Sister Phyllis DiFuccia, SSJ first recognized her call to religious life through a moment of reflection on New Year’s Day. After spending the previous night at a party, she attended Mass and found herself wondering, “Is this all there is?” She felt called to something “more,” a desire that eventually led her to the Sisters of St. Joseph. Sister Phyllis entered the congregation on September 8, 1966, from St. Peter Cathedral in Erie, Pennsylvania, and professed her final vows on September 8, 1974. Her vocation would lead her through a lifetime of education, leadership, organizational development, and service to the Church.

Sister Phyllis graduated from Villa Maria Academy in Erie in 1965 and continued her education at Villa Maria College, earning a bachelor’s degree in French in 1969. She pursued graduate studies at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, receiving a master’s degree in French in 1973. Later, she earned a master’s degree in organization development from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, in 1996. Her education provided a strong foundation for the diverse ministries and leadership roles she would undertake throughout her life.

Sister Phyllis began her ministry in education, teaching French at Villa Maria Academy in Erie. She also served as principal and later as administrator of the school during the periods of 1968 to 1979 and 1986 to 1990. She remembers her years at Villa Maria Academy fondly, describing her relationships with the faculty and students as one of the best experiences of community she ever had. From 1979 to 1983, she continued her educational ministry at Villa Maria College, where she taught French and served as Dean for Adult Learning.

Her ministry eventually expanded beyond education into parish and healthcare settings. From 1983 to 1986, Sister Phyllis served in Union City, Pennsylvania, ministering at Saint Teresa Parish and Maria House Projects. She later became Director of Mission Effectiveness at Saint Vincent Health System, serving from 1991 to 1994. Through these experiences, she continued to explore how faith, community, and organizational leadership could work together to support the mission of the Church and serve others. As a result she moved to Chicago, Illinois to pursue a second masters degree in Organizational Development.

For the next 18 years in Chicago, Sister Phyllis worked as an independent consultant specializing in organizational development, participative processes, and systems. Her clients included Loyola University Chicago, Anderson Consulting, and several religious congregations and parishes in the Chicago area. She also worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago and Loyola University in their program entitled “INSPIRE” where she served as a consultant to pastors and parish staffs in an effort to increase collaboration among parish ministers.

Although Chicago was a busy and demanding environment, it was there that Sister Phyllis developed a deeper appreciation for contemplation and personal growth. Reflecting on that period of her life, she shared that she was “supported, challenged, and grew into the freedom of being myself.” Her time in Chicago helped her recognize the importance of creating space for prayer, reflection, and continued transformation.

Sister Phyllis also played an important role in the leadership and historical work of the Sisters of St. Joseph. From 1999 to 2003, she served on the congregation’s first Leadership Team. She was also a member of the first and second research teams of the U.S. Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph, which worked to translate the congregation’s early documents from French into English. Through this work, she helped preserve and share the history and spiritual heritage of the Sisters of St. Joseph for future generations.

From 2012 to 2019, Sister Phyllis served as Vice President of Mission at Saint Joseph Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. In this role, she continued her commitment to helping an educational institution remain rooted in its mission and values. She now serves on the Sisters of St. Joseph Governance Committee and as a member of the Leadership Team.  She is a team member for Spirits on Fire, a national program of formation for lay partners.  continuing to contribute her experience, insight, and dedication to the congregation’s mission.

Throughout her life, Sister Phyllis has remained open to the ways God continues to call her forward. Her experiences in education, parish ministry, healthcare, organizational development, and congregational leadership have all contributed to her understanding of religious life. She has learned that responding to God’s call involves both a willingness to serve and a willingness to be transformed through prayer, relationships, and new experiences.