2019-12-24 17:17
Just a few words to wish all of you a holy and blessed Christmas and a peace-filled New Year.Keeping ChristmasChristmas came…birthing light and life,sheltering that lifein the silent… Read More
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Franciscan Life Blog
franciscanlife.blogspot.com
My blog describes my life as a Sister of St. Francis, talks about some of my interests, and shares views on justice issues.
2019-04-08 19:00
Sr. Eileen Valerie Kulacz, OSFMany of our sisters trace their introduction to the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia to their educational history and Sr. Eileen Valerie Kulac… Read More
2019-03-01 18:39
Canticle of Creation We hold the EarthGod-birthedGod-graced,In hands that chooseTo share its lifeOr close and choke that life with human greed. We hold the sunWhose powered rays ca… Read More
2019-03-01 16:55
Sr. Karen Pourby’s journey to becoming a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia followed a somewhat circuitous route. She grew up in Binghamton, New York, where she attended publi… Read More
2019-01-28 20:11
It's been a while since I introduced you to one of our sisters--one on one! This time I'd like you to meet Sr. Margaret O'Brien.Sr. Margaret O'Brien, OSFDuring her “growing up years&rd&hell…Read More
2018-07-27 14:22
Our relationship with our Muslim friends from the Zubaida Foundation continues to grow as we share with one another various aspects of our faith traditions. In June we met… Read More
2018-05-25 18:29
I remember very clearly the day I learned what prejudice was. I may not have learned the word but the concept became clear in a way that left me confused and shaken and unable to grasp the… Read More
2018-05-24 17:33
It's not often that we have one of our sisters celebrating a century of life AND 80 years as a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia. This year Sister Angela Patrice Power is the second sist… Read More
2018-03-29 12:02
On Sunday, March 24, our sisters were well represented at the 2018 Rise Against Hunger action held at the Aston Community Center. The gathering was done in conjunction with members of other… Read More
2018-03-12 15:05
On Saturday I had the great privilege of attending a dual celebration for Sr. Jean Clare Rohe--her 80th jubilee and her 100th birthday. The following article was written by our communication… Read More
2018-03-05 15:30
I am not by any stretch of the imagination a singer but I love music and often find a source of prayer in the lyrics of songs--both religious and secular. Bob Hurd's hymn, "Christ the Good S… Read More
2018-02-27 19:58
As always, I love sharing stories about our sisters with my blogger friends. Today let me introduce Sr. Mary Ann McCarthy.Sr. Mary Ann McCarthy’s first encounter with the Sisters of St… Read More
2018-02-16 14:57
I know it's a bit late but I thought my blogger friends would enjoy the article I did about the super bowl for our internal publication that goes to all of our sisters. Eagle Fever Hits… Read More
2018-01-30 15:09
I'm always proud and happy to share the stories of our sisters. I hope you enjoy this article on our Sr. Geralda Meskill! Sr. Geralda Meskill’s acquaintance with the Sisters of St… Read More
2017-12-18 20:19
Advent has always been one of my favorite liturgical seasons because there is usually a sense of hopefulness about it. Lately, however, I've been feeling that the state of our wo… Read More
2017-12-12 15:44
Sunday afternoon I went over to our retirement residence to be part of their annual Christmas party. Ostensibly my reason for going was to take photos to be used for our various publication… Read More
2017-11-30 20:38
Earlier this month we held a fundraiser for our volunteer program--Franciscan Volunteers: No Risk, No Gain. We are now in the third year of the program and continue to be impressed with the… Read More
2017-11-27 18:27
Our sisters who live here at the motherhouse in Aston or in the surrounding areas have developed a wonderful relationship with the churches of other denominations in the area. For a number o… Read More
2017-08-28 15:35
Bianca, Laura, Rachel, and Sara wait for Mass to begin.On Sunday, August 27, three young women joined the sisters and several of our Franciscan Companions in Mission members for Mass, durin… Read More
2017-06-06 13:25
Spokane's People's Climate RallyThe ad inviting people to the Spokane People’s Climate Rally read “Learn about local problems and solutions at a community rally for jobs, j… Read More
2017-06-05 13:09
Our Sr. Jean Ustasiewski wrote the following article for the most recent issue of our newsletter. I thought my blog readers would also enjoy it! Where can 210 people package over 26,500… Read More
2017-06-01 12:14
Something new is in the air at Assisi House! Our retired sisters are engaged in a series of bowling tournaments between residents of St. Francis Hall and Marian Hall--via Wii Games… Read More
2017-05-25 18:00
What’s Happening on the Hill The following article was written by Mary Stover who works with our sisters at Assisi House, our retirement residence in Aston, Pennsylvania. Hope yo… Read More
2017-05-02 19:47
