Emilia's article

Here's the article I wrote about Sr. Emilia for our community magazine. I will never forget driving up to Chilliwack, British Columbia as a candidate to interview her. Emilia had an amazing spread all ready for lunch. She had her apron at the ready, and a smile on her face. I felt completely at home, even though I'd only met her briefly before. She was an amazing woman and will be missed. .....

Hospitality as Eucharist, by Susan Francois
Living Peace, Spring 2006

"When I was a small child in Poland, I had the privilege to be a flower girl in a procession of the Holy Eucharist, throwing flower petals before the Blessed Sacrament. I always remember that." – Emilia Sosnowski, CSJP

After almost 70 years as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace, Emilia Sosnowski continues to bring a sense of joy and reverence to everything she does. Whether it is in her many activities at St. Mary’s parish in Chilliwack, British Columbia, through her prison ministry, or in simply opening her home and garden to her neighbors, Emilia exhibits the same spirit of hospitality as that young girl in Po­land all those years ago.

A list of Emilia’s parish activities leaves one exhausted and wondering how she does it all. She is a eucharistic minister, visits the sick and home­bound, presides at eucharistic services and funeral vigils, facilitates bible studies, leads a weekly Taize holy hour, prepares students for confirma­tion, and makes crafts and baked goods to sell at the bazaar. In 2003 she orchestrated an elaborate Polish Dinner, raising more than $3,600 for the local Catholic high school.

When the parish ran out of meeting room space, Emilia happily opened her home. Her living room is always set up to welcome bible study groups that meet every day except Friday. She also hosts the parish outreach group, which ministers to the sick, and Manna, a ministry of four differ­ent churches that prepares food for the homeless. “Since the Sisters left the house here, the Commu­nity let me use it as a meeting place,” said Emilia. “The people of Chilliwack call this a House of Hospitality.”

Her hospitality has extended to the back garden as well. A few years ago a neighbor asked if she and her children, who were in a garden club, could grow some vegetables. Emilia decided to have the whole back yard roto-tilled. She divided it into three gardens – one part for the neighbor and her children, one part for another neighbor, and one part for herself. Each summer they grow potatoes, carrots, beans, zucchini, squash, lettuce, parsley and “tomatoes galore.” Sunflowers and other plants are turned into lovely bouquets for the church. Emilia bakes up a storm and shares home­made zucchini bread, cookies and muffins with prisoners, parishioners and her bible study group.

Emilia also brings her infectious smile and posi­tive spirit to her work with prisoners. She belongs to a support circle which helps men recently released from prison “to adjust to life and try to break the cycle of crime.” As she says, “they need love and attention” which she readily provides. She is also a regular visitor at the local prison where she often presides at eucharistic services. She also bakes cookies and cakes for the prison­ers once a month. In fact, last September Emilia baked a birthday cake that she shared with the prisoners. It was her own cake, celebrating her 85th birthday.

The image of Emilia serving her own birthday cake to prisoners beautifully illustrates what the Eucharist is all about. She brings a spirit of wel­come and hospitality to all she does. And for this, those who are lucky enough to cross her path are thankful. Emilia is thankful as well: “I thank God for our Community for letting me share the gifts we have and I thank God for letting me share the gifts God has given me to service God’s people and share my life with them.”