Sister Helen Kilimnik

On November 1, 2025, the Feast of All Saints,

at Maison Jésus-Marie, in Longueuil,

Sister Helen Kilimnik (Mary of the Annunciation)

went home to God.

She was 92 years old, with 69 years as a vowed religious sister.

Helen was born in Montréal on June 17, 1933. She was the first of the three children of immigrant parents from Poland, Charles Kilimnik and Katherine Durkacz. As a young child, Helen’s mother introduced her to God as a loving Father and Creator. However, at school, Helen encountered another image of God and remembered telling God, “I don’t like your Church. It’s always talking about sin and punishment!” And God seemed to say, “Neither do I, Helen. Will you help me change it?” And Helen answered, “Yes, God, yes!”

In 1954, after spending several months as a Carmelite postulant, Helen entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.

Her first missions were as an elementary school teacher and then principal in schools with many disadvantaged students. She was in her glory there, since she had always been drawn to those who suffered most.

Following that, Helen taught at Holy Names High School. Later, she became a psychologist in inner city schools before being called to work with young sisters in formation, to be Assistant Provincial, and to be teacher and psychotherapist at the Institut de formation humaine intégrale de Montréal.

This latter ministry, for over 20 years, brought Helen great joy as she experienced helping God transform the Church by leading people—mostly religious and priests from Québec and around the world—to actualize their vital human strengths.

The last eleven years of Helen’s life were spent at Maison Jésus-Marie, where she experienced deeply her losses and vulnerability. However, true to her name, Mary of the Annunciation, the prayer, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” was always close by.

And, as often before, Helen was comforted by the words of her mother: “It won’t always be like this, Helen.”  And indeed, it isn’t! Helen is now rejoicing forever in her true home, a place of beauty, light, peace, truth, and happiness with God.