ASTON —On June 9, more than 165 members of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia and their companions gathered in Our Lady of Angels Chapel in Aston, Pa., to give witness to the lives and service of the congregation’s 2024 jubilarians.
Celebrating 70, 50, and 25 years of religious profession, the 15 jubilarians represent an accumulated 965 years of service in 23 states and 25 dioceses, including Africa and Puerto Rico.
One jubilarian currently serves in the Wilmington Diocese, three others have previously served in the diocese.
Current
Diamond jubilarian (70 years) Sister Bernadette McGoldrick, OSF, (formerly Sister Richard Marie), previously served in education and social services at St. Mary/St. Peter Schools, 1974-75; St. Peter School, New Castle, 1982-85. Beginning in 1996, Sister Bernadette ministered at the Ministry of Caring, Emmanuel Dining Room in New Castle as the manager and now as a volunteer.
Previous
Diamond jubilarian (70 years) Sister Margaret Cunniffe, OSF, (formerly Sister Aloysius Marie), previously served in education at Padua Academy, 1965-70, 1977-86; and in parish ministry at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1986-1991; St. Helena Parish, 1991-97; St. Hedwig/St. Elizabeth Parishes, 1997-99; Church of the Holy Child, 1999-05; Office of Religious for the Diocese, 2005-14; and St. Francis Hospital, 2017-2021. She currently serves in prayer and hospitality ministry in the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, Pennsylvania.
Diamond jubilarian (70 years) Sister Isabel Marie Haughey, OSF, previously served in health care and as a volunteer at St. Francis Hospital, 1970-74, 1977-83, 2005-09; AI Dupont Hospital for Children, 2010-15; Brackenville Center, Hockessin, 2015-19; Stratford House, 2019-21. She currently serves in prayer and hospitality ministry in the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, Pennsylvania.
Silver jubilarian (25 years) Sister Mary Beth Antonelli, OSF, previously served in health care at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington first as nurse coordinator and then as chaplain, 1999-2000, 2014-18.
The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia is a community of approximately 295 Catholic women religious who choose a Gospel way of life lived in community and uphold a long and honored tradition of loving God and being in relationships through loving service. We choose to live the Gospel in the prophetic spirit of Francis of Assisi and our foundress Mother Francis Bachmann. With Jesus Christ as Brother, we live as sister with one another, with the entire human family, and with all creation. Calling ourselves and one another to continuous conversion of heart, we commit ourselves to a life of contemplation, poverty, and humility. Seeking to participate in the Spirit’s action in the world, we direct our personal and corporate resources to the promotion of justice, peace, and reconciliation. www.osfphila.org
