Sister Mary Alice (Krystyna) Kwiecien (Felician Sister), 89, peacefully went home to her God on Wed. Oct. 13, 2021 at Trillium Hospital after a brief illness.

Sister Mary Alice, daughter of Joseph and Maria (Surmacz) Kwiecien, was born on October 26, 1931, in Radom, Poland. She had four siblings – Marian, Ryszard, Zofia and Michalina. With World War II in process, she studied at home, and took responsibility from a young age to help with her siblings, cooking, etc. In 1950, she received her high school diploma from Gimnazium Krawiecko Bieliznarskie, Poland. On August 26, 1950, Krystyna entered the Felician Sisters in Our Lady Queen of Poland Province in Warsaw, Poland. She professed her final vows on August 26, 1958. Sister Mary Alice received her teacher’s certificate in 1959 and served as a religion teacher in Warsaw, Poland. In 1966, at the request of the Holy Name of Mary Vice-Province, she emigrated from Poland, accepting the invitation to work among the Polonia in Toronto and officially transferred to Holy Name of Mary Vice-Province in 1975.

Sister Mary Alice began her ministry in Canada at St. Casimir Parish, Toronto, where she taught Religion and Polish, visited the sick and served as sacristan. She enjoyed preparing the children for various performances for Christmas and other occasions. Following this three-year period of ministry at St. Casimir’s, Sister Alice continued to work in other Polish parishes during the next 11 years. In late 1979, Sister Alice began to serve as a pastoral assistant at the newly formed St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga with Father Stanley Bak, OMI, pastor. Both Sister Alice and Fr. Stan had the vision of a parish community empowered with the laity taking a very active part in the life of parish by sharing their gifts and talents. Sister Alice’s great joy was to work together with the parishioners to form various programs and groups to make a vibrant caring, sharing community. Sister Alice always felt that her most important work was to help others recognize their own gifts and invited each person to put their gifts at the service of God by sharing them with others. Her gifts of intuitiveness and efficient organizing/coordinating were a great asset for the parish community and a true labour of love.
Within a year of the foundation of this new parish, Fr. Bak, the parish community, and Sister Alice began to sponsor refugee families from Poland. Parishioners opened their hearts and homes to the new arrivals from Poland, and for the next 10 years until Poland was freed from Soviet Rule, the parish of St. Maximilian Kolbe sponsored 6,000 Polish refugee families.

Over the years, many have greatly appreciated Sister Alice’s work as coordinator of this sponsorship program, as she had become like a “mother” to so many as they found a warm welcome, and all the support they needed when they arrived in the Mississauga area. Sister’s greatest joy was when people told her that as a result of her invitation and support, their lives had been changed and they had grown closer to God.

On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Canada becoming a country in 1992, Sister Alice received a special honor for her “unique contribution to the Canadian society” for her work in helping to sponsor 6,000 Polish families.

Following her retirement as pastoral minister, Sister Alice served on the local leadership team at Holy Name of Mary Convent for many years, giving her all in serving the sisters and helping wherever needed. She has always been a very welcoming presence to others. Sister Alice also has remained in touch with many parishioners and always enjoyed visits and telephone conversations with them.

Sister is predeceased by her parents (Maria and Joseph), brothers Ryszard, and Marian, and sister, Zofia. She is the loving sister of Michalina Sherwood, and loving aunt of several nieces and nephews who will remember her in their hearts always.

A Wake will be held from 9:30 – 10:30 am on October 20th at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, followed by the recitation of the rosary. The Mass of Christian Burial will then be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church. Interment will be in the Felician Sisters’ burial plot at Assumption Cemetery.

In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to the Felician Sisters for their ministries to the poor. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Turner & Porter, “Neweduk” Chapel, Mississauga, Ontario.

Sr. Lynne Tramble