On August 2, 2025, Sister Magdalena Żerdzińska’s perpetual profession was celebrated in the chapel of the Redemptoristine monastery in Bielsko-Biała. This act of total surrender and consecration of her life to God bound Sister Magdalena to the spirituality of the Redemptorist Sisters and the charism of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop Roman Pindel. The homily was given by Fr. Krzysztof Bieliński, CSsR.
Saturday’s ceremony began with a recollection of Sister Magdalena’s spiritual journey, which led her to the decision to profess perpetual vows. On behalf of the Church, the bishop asked the candidate several questions aimed at confirming her willingness to live in chastity, poverty, and obedience and to dedicate herself completely to the service of the Church and the religious community. To each question, Sister Magdalena responded: “Yes, I do.”
The symbolic gesture of prostration—lying on the ground with arms and legs outstretched—was an expression of total abandonment to God and trust in His grace. At that moment, those present recited the Litany of All Saints, invoking their intercession, especially that of the saints most close to the spirituality of the Redemptorists.
The central moment of the celebration was the act of perpetual profession, read by Sister Magdalena and placed by her own hands on the altar. She then signed it, along with the witnesses and the bishop, in the book of religious professions. In this solemn act, Sister Magdalena pronounced her vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience before the Mother Superior, Sister Beata Figura, according to the constitution and statutes of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer. She entrusted her path to God, asking for the grace of fidelity through Mary’s intercession.
After the vows were pronounced, the bishop imparted a solemn blessing to Sister Magdalena, thanking her for her vocation to the contemplative life. He then presented her with the ring, a sign of her covenant with Christ and his Church. The ring, in the symbolic shape of two intertwined hands, with the words “ego te sponsabo” (“I will marry you”) written inside, is intended to recall the permanence and depth of this spiritual relationship.
The superior and all the Redemptorist nuns welcomed Sister Magdalena – symbolically and literally – expressing their willingness to be of one heart and soul with her, according to Jesus’ prayer: “that all may be one.”
On behalf of the Provincial Superior, the Vicar of the Provincial Superior, Father Mariusz Mazurkiewicz CSsR, expressed his congratulations, emphasizing the spiritual unity of the entire Redemptorist family and recalling that the essence of holiness is love for Jesus Christ.
At the end, Sister Magdalena expressed words of gratitude to Jesus, his family, the community, and all those present. She humbly recalled her own “smallness” in the face of the great gift of her vocation. At the same time, she encouraged everyone to bear witness to God’s love together: “Now let us all go together and proclaim this to the whole world.”
Sister Magdalena Żerdzińska is originally from Elbląg and studied at the Military Technical Academy in Warsaw. She is an engineer. She was a member of the “Woda Życia” (Water of Life) community, led by Father Roman Trzciński. She was also a music director there. She loves music. She met the Redemptorist community during a spiritual retreat.
Robert Karp
(Source: www.diecezja.bielsko.pl)
