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.

Meet SSJ Associate Cindi Olesky

| February 25, 2020

A native of Erie, Cindi is one of three children in her family. She attended Villa Maria Academy and received a degree from Kent State University. Cindi joined the SSJs as the Director of Finance in August, 2000. She became an associate in 2004 with Sister Christine Quirk as her mentor. When speaking about the…

Solidarity with the “dear neighbor”

| February 3, 2020

A post by Betsy Wiest, SSJ Social Justice Coordinator. “Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good…

Meet SSJ Associate Rita Lyle

| February 3, 2020

Rita says that becoming an associate has enhanced her spiritual life and she enjoys the friendship of the sisters. For the past 12 years, she was a volunteer in Marycrest where she enjoyed working with the sisters. More recently, she has been volunteering in the Associate Office. Rita is the second of four girls in…

Lessons from geese

| February 3, 2020

One day last week on my way into work, I was met by two Canada Geese that were blocking the door to the admin. building. I tried to get them to move but I was unsuccessful. I was not a happy camper! As I started to go to the front of the building, one of…

Saint Josephine Bakhita, the Patron Saint of Human Trafficking Victims

| January 27, 2020

Please remember all victims of human trafficking on February 8th, the Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita. Josephine Bakhita was born in Darfur Sudan in 1869. When she was seven, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders and, in the following eight years, was resold five times. She was so traumatized by the brutality of…

Take Back the Site Vigils

| January 21, 2020

Take Back the Site Vigils were started because of the murder of Anora Manus, a mother of five children. Since then, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, and the Sisters of Mercy have organized numerous vigils. The three communities work together to reclaim locations where murders have occurred for non-violence. The…

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.