Edition No. 188—October 11, 2021 |
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Jubilee Day
Saint Joseph Villa
October 2, 2021
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A Jubilee is always an occasion of thanksgiving and celebration. As the jubilarians gathered for morning prayer in the Maguire Lounge at Saint Joseph Villa on Saturday, October 2, that sense of joy was palpable. The jubilarians came together to celebrate 75, 70 and 60 years of vowed commitment and faithful love as Sisters of Saint Joseph.
Celebrating 75 years: Sisters Jane Day, Saint Herman D’Uva, Teresa Egan,
Annemarie J.Feeley and Maria Teresa Griffin
Celebrating 70 years: Sisters Margaret Richard Farrant, Elizabeth Anne Heller,
Francis P. Kirk, Kathleen Cecilia Leary, Antoinette Munafo, Ruth O’Neill,
Rosemarie Elizabeth Puettner, Anna Louise Schuck and Kathleen Bernard Winner
Celebrating 60 years: Sisters Joan Carey, William Evelyn Galloway,
Elizabeth Ellen Tombler and Barbara Worley
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Celebrating 75 Years
Front row from left: Sisters Maria Teresa Griffin, Saint Herman D'Uva and Jane Day
Standing from left: Sisters Karen Dietrich, Owen Patricia Bonner, Maureen G. Erdlen, Eileen Marnien and Teresa Shaw
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Celebrating 70 Years
Seated, from left: Sisters Francis P. Kirk, James Therese Bones, Kathleen Bernard Winner, Elizabeth Anne Heller and Margaret Richard Farrant
Standing, from left: Sisters Owen Patricia Bonner, Ruth O'Neill, Maureen G. Erdlen,
Karen Dietrich, Antoinette Munafo, Teresa Shaw, Anna Louise Schuck
and Eileen Marnien
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Celebrating 60 Years
Seated, from left: Sisters Joan Carey, Barbara Worley and William Evelyn Galloway
Standing, from left: Sisters Owen Patricia Bonner, Maureen G. Erdlen,
Karen Dietrich, Teresa Shaw and Eileen Marnien
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In the Chapel, Congregational Vice President, Sister Eileen Marnien SSJ, warmly addressed all present. “Good morning! Happy Jubilee Day. On behalf of the Congregation, it is my great joy to welcome each of you: our sisters, who celebrate today, your families and friends and Father Joel Wilson, our celebrant and our concelebrants: Fr. Terry Odien, Fr. John O’Rourke and Fr. John Mohoney. We are so happy that we have gathered today to celebrate you, our Jubilarians, and your 60, 70 or 75 years as Sisters of Saint Joseph. We are so grateful for the many ways that each of you lives our mission with passion and joy.
Today we rejoice that 75 years ago, in 1946, our Sisters Maria Teresa Griffin, Teresa Egan, Annemarie Feeley, Jane Day and Saint Herman began an adventure of a lifetime as they embarked on their journey to Chestnut Hill to respond to God’s call to live and love as a Sister of Saint Joseph.
Five years later, in 1951, they would be joined by Antoinette Munafo, Ruth O’Neill, Kate Leary, Francis Kirk, Kathleen Bernard Winner, James Therese Bones, Rosemarie Elizabeth Puettner, Margaret Richard Farrant, Betty Heller, and Anna Louise Schuck.
And in 1961, Elizabeth Ellen Tombler, William Evelyn Galloway, Barbara Worley, and Joan Carey would become their companions.
These are the sisters we celebrate today.
We are so grateful that these young girls followed their hearts, found their home with the SSJs, and began a lifetime of living our mission of unity and service to the dear neighbor without distinction.
Sisters, during your combined 1,025 years of loving and joyful service, you taught hundreds of children, influenced young adults, comforted those who suffered, cared for the sick, fed the hungry, visited prisoners, welcomed immigrants, worked for justice, prayed for peace—your list of good works is endless.These have been very full years for each of you.It’s amazing that that you had any time for fun, but we know that you did. Your love, laughter, generosity, and commitment to our mission inspire all of us. You have made, and continue to make, a difference in our world.
We, your sisters, are delighted to celebrate you. We trust that every minute of today will be filled with joy as you share memories and tell stories. May today also be filled with the deep realization that we, your sisters, are so grateful for your presence among us and for your example of loving service to God’s people. Thank you for blessing us. We look forward to journeying with you for years to come.
Happy Jubilee Sisters. Let our celebration begin!”
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Following the Eucharistic Celebration of the Liturgy, sisters and their families and guests moved to the Dining Room for a delicious meal. Sister Owen Patricia Bonner SSJ led them in prayer. “Loving God, we give thanks for the pleasure of gathering together for this very special occasion. We give thanks for this food prepared by loving hands. We give thanks for life, for all who have gone before us, for family and friends, and all other blessings. As we partake of this food, we pray for health and strength to carry on and try to live as You would have us.This we ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Please raise a glass. Sisters, on the day of your birth God had a plan for you.You have lived your lives according to that plan, and you have touched so many people as you lived the mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Today, we congratulate you and we thank you for continually living out God’s plan for you. We ask God to continue to bless you and give you the wisdom and grace to live a life worthy of God’s call.
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Swing for the Sisters Golf Tournament
Flatbush Golf Course
Littlestown, PA
September 25, 2021
By Kathleen Pales SSJ, Development Director
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The Swing for the Sisters Annual Golf Tournament was a great success, thanks to all those who came out to support our retired sisters at Saint Joseph Villa. We are so grateful to all the golfers, volunteers, planning committee members, and staff members at Flatbush Golf Course in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, who came together with more enthusiasm than ever. Even mother nature cooperated by providing a picture-perfect autumn day.
Heartfelt thanks to our generous Corporate Sponsors: Conewago Contractors, Inc., Gamlet, Charlotte Glessner, Anna M. Noel and Donald B. Smith Inc, Roofing.
The support of our Premier Sponsor, Holy Rosary Association, and our Award Sponsors, Conewago Enterprises, Inc., and Hanover Toyota means the world to us.
We also thank our Hole Sponsors and all those who contributed in-kind donations. You truly are our partners in mission, and we are forever thankful.
This wonderful event netted $14,615 to help support our sisters at Saint Joseph Villa in Flourtown, PA.
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Nicole Schlein, Event Coordinator, is ready to distribute the goodie bags to the golfers. |
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Anna M. Noel, owner and operator of Flatbush Golf Course, works tirelessly to support Swing for the Sisters. |
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Sisters Jane Lawrence, Jane Keller, and Maureen G. Erdlen, Congregational President, collected and displayed over fifty raffle baskets. |
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SSJ Welcome Center
Grant Recipient
October 2021
By Sister Kathy McShane SSJ
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The SSJ Welcome Center received a grant of $11,400 from the 100 Women Philadelphia group. We were nominated for this grant by one of our volunteers who teaches classes with us. This grant will support our mission of education, outreach and immigration assistance to our dear immigrant neighbors. We are grateful to 100womenphiladelphia.com for their outreach to non-profits and worthy causes in Philadelphia.
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Pictured from left: Catherine Lawrence, Kathy McShane SSJ and Elizabeth Zack |
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Looking for Inspiration?
You can find it by clicking on images below!
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"With the help of God's grace and in fidelity to our founder's expressed wish, we live and work lovingly among all persons with a special preference for those who are poor, which calls us wherever we are to be in union with them."
— SSJ Constitutions #21
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