A Dream Comes True

A travelogue by Sisters Georgette Dublino & Mary Lou Metro

*Sisters Georgette and Mary Lou visit with impoverished children in Lomnička.*

*Sisters Georgette (front left) and Mary Lou (front right) are surrounded by the warmth of our sisters in the Czech Republic.*

*Sisters Mary Lou and Georgette visit historical sites in Prague.*

Sisters Georgette Dublino and Mary Lou Metro traveled abroad in Summer 2018 to meet the sisters
in our Slovak and Czech Provinces and to spend time with our sisters in Italy. here, they share their experiences.

We’ve always read and heard about the important beginnings and places in our congregation’s history, but to be there and to spend time with our sisters was a blessed experience.

We began our sightseeing at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where the body of St. John XXIII is encased in glass under one of the many altars. We were present at the General Audience of Pope Francis and the Solemn Mass of SS. Peter and Paul.

A thrilling part of our trip was four days spent with our sisters in Slovakia. We began in Bratislava, where we had a wonderful time exchanging stories with the sisters there. At the mission in Žilina, we delivered handmade children’s dresses crafted by our own Sister Elaine Hromulak and her network of volunteer seamstresses for the needy children there.

Sister Regina Žuk-Olszewska translated for us and, along with Sister Rafaela Zvrškovcová, provincial of the Slovak Province, drove us to Graz, Austria, to meet the sisters from our original foundation. What an honor it was to visit the burial place of our foundress, Mother Antonia Lampel, and to see how Graz has grown.

From Graz, we traveled to Brno, Czech Republic, where we met Sister Imelda Hrdličková, our translator, and Sister Zdislava Nosková, who shared stories about Sister Eliška Pretschnerová, a former general minister who saw our sisters through the struggles of Communism and for whom our order has embarked on the beatification process (see Pages 10-11).

The next day we were on our way to Slatiňany for a wonderful visit with our sisters in Prague. They showed us their former school building that was seized by Communists between 1948 and 1968 and was returned in terrible condition. To this day, it requires much repair to be sold.

From there we were off to Kojęcin, where Sister Eliška rebuilt an abandoned castle to provide for sisters who had to leave their convents during Communism. We stayed at our Motherhouse in Prague and visited the Křesťanský domov mládeže hostel, which was established for young women by Sister Eliška.

We closed our trip with time at our Generalate in Rome, experiencing different sights and events with Sister Jeanne Marie Ulica as our guide and companion. We also visited Francis’ beloved Assisi and the Padre Pio Shrine.

What a wonderful experience it was! The warmth and welcome of the sisters in all our international provinces was a true experience of Fraternitas in our Franciscan community.