Beginnings...

The beginnings of this new Community were housed at the girls' agricultural school headed by Petronele Uogintaite She had been received as a postulant and would soon be appointed the first superior of the Community.

Despite his heavy workload, Fr. Matulaitis was busy drafting a Constitution for the new Community and a set of instructions called "The Guiding Thought and Spirit". He had named this new Community - The Sisters of the Poor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On All Saints Day, November 1st, he received the little group of postulants, as well as several others who had arrived from St. Petersburg, into the novitiate. He also conducted a retreat for them.

Sister Ursula Novickaite (the second superior) remembered those first days, "Whenever Fr. George Matulaitis came to instruct us about the spiritual life and to acquaint us with the new Constitution, his face was always very pleasant, although lined with care, yet still smiling as if our little religious family were his only concern and consolation. He did not want to burden us with his problems...The sisters were like little children who had no idea of the heavy crosses he had to bear, nor of the future, when he would no longer be there to guide them."

The Order's first Superior, appointed by Blessed George Matulaitis was Sister Petronele Uogintaite, from 1918 to 1926.

As long as Fr. Matulaitis remained in Marijampole, he himself guided the sisters in the spiritual life. He taught and formed the sisters. But those happy days were short. Soon he was appointed Bishop of Vilnius. Before leaving at the end of November, 1918, he designated Father Casimir Reklaitis spiritual director for the sisters.

This former professor a the St. Petersburg Theological Academy was an energetic, enthusiastic, and very spiritual person. He was concerned both with the spiritual and material welfare of the new Community, and also with the spiritual and cultural formation of each sister.

At first the religious family was very small. The whole group of ten sisters lived in the little apartment owned by Sister Petronele. It had no indoor plumbing. Soon it was time to move to larger quarters.

From 1926, Sister Ursula Novickaite was chosen by Blessed George Matulaitis to become the second Superior for the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A house was bought, but it needed repairs. A third floor was added, as well as a shed in the yard. Two more small houses were bought, and these facilities housed not only the sisters but, also the school, a kindergarten, and a small printing press.

All these material concerns had fallen upon the shoulders of Sister Petronele. She had to provide for all under her care. A tireless and resourceful worker, she placed all her talents at the service of the fledgling Community.

The Founder, far away in Vilnius, kept in touch by frequent letters and through various people who stopped by. On December 27th, 1919, he wrote to Sister Petronele, "Keep on working and educating yourselves, love God and people. Value your candidates and do not dismiss them, and you will see that those sisters will gradually change for the better and become more perfect."