Well, here we are--the final part of my series on gratitude! Let's examine my final six items.UnderstandingI'm grateful for the people in my life who are understanding and who seem to know w… Read More
2017-05-01 15:35
Happy May! I hope you all had a good weekend!! Here we are--down to Part 4 of the ABCs of Gratitude! What can I say about P,Q,R,S,T?PoetryPoetry has had an off again/on again role in my life… Read More
2017-04-28 18:19
OK...let's look at K, L, M, N, O!KindnessWe tend to talk a lot about charity and love. While they are, indeed, very powerful gifts or virtues, there is a "bigness" or largeness about t… Read More
2017-04-27 13:14
Hope you all enjoyed Part 1. Let's continue with Part 2 of the things for which I am grateful! Part 3 will be coming soon!FamilyI will be eternally grateful for my family and the values with… Read More
2017-04-25 14:57
I've been rather lax with my blog during this past year or so and I'm trying to get it back on track. One thing I missed out on was the 2017 A-Z Challenge which ends this week. So...as… Read More
2017-04-20 15:24
A few days ago I was browsing YouTube looking for a song to use for a reflection. I found one that I'd never heard before and was drawn immediately to everything about it. The lyrics embody… Read More
2017-04-17 18:30
Our sisters are involved in numerous ministries--all of the serving the needs of others in one way or another. Below are just a few examples of how their work has been recognized recently! S… Read More
2017-04-11 17:11
If you’re on Facebook, you might want to check out the page for Hallahan High School in Philadelphia. Sr. Ida Marie Nicklas made the news on several occasions this past month. On… Read More
2017-04-07 12:51
On March 23, Dr. Rosalie Mirenda and her husband, Tony Mirenda, joined the sisters at Our Lady of Angels Convent for an afternoon liturgy and dinner in recognition of Dr. Mirenda&rsq&hell…Read More
2017-04-06 15:04
In recent years the sisters at Our Lady of Angels Convent have hosted an annual tea party for our employees—and this year was no exception. When employees arrived at the ABC Room, they… Read More
2017-04-04 15:48
I've always loved this hymn and although it would probably be considered "old" by today's standards, I think it has a definite message for today's world. As I sit here and listen to the word… Read More
2017-03-27 15:38
Sr. Mary Smith serves as director of pastoral services for our congregation and is assisted by a team of sisters. Sr. Mary Smith consults via phone with a sister inquiring about moving to As… Read More
2017-03-03 16:39
I have to admit that I know little or nothing about shepherds--other than they take care of sheep! And I know even less about sheep except the fact that in both song and story they seem to c… Read More
2017-02-27 15:13
The article below was written by Sara Marks, director of our Franciscan Volunteers: No Risk, No Gain program. The program which offers young women and men an opportunity to serve for a year… Read More
2017-01-31 14:52
Sometimes music simply says it all! Read More
2017-01-26 18:48
The post below was written by Sr. Mary Jo Chaves who is the coordinator of one of our Companions in Faith groups--this one located in Portland, Oregon. The San Damiano Cross referred to in t… Read More
2016-12-23 16:36
This film, Energy of Nuns, was created by Julie McElmurry from Franciscan Passages. Julie interviewed sisters from various parts of the country about their work with people who are poor… Read More
2016-12-22 14:22
Special Christmas blessings to all of my blogging, facebook, and twitter friends! Finding Christmas Searching for loveIn lives that hate,Searching for peaceIn a world at wa… Read More
2016-12-09 20:58
Here it is--just what you've been waiting for...the Sisters of St. Francis wishing you a Blessed Christmas--via the Mannequin Challenge!! Thanks to all who helped with this--our sisters, sta… Read More
2016-12-01 15:32
When we reflect on our vocation stories, we usually recall one or more individuals who served as a deciding factor in our choice of which congregation we would ultimately enter. For Sr. John… Read More
2016-11-22 15:08
People in Chester know Sr. Jean Rupertus. The fact that Sr. Jean was born in the Highland Gardens section of Chester and attended Resurrection Parish School is somewhat incidental to her rep… Read More
2016-11-17 20:22
Think about this! You have a young child or perhaps two young children who go to school every weekday and in nice weather, they like to play outside. But say you live in an area where… Read More
2016-11-15 16:40
I get a lengthy email from Sr. Julie Mulvihill pretty much on a weekly basis. She has worked for a number of years at Nyumbani Children's Home in Kenya--a home for aids-affected children. I… Read More
2016-11-08 20:39
A veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Anthony (not his real name) was never able to overcome the PTSD he suffered during his service in Iraq. Following his initial treatment, he returned to h… Read More
2016-10-14 19:31
St. Joseph Orphanage…St. Joseph Children’s Home…Personal Growth Center…St. Joseph Family Center…126 years of service… On September 17 sisters, compan… Read More
2016-10-12 14:47
