Sisters, Servants of the

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Malvern, Pennsylvania

Mission Advancement

where Mission Matters

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

— Proverbs 3:5

A Friendship Born From Gratitude

For Francis Tuturice (pictured right), supporting the IHM is more than a charitable gift. It is a way of honoring the sisters who helped shape his life and the lives of his family for generations. A lifelong member of Holy Savior Parish in Norristown, Francis was educated by IHMs for 12 years, first at Holy Savior School and later at Bishop Kenrick High School. His mother and sisters were also taught by the IHMs, creating a family connection that spans decades. "I always say, 'you're making me the man I am today'," Francis shares. "They were good educators. When you think back about what you got from them, you want to give back."

That gratitude has inspired Francis to become a generous supporter of the IHM's for the last six years. As a member of the Holy Savior Senior Citizen Club in Norristown, he also helped the club become a sponsor of the IHM Nun Run. Over the years, Francis has remained connected to the congregation through both his philanthropy and the cherished memories of the sisters who influenced him. He fondly recalls visiting Sister Ann Loftus, his sixth-grade teacher, at Camilla Hall and continued to make donations in memory of his beloved eighth-grade teacher, Sister Marie Amabilis Cassidy.

One of Francis's most meaningful connections to the IHM community, however, began with a simple thank-you phone call. Several years ago, Sister Marian Bernadette Chuk of the Mission Advancement Office called to thank Francis for one of his generous donations. What began as a routine outreach soon became something much more personal.

At the time, Francis was grieving the loss of his mother. "When she called me, it was not long after my mother had passed away," he recalls. "She sent me a Mass card. I was so touched because I really didn't know her. She offered condolences and that was so beautiful - to be so respectful to someone that you don't even really know."

For Sister Marian Bernadette, the gesture came naturally. "I called Francis to thank him for his donation, and his mother had just died a few days earlier," she remembers. "I felt so sorry for him that I wrote a sympathy card and sent it to him."

The kindness left a lasting impression when about a year later, while helping prepare Christmas cards for donors, Sister Marian Bernadette added a short-handwritten note to Francis's card, wishing him a blessed Christmas. The personal touch meant so much to him that he responded with a Christmas card of his own and a donation made in her honor. "I was so overwhelmed that he would think to do that," Sister Marian Bernadette says.

The following year, Francis once again sent a card and a gift in her honor, continuing a friendship built on mutual appreciation and compassion. Today, Francis remains one of the congregation's faithful supporters, motivated by the example of the IHM's who educated him and the relationships he has formed through the years. Although he and Sister Marian Bernadette have spoken many times by phone, they have yet to meet face-to-face. "I need someday to stop by there just to introduce myself," says Francis. "I've talked to her several times over the years, and I should just say hello."

Their story is a beautiful reminder that generosity is about more than financial support. Through a phone call, a sympathy card, and a few handwritten notes, a devoted donor and an IHM formed a friendship rooted in gratitude, kindness, and a shared commitment to the IHM mission.

Sister Marian Bernadette Chuk Donor Relations Assistant

The dream of becoming an IHM began at a very young age for Sister Marian Bernadette Chuk. As a third grader at SS. Simon & Jude School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, she admired the IHMs who taught her. She often helped carry a sister's school bag to the convent, and one day a sister remarked, "You're going to be a sister someday." Those simple words left a lasting impression.


After graduating from Notre Dame High School in 1961, Sister Marian Bernadette entered the IHM. She spent one year as a postulant and two years as a novice at the congregation's former Motherhouse in West Chester, Pennsylvania. After professing her first vows, she began what would become a long and fruitful ministry in education.

Throughout her religious life, Sister Marian Bernadette served in 14 different missions. Her first assignment was teaching first grade at Sacred Heart School in Havertown. She later ministered in a variety of locations, including six years in Savannah, Georgia, and three years in Rock Hill, South Carolina, as well as several schools in the Philadelphia area.

Some of her most meaningful assignments brought her back home to the Lehigh Valley during a time when her mother needed extra care. She served at St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Easton and later at St. Teresa of the Child Jesus in Hellertown, allowing her to remain close to her family while continuing her ministry.

In 2018, Sister Marian Bernadette began a new mission at the IHM Motherhouse in Mission Advancement. She willingly embraced the needs of the congregation and was soon invited to assist with donor outreach. Working alongside Sister Jude Mary O'Donnell, she began making phone calls to benefactors and friends of the congregation, something she very much enjoys, she says. "Especially when I have friends on the list, and I get to call my friends, and many times I make friends."

