Holy Family Institute

04/10/2026

Did you know that Holy Family Institute originally stood three stories tall, not two? On this , we’re looking back at a challenging day in our history – one that showed us just how much our community’s love and support truly means. ❤️

1984: In July, a catastrophic fire breaks out on campus and destroys more than half of the main building, but no one is injured. With an outpouring of support from the community, the Sisters begin to raise funds for reconstruction.

04/07/2026

📣 Sign-on bonus available! 📣

Join our team as a bilingual clinician and make a direct impact on the lives of vulnerable children! Apply now at hfi-pgh.org/careers

04/05/2026

04/02/2026

Time to dust off your drivers! 🏌‍♂️ Support our mission AND golf at the region's only 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course – Monday, July 27, 2026. Register today at hfi-pgh.org/golf

04/01/2026

03/27/2026

Here's another monumental moment in HFI's 125 years, when we received a presidential visit! 🦅🗽

1962: President John F. Kennedy visits Holy Family Institute in October and the children present him with a doll for his daughter, Caroline.

03/26/2026

Campus Snapshot! 📸

Holy Family is celebrating our 125th year, but there is another important anniversary to recognize – our beautiful chapel, built in 1925, has been at the center of campus for a century! The chapel is a peaceful retreat filled with artwork, from the stained glass windows, to the mosaics on the altar, and much more. We look forward to the next 100 years in this special place!

03/25/2026

She was the only one who survived. ✝️

As we continue honoring the Sisters of Nowogrodek this Women’s History Month, we remember Sister Maria Malgorzata Banas – the 12th Sister.

On July 31, 1943, Sister Malgorzata was returning from work at the local hospital, dressed in lay clothing. Along the way, she encountered her 11 Sisters being taken to police headquarters.

In that moment, Sister Stella gave her one instruction: return home, and care for the priest and the parish.

The next day, the 11 Sisters were martyred by German troops in the nearby woods.

As the only survivor, Sister Malgorzata helped the villagers find and care for the Sisters’ burial site until they could be moved to the parish cemetery. She then devoted her life to serving the people of Nowogrodek – quietly sustaining the faith through the hardships of war and Communism.

On December 14, 2021, Pope Francis recognized her heroic virtues as a Servant of God. Her life is a witness to courage, dedication, and enduring faith.

Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in the USA CSFN Roma

03/25/2026

We had a great time with our friends from Holy Family University this afternoon, cheering on the women's basketball team as they competed in the NCAA Elite Eight at Duquesne University! 🏀🐯

Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in the USA

03/20/2026

On Tuesday, we welcomed Sisters from Italy and Poland as they visited the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth’s ministries in the United States. In Pittsburgh, we took our guests to significant sites in the congregation’s history, including:

⛪ St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in the Strip District, where the Sisters were first welcomed by the Spiritan priests to teach Polish immigrant children – and home to a statue of Mother Foundress Frances Siedliska.

🎓 Duquesne University, founded by the Spiritans, who continue their special partnership with the Sisters to this day.

🏫 Holy Family Institute, where they perused photos and artifacts from our archives, explored our historic campus, and visited the chapel, which also features a statue of the Mother Foundress.

The Sisters’ visit renews our connection to the global community of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, carrying the mission forward across the globe. 💕

Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in the USA CSFN Roma

03/19/2026

Check out the latest updates on new programs, old friends, and more in our winter newsletter! 📰 Read all about it at go.hfi-pgh.org/winter-2026-news.

03/18/2026

Today we remember 11 women whose courage changed the course of countless lives. 🙏

In the summer of 1943, during World War II, the town of Nowogrodek, Poland, lived under German occupation and constant fear. The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth served their community – offering faith, comfort, and care to neighbors in need.

When 120 people were arrested, the community turned to the Sisters and asked for prayers. The Sisters responded with a profound act of faith, praying that their own sacrifice might spare the lives of others.

On August 1, 1943, those prayers were answered in a heartbreaking way. The 11 Sisters were taken into the woods and gave their lives – so that the prisoners could return home to their families.

Their sacrifice was not forgotten. On March 5, 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified the Sisters in recognition of their martyrdom.

This Women’s History Month, we honor their witness of faith, love, and extraordinary courage.

Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in the USA CSFN Roma