In Loving Memory...

Sister M. Camilla, CSC
(Emilia Cilinski)
Birth: February 15, 1920
Profession: August 15, 1940
Death: November 27, 2007

How to honor properly that thoughtful, caring person, Sister Camilla? And how to describe the mischievous, sometimes tantalizing person she could be? Perhaps a beginning place would be recognition of an all-pervasive quality: her love of God, of her neighbor, of life itself.

Emelia Cilinski, the third of the seven children of Peter and Emelia Kulczycka Cilinski, was born in Curtis Bay, Maryland, in 1920. Both Peter and Emelia were born in Poland; they came to the United States at a young age. Sister Camilla’s grandfathers were friends and in accordance with a common tradition at that time, arranged for the marriage of Peter and Emelia. Another Polish tradition during those years was the special privilege given to godparents: selecting the name of their godchild. So it was that the first daughter of Peter and Emelia was placed under the patronage of Saint Emelia.

When Emelia was 2 years old, the family left Curtis Bay and moved to a farm on property that is now part of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia. Emelia attended Saint Mary’s Catholic Grade School in Alexandria, where the Sisters of the Holy Cross taught. Following completion of elementary school Emelia enrolled in Saint Mary’s Academy, Alexandria, where her good friend Sister Catherine Lash was among her classmates. Emelia recognized early God’s invitation to her to follow a religious vocation. Encouraged by Sister Rose Anthony, Emelia entered the novitiate on February 15, 1938, one day after she turned 18; in August 1938 Emelia joyously received the name Sister Camilla. Following her formation experience at Saint Mary’s, she began her education ministry at Saint Paul’s in New York City. Over the years she carried out this important work in schools in Texas, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania. Sister Camilla earned her bachelor’s degree from Dunbarton College; later she attended Catholic University in Washington. Places of summer ministry included Camp Merrylande, Saint Joseph’s Home and School in Washington, D.C., and New York City Head Start program.

Sister Camilla’s ability to enjoy life and bring joy to others made her an effective primary teacher; these same gifts enabled her to carry out the ministry of being a local superior. As to the source of her delight in living, we can readily recognize her deep faith in God, emblazoned in her heart. This faith was nourished and strengthened through Camilla’s love of the Eucharist. Faith motivated her to “reach out and touch someone,” literally thousands. If it were not a face-to-face visit or encounter, immediate contact was only as far away as the nearest telephone. AT&T should be forever grateful!

Here we might allude to another “spiritual” characteristic: the absence of the reality of time. In Sister Camilla’s view, her charity-driven inquiry of “I just wanted to know how you are,” “Are you resting?” or “Where are you?” was a 24-7 genuine concern for another’s well-being. These qualities were evidenced further in her great hospitality; she would literally take your hand, as if extending the hand of God. Indeed, hers was a ministry of affirmation for whatever one was doing. We in Holy Cross—priests, brothers and sisters and our partners in ministry, especially the nursing staff—have been enriched by this limitless support, as have the members of her beloved family: her brother, Monsignor John, Walter, Edward, Mary and Helen and dear Father Julius, who died in May 2004. Speaking of Julius, there is a brief anecdote that needs to be noted. When Julius and Emelia were thinking about religious vocations, both were very much interested in Maryknoll. Along the way they found out (I do not know who conveyed the fact) that the “Maryknollers” ate nothing but rice, so the two young enthusiasts knew that that diet would never satisfy their Polish palates; the diocesan seminary and Holy Cross seemed better choices.

How many times have we witnessed the mutual joy and happiness of “Auntie Sister” and her nieces and nephews as they shared a visit? One phenomenon, which cannot go unnoticed, was the amount of energy and determination that Auntie Sister could demonstrate when there was an opportunity to dine at the Red Lobster. This same quality prevailed in visiting other sisters here, participating in activities (How many bingo prizes did she win?) or extending hospitality to her visitors. An additional noteworthy acquired skill was that of making ice cream cones. I do believe she held the record for the highest ever at Saint Catherine’s; she could have qualified for employment in any Dairy Queen.

Sister Camilla was proud of her Polish heritage and found special delight in the life and achievements of Pope John Paul II. How proudly she related the special privilege her parents had when they were selected to represent the Arlington diocese and to receive holy Communion from the pope during his visit to Washington, D.C. Sister would proudly describe, too, her nephew’s audience with the pope when Father Bob called attention to the papal pronunciation of the Cilinski surname.

We thank you, Emelia, Camilla, Auntie Sister, for all the joy and love you have shared with us, and we know that you and Julius together with “Mama” and “Papa” are happily singing a loud “Gloria” with the entire heavenly court!

Written by Sister Patricia Ann Thompson, CSC

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry With the Poor Fund, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.