I'll be going on retreat the last week of October and I'm s-o-o-o looking forward to it. I'll be going to our retreat center here at the motherhouse. Even though I live at the motherhouse no… Read More
2016-09-27 15:24
Well, here we are beginning our second year of our volunteer program, Franciscan Volunteers: No Risk, No Gain! This year's volunteers, Rachel Dunlap and Mandee DeMarco, arrived in August. Ma… Read More
2016-09-23 14:27
Who am You, O Lord, and who am I? That question seemed to both dominate and guide St. Francis during his lifetime. And strangely enough--at least to me--the more he became aware of the vast… Read More
2016-08-31 11:38
The following article was written by Sara Marks, the director of our congregation's volunteer program--Franciscan Volunteers--No Risk, No Gain. Although the regular volunteer program runs fr… Read More
2016-08-24 13:15
Over the weekend I watched--once again--the DVD of The Lion King. As I watched the film, I recalled the many times I had shown it to my 9th grade English class as part of a study of the epic… Read More
2016-06-27 19:04
It hardly seems possible that the first year for our volunteer program—Franciscan Volunteers: No Risk, No Gain—is drawing to a close! Our volunteers—Kathleen, Mikah, and Sa… Read More
2016-06-23 16:00
On June 12 Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston, Pennsylvania, hosted the annual jubilee celebration for the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. The jubilarians gathered at the motherhous… Read More
2016-05-24 18:55
Mary Stover who works on various activities with our sisters in Assisi House (our retirement residence in Aston, Pennsylvania) shared the following article about the sisters interaction with… Read More
2016-05-19 18:24
I always love sharing stories about the work that our sisters do for others. They are such gifted women--and with each of them these gifts are always used to benefit other in one way o… Read More
2016-04-21 17:13
The following article, which appeared in the most recent newsletter that went out to your sisters, was written by Mary Stover who plans and organizes activities for our retired sisters… Read More
2016-04-18 13:32
Once again it's my pleasure to introduce you to one of our sisters--up close and personal!!Many of our sisters had early connections with the congregation—connections that reach back t… Read More
2016-04-15 15:20
On April 10—as part of our celebration of the Year of Mercy—we held an Afternoon of Prayer here at our motherhouse in Aston, Pennsylvania. A number of our sisters, companions, an… Read More
2016-03-11 13:56
Another update from Sr. Vicky DellaValle in Haiti along with some great photos!This week we have a group of 10 visitors in our guest house. They are here to distribute water filters to the p… Read More
2016-03-01 19:38
In our sisters took a corporate stand against human trafficking. The article below was recently published in our congregational newsletter. The first part was written… Read More
2016-02-25 18:04
Sometimes no other words are necessary! Thank you, God! Read More
2016-02-23 20:44
Some of my favorite blog posts are ones in which I introduce you to my sisters and tell you a bit about their ministries. While it's not always easy for them to be interviewed (they're not a… Read More
2016-02-19 14:18
One of my favorite scripture quotes is from Micah: "This is what Yahweh asks of you, only this--to live justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God." It's been about 40&n&hell…Read More
2016-02-11 16:36
Enjoy this update from Sr. Vicky about her ministry in Haiti. She always provides some interesting bits of news from her experiences and about the lives of the people with whom she works.&nb&hell…Read More
2016-02-08 20:09
As I indicated last month, we have a committee of sisters planning reflections for each month during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. The February reflection was prepared by Sr. Joan Dew. We hope… Read More
2016-01-27 16:39
A number of our sisters were able to be in Philadelphia last fall for Pope Francis' visit. However, undoubtedly, the one who traveled the greatest distance was Sr. Ellen Callaghan who came f… Read More
2016-01-25 18:53
Once again I'd like to introduce you to one of our sisters--Sr. Jean Ustasiewski! Every time I write about one of our sisters--it seems that I'm telling you how busy she is. That is pretty m… Read More
2016-01-25 18:28
It's always a pleasure to share that many ways our sisters and their efforts are being recognized by folks outside our congregation. These are just a few of the recent acknowledgements some… Read More
2016-01-21 15:25
In December four of our sisters—Srs. Maureen Fox, Loretta Schaff, Sara Marks, and Ruth Bernadette O’Connor (as pictured to the right)—had the opportunity to join the 117 pe… Read More
2016-01-14 15:37
Our Corporate Social Responsibility Office does a great deal of work with shareholder advocacy. Another of their tasks involves choosing and following up with recipients of our congregation'… Read More
2016-01-12 18:21
As you probably know, Pope Francis has declared this year the Jubilee Year of Mercy and religious groups throughout the world are taking part in many prayer activities and personal avenues t… Read More
2016-01-05 14:54
