The Legacy of Mother Colette
Sister Benedicta Dega, FSSJ

God’s Plans are made for us
Before our birth –
In loving ways, He weaves
A pattern deep within our heart,
He allows situations and people
To color His weaving.
And they form the foundation
For His Plan to unfold.
For Colette, the political unrest
Of her homeland, Poland
Robbed of all national peace and culture
Torn away from the hearts of the people
Their Christian beliefs … their sense of hope!
Into this background of injustice and strife
Came the meeting of Colette’s parents –
Hugo von Hilbert and Adele Siemniszko.
Their love centered God’s Plan,
Became realized with a little family.
Adele, Little Joseph, who God took home quickly
And Agnes Victoria.
It was the youngest Agnes, that God
Looked upon with special love.
He molded her with gentle hands,
To be that Strong, Loyal, Lover of Him.
Strong – with a background of persecuted people,
Loyal – with a forever trust in God
Lover of Him by following the voice
of a Plan conceived in Heaven.
Her early childhood showered
By a parent’s love.

  Made Colette, a confident child.
Her education furthered the
Modeling process of God’s work.
And as countless circumstances
Formed her soul –
She became more pliable to God’s loving voice,
Even at an early age, sacrifices were made –
Her motherly qualities developed
In the taking care of the children
All of these … the foundation
For a future still unknown.
Her school days evolved.
Into preparations for that future teacher
And leader, she would become.
Agnes, the little Princess, was slowly
Becoming the spokesperson
And realizer of God’s Plan.

Picture is of Agnes Von Hilbert later to be known as Mother Colette Hilbert, FSSJ