Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY

Born: Dympna Eunice Aherne on November 3, 1939 in Bronx, NY

Died: March 10, 2026 at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY

Daughter of: Jeremiah and Dympna Kernis Aherne, Bronx, NY

Sr. Dymphna (Dee) entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY, on September 3, 1961, was received into the Congregation on July 2, 1962, and professed her final vows on August 29, 1969. As an Allegany Franciscan, Sister lived and worked for 65 years sharing in the life and mission of the Congregation.

Sr. Dee was a 1988 graduate of Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she received her bachelor's degree in Nursing.

Sister began her ministry in the field of nursing at St. Francis Hospital, Olean, NY in 1964. She was assigned to various places during her extensive career in the medical field, especially in New York - among them were St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, Villa Mary Immaculate, Albany, and St. Clare Hospital, NYC. She utilized her nursing skills among the people in several areas of Boliva, SA. After returning from South America, she ministered with the VNA and Hospice in the New York and New Jersey areas. She was a compassionate nurse! Dee was warmly welcomed back home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY, in November of 2023.

Sister Dee was predeceased by her parents, Jeremiah and Dympna Aherne, her brother, John and her sister, Sheila (Edward) Lowney.

She is survived by her twin sister, Sister Kathleen (Kay) Aherne, OSF who resides at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse and brother Gerald, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A wake service will be held Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 4:00 PM in St. Elizabeth Motherhouse Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM in the Chapel. Burial will follow in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY.

The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State St. Olean, NY. For condolences, please visit  

Associates in Jamaica Commemorate 800th Anniversary of the

Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi

By: Lorraine Chen, OSF

A diverse group gathered on March 7in the chapel of the Immaculate Conception Convent to observe the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi. Present were Fr. Michael Reyes, OFM, the Congregational Leadership Team, the Sisters at Immaculate, Associates from Kingston and Montego Bay, and a few friends.  

The day began with Morning Prayer. Thereafter, Facilitator Erin Chang welcomed the Leadership Team – Sisters Catherine Cahill, Kathy Maire, Pat Shirley and Liliane Araújo Costa – each of whom shared a brief reflection. Sr. Lorraine then introduced Fr. Michael who was in Jamaica to conduct a retreat for the Sisters. Fr. Michael, in his own unique way, explained the significance of the Transitus as a time for forgiveness and reconciliation, and to discover the profound peace and perfect joy that come from a deep, personal relationship with Christ.

This was followed by an introduction and discussion of the Associate Guidebook.  

The morning concluded with the recitation of the Peace Prayer of St. Francis, and the singing of the hymn, “May We Follow in the Footprints of Jesus.”

The fellowship continued in the Dining Room where everybody enjoyed a delicious lunch of curried goat, rice and roti.  Roti is a round, flat bread which is very popular in Trinidad.  It was made by Anna Satar, an Associate from Montego Bay.

The Franciscan Center has many events planned, not just for Lent, but for the rest of the year, and they asked us to share some of them with you.

Pope Leo XIV has established the Jubilee Year of St. Francis from January 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027. The Diocese of St. Petersburg has designated Jubilee sites across our local Church, and we are honored that the Franciscan Center is one of these official pilgrimage sites.

Remember that you may register for any of our programs by visiting our website:

Parents interested in sending their children to our Summer Camp 2026 - RAINFOREST FALLS, please go to this link and complete a registration (one per child). You can also pay the fee with your credit card.

For more information, please contact us at (813) 229-2695.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Peace and blessings,

The Franciscan Center Team

Left to right - Kathy Doyle, Kathie Uhler, Sema (Naz's wife), Hafsa

Sr. Kathie Uhler and I joined with the members of the Muslim Community of the Lehigh Valley for an Iftar dinner on Thursday, March 12th at the Community Center in Lower Macungie, Pennsylvania.

An Iftar dinner is the meal that breaks the fast at the end of a day during Ramadan.

Our table mates were so welcoming. We all shared a bit about ourselves, and of course Sr. Kathie told them about her time in Hebron working with the Palestinians. I told them about having members of the Muslim community speak at some of our Allegany Assemblies at the Franciscan Center in Easton. Talk about serendipity - the woman with the head scarf seated at the table and at the far right of the picture with Kathie and I – Hafsa – is one of the Muslim women who came to the Franciscan Center in Easton, Pa. She remembered it because it was the first time she had ever done anything like that.

The food, served buffet style with some dishes delivered to the table by the children, was yummy, especially the baklava!

Besides explanations of the reasons for fasting and some salient points about Islam, the Islamic call to prayer was sung. Then there was a short prayer service which included the Catholic RCIA leader from the local parish leading the Grace with a variation of the Peace Prayer.  

We may have entered as strangers but left as family - with pictures and hugs all around.

Seated left to right - Matin and wife, Kathie Uhler, Kathy Doyle, Naz, Zack (member of the local state representative's staff) and Hafsa  

As a sponsored ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, the St. Elizabeth Mission Society shares in its spiritual aims, one of which is to advance the awareness of God's love. Donations given for the cards are used to support the ministries of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and their Associates who work to educate, heal, clothe, feed and be present for those who are experiencing poverty in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States.

Help the Jubilee Sisters celebrate their journey in religious life with a special Jubilee Mass enrollment card from the St. Elizabeth Mission Society. As members of the Mission Society, their intentions will be remembered at Masses celebrated throughout the year in the Motherhouse Chapel. As always, they will also share in the prayers and good works of our Sisters in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States.

Send your special prayer blessings to friends or loved ones this Easter with Mass enrollment cards from St. Elizabeth Mission Society. As members of the Mission Society, their intentions will be remembered at Easter Masses and in other Masses celebrated in the Motherhouse Chapel. They will also share in the prayers and good works of our Sisters, Associates and their partners in mission in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States. 

As a sponsored ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, the St. Elizabeth Mission Society shares in its spiritual aims, one of which is to advance the awareness of God's love. Donations given for the cards are used to support the ministries of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and their Associates who work to educate, heal, clothe, and feed those who are experiencing poverty in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States.

Holiday cards, Jubliee cards, as well as various other enrollment cards, can be ordered online or you can call the Mission Society office at (716) 373-1130 or e-mail the staff at StEliz.Office.Manager@FSAllegany.org.

Easter and other enrollment cards are also available in the Mission Society office in the Motherhouse.