In this Issue:

Welcome Sister Death

Poetry from Our Sisters

St. Anthony's News

Associate Recommitment

SEMS Grant Application

"Look Up" Tuesdays

Associate Co-Directors Visit NJ

June Birthday List

Send Us Your News

Welcome Sister Death

Sr. Helen Lodge, OSF

Born: Helen Louise Lodge, December 21, 1929, in Atlantic City, NJ

Died: May 22, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY

Daughter of: Richard and Louise Kloss Lodge, Pleasantville, NJ

Sr. Helen Lodge joined the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on September 3, 1951, was received into the Congregation on August 15,1952 and professed her final vows on August 16, 1959. She joyfully lived the mission and charism of the Franciscan Sisters for over 73 years.

Helen attended St. Peter’s Grammar School, Pleasantville, NJ and graduated from Holy Spirit High School in Atlantic City, NJ in 1941. Following graduation, Helen attended the New Jersey College of Commerce. Upon entering the Congregation, she attended St. Elizabeth Teacher’s College, graduating from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and later a Master of Arts Degree in Theology.

Sr. Helen spent her first 15 years of ministry teaching in Congregational Schools in New York and New Jersey. Following her time as a teacher, Sr. Helen entered the Cloister (Franciscan Ritiro) where she lived a life of prayer and contemplation.

She served as second-year Novice Mistress and Junior Professed Mistress in Allegany, NY; Assistant Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of New York, NY; and later for the Diocese of Trenton, NJ. Sr. Helen served as Regional II Minister, General Counselor and Director of the Associate Program for the Congregation.  

Sr. Helen served as Pastoral Associate for St. Paul’s Church, Highland Park, NJ; St. Peter’s Church, Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Bernadette’s and St. Gianna Beretta Molla Parishes in Pleasantville, NJ until her retirement in 2016. In 2016, she was warmly welcomed home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.

She is predeceased by her parents, Richard and Louise Kloss Lodge and a brother, Rev. Richard Lodge.

She is survived by a cousin, Craig Daly of New Hope, PA.

A wake service was held May 30th in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 31st at 10:00am in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. Burial followed in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, New York. For condolences, please visit www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com. 

Poetry from Our Sisters

We recently asked the Sisters to share their original poetry with us. Now, we’re going to share three of the many poems we received with you.

We will be sharing more in future newsletters.

Any Sister who would like to share her poetry may still send it to anne.holliday@fsallegany.org or

Anne Holliday, PO Box W, St. Bonaventure, NY, 14778

An Early Morning’s Dawn

By: Judith Terrameo, OSF

‘Tis early morning

the sun has barely touched

the mountain tops.

But its rays shine forth so brilliantly

illuminating the skies

with crimson red.

Oh! The beauty of this day

so quiet

so peaceful

so still

all, but for the movement of

branches upon the trees

and the morning greeting

of the birds to their maker.

And so, I too, greet thee, my Lord,

In the quiet of this moment.

I praise you!

I thank you!

for the beauty of the early morning dawn …

so quiet

so peaceful

so still.

It is indeed in the stillness

of this early morning dawn

that my heart is also at peace.

For in the stillness of my being

comes your word …

… your love

to center the movement of this day.

Flowing Grace

By: Rose Bernhardt, OSF

O God of the Universe,

You are love beyond telling.

           You are within me

           You are without me

           You extend far beyond my reach

              far beyond my sight

           Yet, you are within my reach

              And within my sight.

By revealing yourself to me

 Through others

    Through nature

        Through the universe

I stand in awe contemplating the vastness

           The connectedness with all of creation.

In pondering the beauty,

            And how you care for all you have made,

The only response is to love and to care

           For others

                       For creation

With reverence and compassion. 

You call me to move beyond my human vision,

           Beyond my human limitations.

You invited me to stretch,

That I might reach the heights and depths

           Of wisdom and love.

O loving, transforming presence –

           My companion on the journey –

       You re-create me,

       You energize me,

       You gently enfold and guide me along the way

           To wholeness and fullness of life.

Amen, Alleluia!

News from St. Anthony's

The St. Anthony’s Hospital Emergency Center recently opened 13 private patient rooms to provide an enhanced environment for behavioral health patients and to meet the needs of the community. The rooms also can be used for general emergencies. 

“This (expansion) definitely will make a lot of difference for us, but you’re the ones that it’s really about,” Sr. Mary McNally, OSF, vice president of mission, said to the team during a blessing of the expansion. “We’re happy you’re getting what you deserve and what we need (to serve the community). We bless this area … and realize what a blessing it is for all of us and what a blessing you are for us.”

When the Emergency Center opened in 2010, it had 32 private patient exam rooms, two critical cardiac care exam rooms and an expedited triage and admissions area. There was space for six behavioral health patients, however it was within a shared space. But as the number of behavioral health patients has increased in the community, St. Anthony’s and BayCare’s commitment to provide those services has grown.

You can read more here:

Associate Recommitment

By: Mary Laubenthal, Associate

Although there was a chill in the air of Allegany the morning of June 1st, the sun was shining brightly both on the hills outside and inside of the Motherhouse Chapel. Our Sisters invited the members of the Allegany/Olean Associate Community to renew their commitment as FSA Associates...

“to strive to live out the values of Jesus, Francis, and Clare in our daily lives, to seek to know and live the Charism of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, and to join them daily in spirit and prayer, taking part in local meetings, sharing prayer and our living of the Gospel, and reaching out in service to others in the spirit of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany.”

Left to right: lower row M. Laubenthal holding Rosemary Weiss, in Poughkeepie, NY, Mary Kay Tambash, local leader, Cathy Walters, Carmella Bartimole, Varma Childs, upper row: Judith Benoit, Donna Smith, Phyllis Washburn and Marlene Eaton. Missing is Mary Skroback.

One portion of the Chapel with the MH Sisters present for the service.

The Sisters had invited the Associates to join them for dinner after the Recommitment Ceremony. While at their various tables, Associates individually took the mic and told all of the Sisters of their various ministries. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the Sisters, especially the many who have recently joined the MH community.

SEMS Grant Application

By: Laura Whitford, President

St. Elizabeth Mission Society is pleased to accept applications for its 2024 grant cycle (due July 15, 2024) for projects in which the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and their Associates are actively engaged and provide services to those who are poor at home and abroad. As a reminder, Congregational grants are no longer offered and are now included with the Mission Society grants.

The application is attached in Word and PDF format.

All applications are due July 15, 2024, complete with signatures of BOTH: an actively engaged Sister or Associate AND a Leadership Contact.

For ANY questions, please contact: Laura Whitford, Mission Society President, at (716) 373-1130 or LWhitford@FSAllegany.org.

"Look Up" Tuesdays with Fr. Michael

Associate Co-Directors Visit NJ

The Associate Co-Directors were warmly welcomed by the New Jersey Associates. 

Happy Birthday!

We Want to Hear From You!

We would love to include more news from Brazil, Bolivia, Jamaica and Mozambique in our newsletter. If you have any pictures, tidbits of information or bigger stories you’d like to share please email them to

FSA Communications Coordinator

Anne Holliday anne.holliday@fsallegany.org

If you have any questions about whether it’s something that could or should go in this newsletter, you can ask Anne about that, too. But she’ll probably say, “Yes, send it.” 😊