News
Mary Rita Kuhn, SSJ
75 Years
Home Parish: St. Andrew, ErieEntered Sisters of St. Joseph: 1950Final Profession: 1956 Encouraged by her 10th-grade religion teacher to do something special during Lent, a young Mary Rita Kuhn began attending daily Mass as often as possible. Today, Sr. Mary Rita Kuhn credits that prayer time and the examples set by the Sisters of St.…
Marjorie Adams, SSJ
75 Years
Formerly Sister AgathaHome Parish: St. John the Evangelist, Girard, PAEntered Sisters of St. Joseph: 1951Final Profession: 1956 Sister Marjorie Adams became acquainted with religious life while living and studying at Villa Maria College. The spirit and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph, exemplified by joy, dedication, and concern for others, led her to discern…
We remember . . . Bernadine Gehringer, SSJ
Bernadine Gehringer, SSJ, formerly Sister Mary Michael, 87, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on June 19, 2025, in the 70th year of her religious life. She was born on September 15, 1937, in Erie to the late Elmer and Agnes Gehringer. Sister Bernadine would recall how, even as a young…
We remember . . . Marilyn Zimmerman, SSJ
Marilyn Zimmerman, SSJ, 90, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on June 9, 2025, in the 72nd year of her religious life. She was born in Erie, PA, on May 17, 1935, the daughter of the late Louis F. and Bernice (McNulty) Zimmerman. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from…
Sisters of St. Joseph Celebrate 165 Years of Ministry in the Diocese of Erie
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania are kicking off a celebration of the congregation’s 165th anniversary of ministry in the Erie Diocese this coming weekend, May 24-25. Mother Agnes Spencer, SSJ, the congregation’s foundress and first superior, along with three other Sisters, first arrived in the Erie Diocese on May 24, 1860, in…
We remember . . . Mary Claire Kennedy, SSJ
Sister Mary Claire Kennedy, SSJ, 96, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on May 23, 2025, in the 75th year of her religious life. She was born in Erie, PA, on November 24, 1928, the daughter of the late Charles and Bernice (Graney) Kennedy. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph…
We Joyfully Welcome Pope Leo
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania joyfully welcome the news of our new Pope, Leo XIV, as the leader of the Catholic Church. We are excited that he is an American, and we find great hope in the movement of the Holy Spirit that guided the conclave to this historic decision. Like Pope…
We remember . . . Mary Arnold Tann, SSJ
Sister Mary Arnold Tann, SSJ, 93, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on May 5, 2025, in the 73rd year of her religious life. She was born on October 15, 1931, in Hamilton, Ohio, the daughter of Arnold and Margaret Chapman Tann. Her family later moved to Erie, where she graduated…
We remember . . . Maria Onuffer, SSJ
Sister Maria Onuffer, SSJ, 91, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on April 12, 2025, in the 74th year of her religious life. She was born in Lewis Run, PA, on September 17, 1933, to the late John and Anna (Hvizdak) Onuffer. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from Our…
Our Jesuit Connection with Pope Francis
The following reflection was written in 2013 shortly after Pope Francis began his papacy. While Pope Francis is no longer with us, the manner in which he lived his life will always be a powerful example of what it means to live a life of great virtue. Our founder, Fr. Jean Pierre Medaille, also a…
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