By Mother Ann Marie Zierke, M.S.
The names Sister Marta and Sister Theresa were always spoken of with reverence when I was a young sister. When we are asked to give a brief history of the community, it is usually summed up to “they escaped communism in the Czech Republic during the 1950s.” But the longer l live in community and the more I learn about their lives, I realized it is a story of courage, trust, and providence.
Sister Marta Silna and Sister Theresa Gottvald began their religious life as Mercy Sisters of St. Francis in Brno, Czechoslovakia. Both worked as registered nurses in hospitals when their country was still free. They worked under Nazi rule, during World War II, and later after the war, under the communistic regime in their country. Their motherhouse was confiscated by the communists and used for government purposes.
In 1950, under obedience from their superior, Sister Marta and Sister Theresa fled their country because of religious suppression. They escaped with the help of the people involved in the underground. They spent a night trekking through the wooded hills of the Czech Republic to come to a river. They traversed the water, wearing their shoes to avoid injury, and holding all their worldly possessions above their heads.
They crossed a checkpoint hidden in the back of a cucumber truck. They and the others they were with were close enough to see the guards’ guns and hear the conversation about paperwork, IDs and cargo. By God’s providence, the guards never looked in the back of the truck. Eventually, the sisters took refuge in Austria and worked as nurses in a hospital in Innsbruck.
In the meantime, Bishop Louis B. Kucera of Lincoln, Nebraska, was facing a staffing crisis at St. Thomas Orphanage. He learned from Father Jan Smutny – a Czech refugee priest – that Sister Marta and Sister Theresa were in Austria, so he contacted them and made arrangements for them to come to the Lincoln Diocese.
However, the sisters experienced emigration problems. Sister Marta received a visa for Canada, but Sister Theresa was denied. They searched for a way not to avoid separation, but in October 1951, Sister Marta was informed she had to leave for Canada immediately, which she did.
Later, Sister Theresa, who was still working in the hospital in Innsbruck, received a visa to immigrate to the United States. After many difficulties, Sister Theresa finally arrived in Nebraska Nov. 13, 1952. She began working at the orphanage immediately.
Sister Marta was informed that she could join Sister Theresa only after spending two years in Canada. Finally, Sister Marta joined Sister Theresa Dec. 18, 1953. After having been apart for over two years, the sisters were glad to be together again and greatly enjoyed their work at the orphanage.
Soon, the beginning of a new community was authorized by Bishop Kucera, and Feb. 15, 1954, saw the official beginning of the American community. Over the years, several changes were made in the direction of the young community. At first, the young women who joined the community took care of the children at the orphanage. Later, they were asked to begin training for the teaching apostolate.
In 1963, the orphanage was closed, and the sisters moved to a newly built motherhouse outside of Lincoln, at the Catholic Center near Waverly. The sisters established mission houses in other Southern Nebraska towns.
It was here, at Marycrest Motherhouse that I entered the convent and met Sister Marta and Sister Theresa. Having lived with them in their final years, it is easy for me to see their lives and their story as miraculous. But they would be the first to tell you that all they did, they did out of obedience and in an effort to do God’s will. “This community,” they always claimed “is God’s community.”
Sister Marta and Sister Theresa were just ordinary instruments in the hand of God. This often makes me think of where God might be calling me or what he might be asking me to do. But I can always take confidence knowing that if I am obedient and trust in his providence, I will always be cared for.
