Cause for Beatification
1881
Polish immigrant, Josephine Dudzik (later, Sister Mary Theresa Dudzik), and her family, immigrate to Chicago.
1894
Josephine invites members of the Third Order of St. Francis to join her
in a life of prayer and service to the poor, aged, and disabled.
She establishes the nucleus of a new congregation, originally called The
Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Kunegunda and later renamed
The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago.
1918
Sister Mary Theresa Dudzik dies. She is later given the honorary title of "Mother".
1963
A request is made to Cardinal Meyer to approve Rev. Henry Malak as Postulator in the Archdiocese of Chicago for the Beatification Cause of Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik.
1972
Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik’s body is exhumed as part of the process for the Cause of Beatification. Her body is later reinterred in a sarcophagus in the Motherhouse chapel.
1979
John Cardinal Cody officially opens the Cognitive Process for the Cause of Beatification. Testimonies are given from 1970 –1981.
1982
"Positio Super Scriptis" published by the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, contains the opinions of the first two Theologian Censors regarding the writings attributed to the Servant of God, Mary Theresa Dudzik.
1994
Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik is declared "Venerable."
2002
The casket containing the remains of Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik is made available for public viewing before being moved to the new Motherhouse.
2003
Opening of the Archdiocesan Trial for the Cause of Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik. Doctors give testimony regarding the possible miracle attributed to Mother Mary Theresa in the case of Jerry Lisiecki.
As the sessions come to a close, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago celebrates a Mass of Thanksgiving in the convent chapel.
Present
The Cause for the Beatification of Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik is now in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. In 2010, news was received from Rome that the miracle of Jerry Lisecki would not be accepted because of a lack of sufficient documentation. A documented miracle from medical personnel is necessary in order for Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik to be beatified. We remain faithful to the Cause. We move forward with greater passion to prove what we know in our hearts to be true – that Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik lived a life that glorified God in very kindness that she showed to others. Please keep praying and become more active in telling Mother Mary Theresa’s story so that it will inspire others to live as she lived.