Sr. Julie continues to keep us updated about her ministry at Nyumbani Children's Home in Kenya. Nyumbani provides a safe and loving home for children affected by the HIV/AIDS virus. &nb&hell…Read More
2015-11-27 19:33
Over the years we've had a number of values seminars for our employees here at the motherhouse and at our retirement residence--Assisi House--which is down the road from the motherhous… Read More
2015-11-23 19:57
I always enjoy introducing our sisters to my blogger friends. Today I'm honored to introduce you to Sr. Justina Miller, OSF!Sr. Justina Miller first met the Sisters of St. Francis when she e… Read More
2015-11-19 20:55
In October we celebrated a major anniversary for the congregation—the 125 years of service rendered by our sisters in the Diocese of Spokane. To commemorate the event, approximately 25… Read More
2015-11-11 15:13
Sr. Elaine Thaden, one of our vocation directors, wrote the following article for our internal congregational newsletter. However, because its focus is really the family, I thought it approp… Read More
2015-10-21 15:33
Enjoy the latest updates from our Sr. Julie Mulvihill. She is so faithful keeping us updated on her work at the Nyumbani Children's Home in Kenya. I get a weekly email from her with all… Read More
2015-10-16 19:04
On September 11 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and School in Bethesda, Maryland, held a special celebration honoring our sisters who had taught at the school. The congregation received… Read More
2015-10-15 14:56
I know it's not the Christmas season yet BUT our holiday craft fair is quickly approaching--and this year's promises to be bigger and better than ever! If you're going to be anywhere near th… Read More
2015-09-22 20:39
When 4 P. M. came today, we rang the tower bells at our motherhouse, joining with parishes and congregations throughout the U.S. to welcome Pope Francis when his plane landed in th… Read More
2015-09-14 17:47
Our afternoon of prayer on Sunday, September 13, was a great success. Friends, relatives, neighbors, and, of course, our sisters joined in prayer at Our Lady of Angels Convent. The afternoon… Read More
2015-09-09 14:50
Our newest ministry, Franciscan Volunteers: No Risk, No Gain, has begun in earnest! One by one the first four volunteers arrived: Katheen from New Hampshire, Sabina from Texas, Mikah fr… Read More
2015-08-25 18:47
.Enjoy some of the most recent updates from Sr. Julie Mulvihill about her ministry at Nyumbani Children's Home in Kenya. To learn more about all of the Nyumbani programs---Leo Toto, Nyumbani… Read More
2015-08-25 13:36
Our Sr. Ronnie Grier received the Harriet Tubman Award at the annual National Black Sisters’ Conference (NBSC) which was held in Charleston, South Carolina, in July. Since 1984, m… Read More
2015-08-12 14:46
On August 8 sisters from east and west, companions, and former members gathered at the Neumann University Life Center in Aston for our 2015 Gathering Day. After a continenta… Read More
2015-08-10 13:42
Each year our sisters make a week long retreat—the place and the type of retreat varying according to the sister’s need, preference, or schedule. Some years it may be a group ret… Read More
2015-07-28 14:19
Our annual jubilee celebration was held the weekend from June 12-14 for sisters who were celebrating 50, 70, and 75 years of religious profession. In addition to time to relax, recall memori… Read More
2015-06-30 15:42
Each year I usually write an article about the Franciscan Federation conference, using as my guide the schedule posted on the federation's website. This year, however, I had the privilege of… Read More
2015-06-08 19:22
Sr. Thomasann Quinn has worked at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, for many years. Recently the school community surprised her with a special assembly acknowledging… Read More
2015-06-03 18:41
I always enjoy introducing you to our sisters so that you can get some idea of the great work that each sister does now and what she has done over her years in the congregation as well as a… Read More
2015-05-29 15:00
One of the sisters I use to work with here at the motherhouse always talked about synchronicity--a word that was until then unknown to me. However, over the intervening years I've really com… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
A few weeks ago we hosted a group of approximately 60 people at our motherhouse in Aston for a Mini-Sabbath ritual memorializing the 32 men, women, and children from Delaware County who… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
I never heard this hymn by Ricky Manalo, CSP, before but I really like it--primarily because it gives voice to the belief that Lent is so much more than a time of penance, darkness, and gloo… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
These are the most recent updates from Sr. Vicky Della Valle in Haiti. Hope you enjoy them!February 11, 2014This morning I had another “lesson” in Kreyol. I went up to the… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
The Catholic High School of Baltimore's anniversary celebration was, indeed, a sizzling” event! On March 20, students, faculty, and guests—including many of our sisters—gat… Read More
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