SISTER CHERUBIMA SKOTNITZKI

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SISTER CHERUBIMA (ANTONIA) SKOTNITZKI, SSJ March 15, 1952 - April 15, 2017 Sister Cherubima was called home peacefully to her loving God on Holy Saturday, April 15, 2017, in the 46th year of her religious life. Left to mourn are her Sisters in the Congregation of the Ukrainian Sisters of St. Joseph, her adopted family Phyllis Kwiatkowski and Millie Haligowski, as well as her former catechism and Sadochok students and friends made over the years in the various parishes in which she served. She is predeceased by her parents, Michael and Tekla (Chocyi) Skotnitzki and her three siblings, Maria, Joseph and Markian. Sister Cherubima was born in Pedra Branca, Prudentopolis, Brazil on March 15, 1952. She spoke Portuguese at school, Ukrainian at home, and loved to relate how her family had immigrated from the Chortkiv area in Ukraine. After a happy childhood, during which she developed a remarkable love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she entered religious life. In 1972 she volunteered to go to Canada to work in the Sisters' new St. Joseph's Home for the Aged and Infirm in Saskatoon. Here, while tending to her ward and kitchen duties and bringing her faith and joy to all around her, she studied diligently, became a Canadian citizen in 1977 and was proud to graduate from E.D. Feehan High School in Saskatoon in 1983, later earning her ECE diploma at Red River College in Winnipeg. Her various missions included Minneapolis (St. Constantine's 1983-86), Winnipeg (Blessed Virgin Mary; catechism at St. Andrew's and Prosvita; co-director of St. Michael's School), Brazil (novicemistress 1991-94), Poland (Wroclaw and Banie Mazurskie), Ontario and then back to Winnipeg. Sister loved working with children and youth, and treasured her many years working with pani Luba Huk, the other Sisters, children and parents in BVM Sadochok. She led summer catechism camps in many rural areas in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. She tried to serve her Church in any way she could, especially by prayer, and counted it an honour to assist priests and bishops at every opportunity, even to the point of cooking for Metropolitan M. Hermaniuk (Canada) and Archbishop W. Juszczak (Poland). She was happy to assist at the Portuguese Masses offered by Msgr. P. Fernandes in the Sisters' chapel, and was greatly touched when he later arranged for the Immaculate Conception Portuguese Lira Band to play for her 25th anniversary of religious profession. She enjoyed helping seminarians and newcomers with language classes, directing the Children of Mary, designing projects with youth, and going on pilgrimage to holy places. Sister was gifted with artistic talent that produced lovely Ukrainian embroidery for church linens, pysanky, sewing (esp. church vestments). She was happy to design the anniversary pin for the 950th anniversary of the Consecration of Ukraine to the Mother of God. Progressive illness had necessitated that she take up residence at Holy Family Home, Winnipeg (Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate) in 2011. Sincere thanks are extended to those who cared for Sister over the past decade. Funeral Services for Sister Cherubima will be at Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, 965 Boyd Ave., Winnipeg: Parastas on Sunday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m. (rosary prior at 6:30), Funeral Liturgy on Monday, April 24 at 10:30 a.m., celebrated by His Grace Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak OSBM and members of the clergy. (Please bring bright vestments.) Interment at Holy Family Cemetery, Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers, Divine Liturgies for the soul of Sr. Cherubima or donations toward the Brazil children's playground project in Uniao da Vitoria, or to Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Wpg. would be appreciated. Condolences and memories may be sent to stjoscan@fastmail.fm. Please pray for vocations to the priesthood and to religious life. Vichna yiyi pamiat'. Chrystos Voskres! KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 204-956-2193 www.korbanchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 22, 2017