Bratislava (Slovakia). On 16 June 2025, Saint John Bosco Province (SLK) celebrates the 85th anniversary of the arrival of the first Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Trnava, Slovakia (16 June 1940).
The Province recalls the precious moments of the beginnings of their apostolate in Slovakia, described by Sister Kamila Novosedlíková in the book, “History of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Slovakia”. The author of the news, published in the magazine Don Bosco dnes (p. 10-11) by Sister Iveta Sojková.
The first Slovak FMA vocations date back to 1922. They are: Helena Ščepková from Plavecký Peter and Jozefína Sobotová from Chtelnica, accompanied by the Salesian of Don Bosco, Ladislav Stano and received in Turin, Italy, by the Superior General, Mother Catherina Daghero. Shortly afterwards, they were sent to the Postulate at Giaveno and on 5 August 1923, they began their novitiate in Nizza Monferrato. After two years of novitiate, they made their first religious vows.
Sister Helena asked to leave for the missions and, from the beginning, she promoted Slovak vocations in the Institute, welcoming them as an elder sister, writing to benefactors in America to obtain financial aid and personally organizing some of the trips of young Slovaks girls to Italy.
In 1939, the Institute already had 30 Slovak Sisters scattered around the world. The conditions were created to start the work of the Salesian Sisters also in Slovakia. Despite the outbreak of World War II, a new chapter in the Slovak history of the Institute began.
The first two sent Sisters were Sister Dorotea Hudáková and Sister Jozefína Bartošová, who arrived in Trnava at Hollého 10 on 16 June, 1940. Unfortunately, the diary of the Salesian students, for whom the Sisters cooked, washed, and ironed, does not record their arrival or their work.
From the Cronaca of the House of Trnava – year 1940/41
The introduction of the Cronaca states: “In the year of the Lord 1940, under the pontificate of Pius XII, the presidency of Dr. Jozef Tiso, and the bishopric of Mons. Pavol Jantausch, Mother Luisa Vaschetti authorized the foundation of the House of Mary Help of Christians in Trnava. The initiative was promoted by the Provincial Jozef Bokor, who asked the Turin Institute to send Sisters to work in the kitchen and laundry of the Salesian philosophical house in Trnava. The Superiors accepted the request and on 16 June 1940, they sent Sister Bartošová and Sister Hudáková. They were warmly welcomed by the local Director, Fr. František Sersen.
The Sisters received a large and separate accommodation, in accordance with canonical norms. They had a private chapel and a Salesian priest at their disposal. The Sisters of the Premonstratensian order instructed them for two weeks on the work in the kitchen and laundry (for 200 people). Sister Bartošová and Sister Hudáková presented themselves to Bishop Jantausch, accompanied by Fr. Sersen. The Bishop warmly welcomed them and blessed their mission.”
For two months, these two Sisters alone took care of the daily needs in the Salesian House of philosophical studies, heroically facing every domestic work. Sister Dorotea writes, “Thus began the new pages of our history. The Premonstratensian Sisters stayed with us for another two weeks, then left us. They kindly showed us everything we needed and left. We remained alone until 15 August 1940, when other Sisters arrived from Italy. The beginning was hard, especially because we were not used to that kind of work. God’s wisdom is not human – it must be asked of Him.”
The intense and zealous beginnings
The Sisters were immediately faced with a hugh job. Although there were only two of them, they knew that they could face everything only with God’s help. The spiritual life was their priority. Despite the fatigue, they faithfully respected the prayer times. Already after two weeks, monthly spiritual retreats began. They had a stable confessor and sometimes Fr. Ladislav Stano came as an extraordinary Confessor. The Director František Sersen took care of their spiritual formation.
The Provincial Bokor regularly visited the community, showing great interest in the life of the Sisters. He gave priority to the spiritual life, community relations, and willingness to sacrifice for the salvation of souls. He recommended, with words and above all by example, “Love and live the life of sacrifice. It is the source of joy of our heart.”
From the Salesian Bulletin of 1940
Two articles in the October 1940 edition describe the arrival of the first FMA in Slovakia. The authors are not indicated, but it is certain that the second article is written by a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians:
“The Salesian family in Slovakia was so far incomplete. The Salesians have already done a lot for the male youth, but the female field was still intact. Girls, too, need guidance and a safe hand to tackle the difficult journey against the tide.
This year the Slovak Salesian work is finally completed. The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians arrive from Italy. Like the first Salesians, they too drew on the original spirit of Don Bosco at the source, to transplant it in Slovakia in an authentic way. It was a longstanding desire of our Superiors, and only now have the difficulties that hindered their arrival been overcome. They came in silence, with religious humility, to begin the preparatory work of their mission.”
Currently, the Slovak Province has 84 FMA, 15 communities in Slovakia and one community in Baku, Azerbaijan.
They celebrate the 85th anniversary of their arrival in Slovakia by expressing every month gratitude and prayer to a category of people: Salesians, Sisters, parents, Past Pupils, young people, members of the Salesian Family, benefactors… In addition, every 13th of the month, in memory of Mother Mazzarello, they spread some of her words, in order to present her spirituality and help to better know the Salesian feminine charism.
From 2 to 4 May 2025 at Badin, on the occasion of the Provincial Assembly, the celebrations of the anniversaries of Profession, and of gratitude to the Provincial, Sister Jana Kurkinová, were enriched by this important anniversary. “85 years, as for the life of a person, are many. They are full of experience, wisdom of life, beautiful and challenging events. I am grateful for the fidelity of the Sisters, for the passage of the Charism from Italy to Slovakia, from totalitarianism to democracy, for the courage of the Superiors to say YES to this difficult service, and also for the daily and tireless work of the Sisters carried out for love of Jesus, as Saint Mary Domenica taught us,” are the words of Sister Viera Antalíková.
