Sister Alexandrowicz's farewell speech

St Anne's Hall, Newtown, Wellington, 9 March 1958

We may judge what sort of person she was from the following excerpts from her farewell speech in 1958 before the Ursuline Sisters' departure for Poland. (She was visibly moved and spoke with urgency.)

"Before I leave, I would like to ask of you one thing – do not place too much value on today, on material needs of daily life. We have started this day in church with a hymn to God. Let us raise our minds each day to God and thank Him for sparing us, because all of us who are present here in the hall, were near departure from this world.

"I thank God each day for sending this little band of children who came with us – to New Zealand and not to another country. Two years ago, I visited other countries and nowhere have I seen Polish children living in as good conditions as in this country. The Polish children here received the best and for that we owe thanks to God.

"Do not engage yourselves in material concerns so deeply that you forget about God. Yes, God deserves our gratitude. Let your children know that God delivered you from the hopeless years of misfortune. Let them be aware of your past, speak to them about it, remind them of it, that they too may thank God for your deliverance and be in constant contact with God. Who knows what fate will await them. Do not let them immerse themselves in material life – should misfortune strike them, they will panic. If they accept your example, that will sustain them.

"Most of you were brought up here without family atmosphere, without a home. We tried to create that for you but we could not – we are not your parents. Provide your children with that atmosphere.

Give them what they will not get from the New Zealand way of life. If you do not create a Catholic atmosphere in your home, they will not obtain it from the local environment.

"The Catholics are a minority in this country – your children must obtain that atmosphere from their father, from their mother. I would not like you placing material prosperity before the welfare of your children. Better to be a little poorer but have plenty of family love. And you must give proof of your love – show your love in what you do for your family, not just words."