
- the virtues of meekness, humility and sisterly love
~ the motto of the Sisters: “Glory to God, Honour to Mary, Peace to us.”
Our Community
As a community of women, the Sisters have responded to Christ’s call to dedicate their entire beings and lives to God. In freedom and love, they vow life-long fidelity to evangelical celibacy, poverty and obedience. Through a life of prayer and active service, they are called to share their experience of God’s compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love. They live in community, encouraging and supporting one another in their apostolic life journey. Daily they unite in prayer in response to the requests of many, trusting in the Lord’s words: “Ask, and it shall be given to you.”
What We Do
The Sisters are involved in the ministries of healing and education at every level as well as other apostolates, responding to the needs of the times. The Sisters care for the whole person. Wherever they work they attempt to ‘raise the spirit and ennoble the heart of the people.’ They guide them to assume the apostolic responsibility of Christians through the love and study of Holy Scripture, the Liturgy, and personal prayer. (Constitution, 2006, #59)
Education Ministry
The Sisters educate people of all ages, in mind and spirit, developing their gifts for the service of God and the community.
Latest News
Our Latest News, Events, and More
SISTER CECILIA FYSTOR, SSMI
Sister Cecilia Anne Fystor passed peacefully at Bethany Home in Winnipeg, on January 26, 2023 surrounded by her Sisters. She was 89 years old and 69 years in religious life. Anne (Sister Cecilia) was born on December 25, 1933, in Warwick, Alberta, daughter of Onufrey and Helen (nee Zacharuk). Her parents and elder sister, Doris, immigrated to Canada from Sniatyn, in Western Ukraine, settling north of
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
God came to us, came to earth to bring peace, peace to our hearts, to our homes. The message of peace today can be difficult to concentrate on when violence and war are so normalized. God came to bring peace. The best way to receive peace is to trust God, to believe that Jesus Christ brings peace. The challenge is: to bring, to manifest peace in this world. We are invited by our ability to forgive from the heart those who hurt us, by our humility to apologize to anyone we have hurt, to grieve an
70 JUBILEE OF SR. ANGELICA HODOWANSKY
On Sunday, November 20, the feast of our co-foundress, Blessed Josaphata Hordeshewska, the Cathedral parish of Holy Eucharist in New Westminster, BC celebrated the 70th jubilee of Sister Angelica Hodowansky as a Sister Servant of Mary Immaculate. Fr. Mykhailo Ozorowich, the pastor, greeted her at the English and Ukrainian liturgies, giving thanks to God for having called her to the SSMI community and for the many lives in Canada and throughout the world she has touched throughout her
TESTIMONY OF HEALING
Alex Kostecki, of Mississauga, Ontario, gives his testimony of healing through the intercession of Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska, co-foundress of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. (English and Ukrainian) Your prayers can be heard, too! https://youtu.be/TePskX6bObo https://youtu.be/OGx0OAcipXQ