Mary Herrmann, SSJ 65 Years

Formerly Sister Rosemary
Home Parish:     St. Ann, Erie
Entered Sisters of St. Joseph:   1960
Final Profession:  1968

 From her earliest memories, Sr. Mary Herrmann felt a strong desire to be a Sister. When she started school with the Sisters of St. Joseph, she knew more specifically that she wanted to be a Sister of St. Joseph.  As she grew a little older, the feeling developed into what she came to recognize as a call.  She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1960 from her home parish, St. Ann’s, in Erie, PA, and professed her final vows in 1966

Sister Mary attended St. Ann Elementary School and Villa Maria Academy in Erie. She graduated from Villa Maria College, Erie, with a BSN degree in Nursing and earned an MS in Nursing Administration from Boston University. She also received certification in Advanced Nursing Service Administration by the American Nurses Association.  Earlier in her ministry, she spent many years at Saint Vincent Health Center, serving in both nursing and patient services, as well as in administration as Executive Vice President. She ministered as a nurse clinician at the Booker T. Washington Center in Erie and served as Vice President of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph from 1989 – 1999.  She served on the Boards of Saint Vincent Health System, St. Martin Center, Saint Mary’s Home of Erie, Villa Maria Academy, and as President of the Shankar Service Foundation.

Sister Mary Herrmann served as President of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern, Pennsylvania from 2011 -2019.  Before that, she co-founded and served as Director of the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network for 11 years.

In 2004, Sr. Mary was recognized by the Mercy Center for Women as one of the year’s Women Making History.  She is a past recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Award and numerous other community distinctions.

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