Latest News from the Sisters of Saint Joseph


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Edition No. 67 — April 18, 2018 
Norwood-Fontbonne Academy
Love Boldly Ambassadors
March 28, 2018
The Office of Social Justice launched the #LoveBoldly campaign at the beginning of Lent to spread a message of love and unity in the midst of the many miseries in our world. The office shared a Lenten calendar that included reflections each day, distributed magnets to spread the message and they also shared prayers from our sisters each week.

A group of twenty one students taught by Sister Marjorie Lawless SSJ from Norwood-Fontbonne Academy met with Sister Colleen Dauerbach SSJ from the Office of Social Justice to share how they “Loved Boldly” throughout Lent.

The students in Sister Marjorie’s class were introduced to the topic of “loving boldly” in their classwork and were more aware of how important it is to be kind to their classmates, and to the people they come in contact with. When a student would do a kind act, he or she would peel the wrapper off of a crayon, break it and put it in a vase. At the end of Lent, the crayons were melted down into heart-shaped molds.

Sister Marjorie’s “Love Boldly” Ambassadors also met with sisters at the Villa to read, sing to and spend time with them. The Love Boldly Ambassadors also gave each of the sisters one of the hearts and shared how they prayed for the sisters throughout Lent.  

SSJ Welcome Center
15 th Anniversary Celebration
Saint Joseph Villa
April 10, 2018
The SSJ Welcome Center Staff visited Saint Joseph Villa on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, to share the 15 th Anniversary Celebration with the Villa residents and staff.

Sister Kathy McShane SSJ , Director of the Welcome Center, welcomed everyone and thanked the Villa sisters and staff for their continued generosity to the Welcome Center.

Sister Pat Madden SSJ shared a reflection about her 15 years at the Welcome Center and narrated a beautiful Video History of the Welcome Center. 

Sister Marian Behrle SSJ recognized  Sister Marie Lewis SSJ for her dedication and time at the Welcome Center, thanking her for all the lessons taught, conversations shared and wisdom imparted!

Sisters Connie Trainor SSJ and Pat Madden SSJ shared a presentation of two of our Honorees —  Sister Peg Fleming SSJ and  Sister Judy Ridley SSJ — thanking Peg and Judy for their commitment to the Welcome Center and honoring them for their presence and love to all of our newest neighbors — our wonderful immigrant friends.

The program ended with some surprise door prizes and everyone who attended received two gifts: a prayer card with a quote by Mother St. John Fontbonne and a pin inscribed with  You are my dear neighbor
Photos courtesy Cristina Diaz
Spring Recital
Saint Joseph Villa
April 11, 2018
By Lourdes Kennedy SSJ
On Wednesday, April 11, 2018, the “SSJ Orchestra of Saint Joseph Villa” (4 th floor music group) presented their  Spring Recital under the direction of Maestro Mary William. 

The repertoire for the program included choral presentations animated with gesture and body movements. Our percussion section (rhythm sticks and bells) featured selections ranging from  The Syncopated Clock to the  Anniversary Waltz . In the glockenspiel portion of the concert our special guests,  Sisters Anne Myers and  Dorothy Apprich , joined the fun. 

The program ended with  Halls of Joseph followed by everyone enjoying delicious ice cream sundaes. We are so grateful for the twice weekly spirited music classes which nurture our love of music, nostalgia and fun. 
Photos courtesy Lourdes Kennedy SSJ
Sister Dolores Egner SSJ
2018 Hall of Fame Honoree
April 12, 2018
Sister Dolores Egner SSJ was named a member of the 2018 Philadelphia South Catholic Schools Hall of Fame Class on April 12, 2018 at the Gala held at the IATSE Ballroom in South Philadelphia.

Dolores was recognized and honored for positively impacting the lives of thousands of children during her 50 years in Catholic Education in Philadelphia.