Now entering her eighth year in this mission, Sister Marian Bernadette continues to find joy in the connections she makes every day. Whether speaking with longtime friends or meeting someone new, she treasures the opportunity to share gratitude and build relationships on behalf of the IHM Sisters. "I do enjoy when I see a familiar name. I get really happy, as I do have long-time friends who are benefactors," she says. "I enjoy my work very much."

Oktoberfest

The 2026 Camilla Hall Oktoberfest and Craft Fair is right around the corner. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of Camilla Hall. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sponsorships are also available! Support this fundraiser for our dear sisters at Camilla Hall. For more information contact Dan O'Neill @ 610-647-2160 ext. 1923 or by email at dan.oneill@ihmimm.org.

Annual Report Coming to You Soon!

The Annual Report is being printed as you read this! The Annual Report lists all donors who gave from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

This year’s annual report aims to educate you on the many ways you give whether it is through Workplace Giving, Donor Advised Funds, United Way Giving, a Gift in Kind, sponsoring an event, transferring stock shares and of course, simply sending us a check. There is a comprehensive breakdown of the specific missions you give to and definitions to understand the breadth of all our missions. We have also dedicated pages to our successful events, Sippin’ with the Sisters, the Donor Appreciation Mass and Luncheon, the Nun Run, and Oktoberfest. Every page is adorned with a photo of a sister (or sisters) on mission.

Of special significance are the Tribute pages that memorialize each sister who entered into Eternal Life this past year. Thank you to the family members and friends who contributed to the Tribute pages.

We are most grateful for every gift no matter how great or small it is. Thank you for giving from your heart and knowing that every donor is remembered in the daily prayers of our sisters.



Please note if you have an email on file with our office, you will receive your Annual Report by email. Please check your junk and spam folders AFTER Labor Day. As good stewards to the environment, our office is utilizing the power of email more and more. Email saves thousands of dollars on printing and mailing thus freeing up funds that can be sent directly to Camilla Hall to support our infirmed Sisters.

Food Truck Fun

Summer has been sweet and full of special treats for our sisters at Camilla Hall! Throughout the season, several food trucks have stopped by to share delicious snacks and refreshments. From delectable cheesesteaks courtesy of the Lost Cow to delightful ice cream from our friends at Maggie Moo’s, the sisters have enjoyed every visit.



We are deeply grateful to our generous benefactors whose support makes these joyful experiences possible. Thank you for helping create such wonderful moments for our sisters!

What is a Donor-Advised Fund?

A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a simple, flexible way to support the charitable organizations you care about most. Often described as a personal charitable savings account, a DAF allows donors to make charitable contributions, receive potential tax benefits, and recommend grants to their favorite nonprofits over time.

Donors can contribute to their fund as frequently as they like and recommend grants whenever they choose. The fund itself is managed by a nonprofit sponsoring organization, which invests the assets and administers the account. Once the fund is established, donors advise the sponsoring organization on which qualified charities should receive grants from their account.

A DAF can be an effective way to simplify charitable giving, create a lasting philanthropic legacy, and support ministries that are meaningful to you. Through a DAF, you can make a grant to the IHMs and help sustain the congregation's mission of prayer, education, service, and care for our sisters at Camilla Hall.

For more information on Donor-Advised Funds, please contact Maureen Cislo by phone at 610-637-2160 ext.1926 or by email at maureen.cislo@ihmimm.org

Sister Mary Immaculate pictured with members of the IHM Leadership Council, including (from left to right) Sister Kathleen Schipani, Sister Monica Sicilia, Sister Mary Ellen Tennity, Sister Mary Sue Carwile, and Sister John Evelyn Ditrolio.

Rite of Initiation

Congratulations to Mary Steinbicker, who was received into the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Friday, July 31, during the Rite of Initiation into Religious Life. During this beautiful ceremony, she received her religious name, Sister Mary Immaculate.

We rejoice with Sister Mary Immaculate as she begins this sacred vocation and journey of consecrated life. Please keep her in your prayers as she answers God's call with faith, courage, and devotion.

Pictured left to right: Sister Megan Elizabeth, Sister Mary Immaculate, Sister Mary Virginia Quinn, Sister M. Samantha Katharine Scharf, and Sister Alexis Karen Reavill.

August 19 was World Humanitarian Day which offers us an opportunity to celebrate the countless individuals who put compassion into action through service to others. It also invites us to reflect on how we can bring hope, kindness, and care to our own communities.



For the IHMs, this day echoes our mission of love, unity, and reconciliation. Through simple acts of service, generosity, and concern for others, we continue to share God's love and help build a more compassionate world. To read more about this day, please click here.

Sister Marguerite Mary McAveney
8.20.2026

Click here to view obituaries

Office of IHM Mission Advancement

230 IHM Drive

Malvern, PA 19355

missionadv@ihmimm.org