Celine Borzecka was a 19th-century Catholic nun and philanthropist who co-founded the Sisters of the Resurrection alongside her daughter, Jadwiga. Born into a wealthy land-owning family in the Russian Empire, she initially fulfilled her parents' wishes by marrying and raising children. Following the death of her husband, she moved to Rome to pursue her religious vocation. She established her congregation in 1891, which eventually expanded to include houses in Poland, Bulgaria, and the United States. She died in Kraków in 1913.
Life and work
After managing her family estate and caring for her paralyzed husband, Borzecka relocated to Rome. Under the guidance of priest Piotr Semenenko, she and her daughter began living in a religious community. In 1887, she established a school where the future Pope Benedict XV served as chaplain. Her congregation, the Sisters of the Resurrection, was formally founded in 1891, with its first house opening in Kęty.
Veneration
The process for her beatification began under Pope Paul VI. After her heroic virtues were recognized, she was titled Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Following the investigation of a miracle, Pope Benedict XVI beatified her in 2007 during a ceremony at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. She is commemorated on October 26.