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.

Congratulations Erie DAWN!

| July 1, 2020

Congratulations to Erie DAWN on its 25th anniversary of ministry. Erie DAWN has provided services and housing for more than 1,000 women and children in the Erie community. We congratulate Director Maureen Dunn and her staff for a magnificent job of caring for and assisting women to become self-sufficient, independent, productive members of society through…

Religious Life in the United States Today

| June 3, 2020

The 2020 NRVC/CARA Study on Recent Vocations identified more than 3,500 women and men who entered religious life from 2003 to 2018. On average, around 200 people a year make perpetual profession and about 400 begin the process of initial formation. Key findings about new members: Endless call: Women and men continue to respond to…

U.S. Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph Issue Statement on Racism

| June 3, 2020

The U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph strongly condemns the police-killing of another black man on the streets of our nation. Our hearts are breaking as we mourn with the family and friends of George Floyd, as well as Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, David McAtee, and all the others who have lost loved…

Meet SSJ Associate Stephanie Hall

| June 2, 2020

Twenty years ago, in May of 2000, Stephanie became our Director of Communications and Public Relations and the first layperson hired to our administrative staff (see box). Two years later, Stephanie and her mother, Mary Lou Rathers, became associates. Sisters Margaret Ann Hardner and Nancy Fischer were Stephanie’s sponsor and mentor. Stephanie enjoys being…

Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania Call for Unity and an End to the Violence

| May 31, 2020

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania are deeply saddened by the fatal arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the resulting violence in our nation, including our community of Erie, Pennsylvania. Like other citizens, we are also experiencing feelings of frustration, fear, and anger over Mr. Floyd’s death and the deaths of others…

petite Journeys Spring 2020

| May 4, 2020

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.