Pani Jadwiga Russanowska-Alexandrowicz i jej zasługi dla powstania oraz początkowego funkcjonowania Zgromadzenia Sióstr Benedyktynek Czynnych w Białej Cerkwi koło Kijowa
Mrs Jadwiga Russanowska-Alexandrowicz and her work for establishment and initial functioning of the congregations of active Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Biała Cerkiew near Kiev (1917)

Summary/Abstract: On the Borderlands of the Second Polish Republic in the interwar period Polish gentryfamilies, usually Roman Catholic, in the spirit of Christ’s teachings, often helped poor andorphaned children in preparing for adulthood, and wounded in the war served medical help.A classic example of this is the Alexandrowicz family Kazimierz and his wife Jadwiga inPodolia, especially „Ladyship” Jadwiga Russanowska-Alexandrowicz, who despite her large family was able to find time and money to ensure the best possible care and educationof orphans. However, in the long run and with the increase in charges, it was not possibleto overcome such difficult challenges during the surveillance of the invaders, which is whyshe was looking for willing and reliable people to help, especially religious nuns. Until now,such illicit matters were dealt with in the secret of non-gigabit sisters, such as honoraria orSisters from Angels, etc. This time it was a bit different: There was a great opportunity tomeet: on the one hand, Mrs. Jadwiga Russanowska-Alexandrowicz, wide and open hearthaving made efforts to organize permanent care and orphan education. On the mother hand,M. Jadwiga Józefa Kulesza sent from Rome by M. Columba Gabriel to the family issue inKiev for the newly formed Congregation Suore Benedettine di Caritá, through the cousin ofFr. Jan Wüstenberg was recommended „Ladyship” Jadwiga Russanowska-Alexandrowiczand there was a meeting at the Derebczynka estate in Podolia. The result of this meetingand good cooperation of these two ladies was the decision to found the Active BenedictineSisters in Biała Cerkiew. Work and efforts have been undertaken for this purpose. After meeting all the requirements of Canon Law in this matter, in the 24th of June, 1917 took placein the Biała Cerkiew in the manor with 10 rooms, bought by the Countess Stefania Sobańskafrom counts Branicki – the first investiture of 6 Sisters Benedictine – the first in the interwarhabitat in the Łuck-Żytomierz diocese. The chaplain was priest Antoni Jagłowski. Not longthe Benedictine sisters and Mrs. Alexandrowicz enjoyed this success, as the ominous waveof Bolshevism, which carried death and conflagration, was already approaching the Kievregion. This regained freedom and sovereignty of Poland was soon greatly threatened andlost its vigor through the signed ominous Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact (IV Partition of Poland)and the Second World War.

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