Działalność Sióstr Świętej Katarzyny Dziewicy i Męczennicy w Pieniężnie

The article presents the activity of the Sisters of St Catherine, Virgin and Marty in Pieniężno (Mehlsack) in the years 1856–1876 and 1889–1945. In 1856 three sisters of St Catherine in Braniewo took up educational activity at the Catholic elementary school for girls in Pieniężno (Mehlsack). On 9 September, 1856 a contract of employment was signed between the Town Council of Pieniężno and the Order of St Catherine in Braniewo represented by Mother Apolonia Stuhrmann, Superior General. The Presbyter Marquard of Frombork participated in the event. In 1870 the sisters were additionally entrusted with teaching younger classes at a school attended by boys and girls. The number of sisters increased to five then. On 13 May, 1876, at the time of the Kulturkamph, the sisters were removed from the Pieniężno schools. Secular staff were appointed to fill their positions. Then the sisters returned to their convent in Braniewo. After 13 years, on 7 January, 1889 the sisters of St Catherine returned to Pieniężno to take up the job of nursing at St George’s Hospital. Soon the number of halls and the space for patients proved to be insufficient. A plot adjacent to the hospital was purchased and within the years 1912–1913 a larger, modern 50-bed hospital was built with collected money. It was fitted with the most modern equipment. There was also a chapel. In 1929 a twenty-bed paedriatric department for sick children and infants was opened in the hospital. The hospital was the property of the Catholic parish. It was subordinate to the department of education under the management of consecutive deans. Medical service was fulfilled by one of the physicians who practised in the town; nursing was done by the sisters of the Order of St Catherine. In 1930 six sisters worked there. During World War II (1939) a part of the hospital functioned as field hospital. Because of enormous amount of work the number of sisters increased to ten. On 11 February 1945 when the war front reached Orneta and military operations were nearing Pieniężno the last wounded patients were sent to field hospitals in the north of the country. The sisters had to leave the hospital too. On the night of 12/13 February they left Pieniężno.