Maria Rubczyńska

The elder sister of Mother Columba, Maria Rubczyńska was born in 1834 in Yasnishchi, four years before her sister Rose, who came to be known as Mother Columba. Maria possessed a great dedication and love for homeland and neighbor. When she married Władysław Rubczyński, a landowner from Popowiec, she resided in the family manor in Yasnishchi. Their estate prided itself on having an elementary school with two classes for the local peasant population. In 1863, during the November Uprising, they founded a hospital for injured insurgents. She gave birth to four children: Eleanor, Ann, Vitold, and Stanislaus.

Maria and Rose enjoyed a very strong relationship. When Rose had to make difficult decisions about her vocation on July 2, 1856, Mary accompanied her to Pidkamin and the local Marian shrine run by the Dominican Friars where she met with their Master General, Fr. Vincent Jandel, O.P. On the other hand, when Maria was in need due to her illness, she immediately called for her beloved sister, now Mother Columba, to come as she wanted her present at her death.

Maria Rubczyńska died February 24, 1874 in Lviv, where she was buried by her father Francis Bialecki and her younger sister Władysława in Lychakiv Cemetery.