News

We want to keep you in the loop of what’s happening in the SSJ Erie community. Browse through this section to explore our most recent publications, our Facebook feed, our Jubilarians' bios, and the most recent obituaries of our Sisters who have passed.

we remember . . . Mary Kay McNelis, SSJ

| December 21, 2020

Sister Mary Kay McNelis, SSJ, (formerly Sr. Carmelita), 91, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on December 20, 2020. She was born in Altoona, PA, on September 9, 1929, the daughter of the late Atty. Gerald A. and Katharine (Judermanns) McNelis. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Andrew…

we remember … Joyce Lowrey, SSJ

| December 8, 2020

Sister Joyce Lowrey, SSJ, 81, formerly Sister Virginia, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania died on December 7, 2020. Sister Joyce was born on February 18, 1939, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late John and Virginia Anderhalt Lowrey. She graduated from Penn Hills Jr./Sr. High School, Pittsburgh, PA, in 1956,…

Recycling Made Simple – Virtual Event

| November 2, 2020

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania are sponsoring a virtual recycling education event to help the community learn more about recycling in the Erie County area. A great deal of confusion exists about recycling, and residents are often left wondering: What is recyclable? What isn’t? Do I have to clean items first? Do…

A Reflection on the 370th Anniversary of the Founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph

| November 2, 2020

A reflection by Mary Fromknecht, SSJ October 15th marked the 370th Anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph in LePuy, France. This passage is the foundation of each of our spiritual lives—our God’s promise to dwell among us and be with us forever. In the the1650s, our first sisters heard this very…

Treats, Not Tricks!

| November 2, 2020

“Necessity is the mother of invention.” This proverb means that a need or problem encourages creative efforts to meet the need or solve the problem. Once again, COVID-19 made it necessary for us to do things a little differently. The associates had some creative Halloween fun on October 25 in lieu of their usual …

Wrapping Our Nation in Prayer

| November 2, 2020

Our upcoming election is slated to be one of the most important of our lifetime. As a result, the U.S. Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph is asking all SSJ congregations and communities to join in our 100 Days of Prayer – Wrapping Our Nation In Prayer initiative. The special sheet was sent out via…

PHOTO AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE: (l-r) Eva Mastromatteo of Erie News Now interviews Stephanie Hall, SSJ Associate and Communications Director, and Nancy Fischer, SSJ, as part of a 5-part series during Catholic Sisters Week.