Congratulations, Dolores!
Photos courtesy Jane Field SSJ and Deb Hughes SSJ
Sister Fran Ratay SSJ
Distinguished Catholic Educator 2018
April 2018
Sister Fran Ratay SSJ has received the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award at Little Flower High School. Fran is pictured above with students from Little Flower.

Congratulations, Fran!
Jubilee Day
Saint Joseph Villa 
April 14, 2018
A spirit of joy and thanksgiving filled the Chapel at Saint Joseph Villa on Saturday,
April 14, 2018, as 16 Sisters of Saint joseph celebrated their Jubilee Day by sharing in a Mass celebrated by Abbot Edmund Boyce, OSB.

Celebrating 75 Years: Sisters St. Rose Dwyer, Therese Ganly, Marian Steiner and Veronica Marie Stawski.

Celebrating 70 Years: Sisters Joan Dolores Boyce, Miriam Bernard Fitzsimmons,
Agnes Mary Foy, Kathryn Malone, Daniel Margaret O’Connor, Rose Imelda Patterson, Kathleen Sheehan, Ann Toner and Marie Michael Wanzie.

Celebrating 60 Years: Sisters Rita Hekker and Clare Madeleine Tully.

Celebrating 50 Years: Sister Margaret Ann Maguire.

Congregational President,  Sister Anne Myers SSJ , enthusiastically welcomed sisters, families and friends. “Today as all creation sings praise to our God, we offer praise to our God for the beautiful lives of our sister jubilarians.

Pope Francis said, ‘When we live our vocation faithfully, our life becomes a proclamation of God’s love.’ Our Jubilarians have lived their vocations in fidelity to God through lives of prayer and commitment to their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience lived in community. They have been ever faithful to our mission of uniting all people with God and one another.  

Our sister jubilarians have been a proclamation of God’s love to so many people as they served in elementary and secondary school as teachers, principals, librarians, in parishes as directors of religious education, pastoral ministers and pastoral associates, in health care settings, prisons, social work settings and congregational administration.

And now, through their lives of intense prayer and loving presence, they continue to intercede for all the needs of our world today, which is their most powerful gift. The Church and our Congregation have been blessed beyond measure by your lives, Sister Jubilarians. Thank you and congratulations!  We love you!”                         

Following the Eucharistic Celebration, the Jubilarians and their guests enjoyed a delicious dinner.

We offer our gratitude, congratulations and prayers to each of our Jubilarians, for their lives of faithful service to God and the dear neighbor.
Pictured standing, from left: Maureen Erdlen SSJ, Terry Shaw SSJ, Anne Myers SSJ
and Regina Bell SSJ
Seated, from left: St. Rose Dwyer SSJ, Veronica Marie Stawski SSJ and Therese Ganly SSJ
Pictured standing, from left: Agnes Mary Foy SSJ, Maureen Erdlen SSJ, Terry Shaw SSJ,
Anne Myers SSJ, Regina Bell SSJ and Joan Dolores Boyce SSJ
Seated from left: Kathleen Sheehan SSJ, Rose Imelda Patterson SSJ, Ann Toner SSJ,
Miriam Bernard Fitzsimmons, Marie Michael Wanzie SSJ and Kathryn Malone SSJ.
Pictured standing, from left: Maureen Erdlen SSJ, Terry Shaw SSJ, Anne Myers SSJ
and Regina Bell SSJ
Seated, from left: Rita Hekker SSJ and Clare Madeleine Tully SSJ
Pictured standing, from left: Maureen Erdlen SSJ, Terry Shaw SSJ, Anne Myers SSJ
and Regina Bell SSJ
Seated: Margaret Ann Maguire SSJ
"Rooted in the mission of Christ, ours is the same mission which continually unfolds in the Church, 'That all may be one as you, Father, are in me, and I in you. I pray that they may be one in us.' (Jn 17:21)."
                                        — SSJ Constitutions #17
Editor, Sister Carole Pollock SSJ | 215.248.7269 | cpollock@ssjphila.org | http://ssjphila.org/home/