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Photo of Phyllis DiFuccia, SSJ

Phyllis DiFuccia, SSJ

Sister
Entrance Date: September 8, 1966 Final Profession: September 8, 1974

Biography

Former Religious Name: Sister Paula Marie
Home parish: St. Peter Cathedral, Erie, PA

Sr. Phyllis entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 8, 1966, and professed final vows on September 8, 1974. She graduated from Villa Maria Academy in Erie in 1965 and earned a bachelor’s degree in French from Villa Maria College in Erie in 1969, a master’s degree in French from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont in 1973, and a master’s degree in organization development from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois in 1996.
In education, Sr. Phyllis taught French at Villa Maria Academy, where she also served as principal and administrator from 1968 to 1979 and 1986 to 1990. She also taught at Villa Maria College in Erie, serving as dean for adult learning from 1979 to 1983.
She later served in parish and healthcare ministry in Union City, Pennsylvania, at Saint Teresa Parish and Maria House Projects from 1983 to 1986, and as director of mission effectiveness at Saint Vincent Health System from 1991 to 1994.
Sr. Phyllis spent 18 years in Chicago, Illinois, as an independent consultant in organizational development, working with universities, consulting firms, and religious organizations. During this time, she deepened her appreciation for contemplative life and personal growth.
She served on the first Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Team from 1999 to 2003 and contributed to translation work for the U.S. Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph. From 2012 to 2019 she served as vice president of mission at Saint Joseph Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. She currently serves on our Governance Committee, and as a team member for Spirits on Fire.