Former Religious Name: Sister Ann Raymond

Home Parish: St. John the Baptist, Erie, PA

Sr. Mary Fromknecht, SSJ, was drawn to religious life at a young age through the example of the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught her for twelve years. As she reflected on the Gospel of John, particularly Jesus’ words to Peter, “Do you love me?” and “Feed my sheep,” she gradually came to understand these words as a call to live out her Baptismal commitment through a life of service within the Church.

After entering the Sisters of St. Joseph, Sr. Mary earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Villa Maria College in Erie in 1968. She continued her education by earning administration credits from St. Bonaventure University, a Master of Science degree in Guidance/Counseling from Gannon University in 1978, and a Master of Theology and Ministry degree in Scripture and Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University in 1981. In 2002, she earned her Nursing Home Administrator License from Slippery Rock University.

Throughout her ministry, Sr. Mary served in a variety of educational, pastoral, counseling, and leadership roles. She taught at St. Peter Cathedral School and St. Andrew School in Erie, as well as St. Bernard School in Bradford, and served as administrator at St. Andrew School and St. John the Baptist School in Erie. She also served as Supervisor of Schools for the Sisters of St. Joseph and as a pastoral minister at St. John the Baptist Parish.

Her ministries continued beyond education; she founded St. Patrick’s Haven in 1984, served as a counselor at the Wholistic Health Center in Hinsdale, IL, and was involved in the REAP program at Villa Maria College. She served as Parish Social Minister at St. Patrick Parish in Erie and later as President of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania from 1989 to 1999. She also served as Peace & Justice/Respect Life Director for the Diocese of Erie as well as Administrator and Assistant Administrator at Saint Mary’s Home – East. Sr. Mary was also involved at the Community Living Center by serving as Director of Sister Services until her retirement.

A passage that has continued to inspire Sr. Mary throughout her life is the Gospel of John 21:15-17, 19, in which Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” and responds each time by calling him to “Feed my lambs” and “Tend my sheep,” before saying, “Follow me.”

“This gospel has always been one of my favorites and the one I return to over and over in prayer,” she says. “It speaks to me of Jesus’ mandate of service to the ‘dear neighbor.’” She sees in Jesus’ repeated question a reminder of the importance of responding to God’s call through service to others.

Throughout her religious life, Sr. Mary has been especially inspired by the women who have remained faithful to the Gospel and to Jesus’ prayer “that all may be one.” Among those who have influenced her most deeply is her mother, whom she describes as someone who lived God’s message of love through her example. She is also grateful for the many Sisters of St. Joseph whose example and love have accompanied her throughout her religious life.

Reflecting on her vocation, Sr. Mary recognizes that the call she first encountered in the Gospel—to love God, serve others, and “feed my sheep”—has remained at the heart of her journey as a Sister of St. Joseph. Through her many years of ministry, she has sought to live the Sisters of St. Joseph’s mission of unity and reconciliation by answering God’s call to follow Him in service to others.