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Margaret O’Brien, SSJ, formerly known as Sister Mary Matthew, was born on March 21, 1937 in Oil City, Pennsylvania. Sister entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Joseph Parish in Oil City on August 29, 1956 and professed her final vows on August 15, 1964. Sister graduated from St. Joseph High School, Oil City…

Catherine Manning, SSJ, recognized her call to religious life in second grade after she first encountered the Sisters of St. Joseph when her family moved to Bradford, PA. She was fascinated by the, “women in black who wore shawls instead of coats and had long veils that blew in the wind.” From then on she…

Marie Stephen Kebort, SSJ, prays The Daily Examen of St. Ignatius every day and says it helps her keep a focus on the daily joys and challenges of her life. “You cannot give to others and neglect your own spiritual life,” she says. “You need to be a reservoir—not a channel—or you will have nothing…

Susan Herzing, SSJ, is known for her healing hands as a massage therapist. She was born on July 11, 1945 in St. Marys, Pennsylvania and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from her hometown parish, St. Mary’s, on September 8, 1966. She professed her first vows on August 15, 1969 and final vows on September…

Phyllis DiFuccia, SSJ, was born on August 13, 1947 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Her decision to enter religious life was confirmed at Mass on New Year’s Day after having been out all night at a party. She heard herself say: “Is this all there is?” She felt called to do “more,” she explains, and later entered…

Immediately following the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania join with others across the country in calling for all Americans to come together in the spirit of unity and reconciliation and build relationships based on respect. The Sisters are encouraging participation in a National Day of Prayer for Unity…

(Erie, PA) Sister Mary Herrmann, president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, announced today that Villa Maria Elementary School, a longtime Catholic elementary school in Erie—will close at the end of the 2016-17 academic year.   The school is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph, not a diocesan school. The…

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania welcomed 14 new associates during a special liturgy held on July 31, 2016 in the chapel of the Sisters’ Community Living Center in Millcreek, PA. The new associates were received by Mary Herrmann, SSJ, Mary Ann White, SSJ, and Clare Marie Beichner, SSJ, Congregation Leadership; and Linda…