The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Assisi House, our retirement residence in Aston, Pennsylvania, is currently home to 98 sisters. The 125-bed facility provides a continuum of care for the sisters, ranging from temporary recuperative care for sisters who come to Assisi House after a hospital stay to assistive care to complete personal care. Assisi House also provides a special unit for sisters with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Sr. Jane LaManna (http://www.osfphila.org/meet/Jane_LaManna) currently serves as administrator of Assisi House, assisted by Sr. Rose Raymond Barba.

Sr. Stella makes a new friend as Sr. Anna Mae looks on.

We have several sisters who comprise the pastoral care team as well as a staff of dedicated nurses, aides, activity directors, food and maintenance personnel, and volunteers that contribute to making Assisi House a home for our wonderful sisters who have served others for so long.

For each of these sisters, Assisi House provides an opportunity to live out our congregation’s mission in a special way—through prayer ministry. The sisters gather in chapel for daily liturgy celebrated by Fr. Francis Sariego, OFM, Cap.—or by one of the other Capuchin priests from Wilmington. The sisters also gather twice a day to pray, using the recently published Franciscan Morning and Evening Prayer used by the rest of the congregation.

Sr. Angela Patrice and Sr. Regina Mary know that the chains they made will be part of a demonstration by groups working to make a difference in the world.

However, visitors to Assisi House are likely to find individual sisters in chapel throughout the day, quietly engaged in conversation with the God whom they’ve served for so many years and remembering the many requests for prayer that they receive. Did you know that when you send us a prayer request via our website, it is automatically sent to our retirement residences? http://www.osfphila.org/prayer/requests

The sisters at Assisi House are also very conscious of the fact that prayer and action go hand-in-hand. During Lent, as they have done for several years, a group of the sisters gather every Monday to make, wrap, and package baloney sandwiches for St. Francis Inn. The inn, located in Philadelphia, provides meals every day for people who are homeless.

Sr. Clare has a stack of sandwiches all ready to wrap and send to St. Francis Inn.

For several years, the sisters have also turned their prayers into action by making multicolored paper chains. The chains were taken to Washington DC, to be used in gatherings and demonstrations calling on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to assist impoverished nations to “break the chains of debt.” Still other sisters gather on a regular basis to correspond with prisoners throughout the country.

Now Franciscans wouldn’t be Franciscan if they didn’t know how to celebrate and to enjoy one another’s company—and the sisters at Assisi House are no exception. Holidays throughout the year offer special opportunities for celebrations—sing-a-longs, scavenger hunts, plays, and outings. Assisi House’s program director, Sheila O’Gara (http://www.osfphila.org/meet/sheila_Ogara), the staff, and the faithful volunteers work to ensure that there’s something for everyone! At Easter, for example, the residents will take part in a musical play based on the events leading to the Resurrection as told in John’s gospel.

Our retired sisters are considered a "powerhouse of prayer" because they take seriously their call to prayer ministry.

Other holiday programs are organized and made possible by the sisters in the congregation. The yearly Valentine party is a good example. Many of our convents send donations to provide gifts and goodies. The DeLaSalle String Band, comprised of members of a local Knights of Columbus groups, donate their services and sisters from the area gather at Assisi House to share a good time with the retired sisters.

If you visit Assisi House, you’ll find a welcoming, joy-filled home. As soon as you come through the front door, you’ll probably see some of the sisters completing jigsaw puzzles,

Dinner time provides both a delicious meal and time to socialize for Srs. Georgellen, Anna Mae, and Dorothy.

surrounded by an admiring audience. You might meet the demo dogs and their owners coming for a visit. Many sisters and friends who live in the area stop by for Mass—especially on weekends. And visitors—there are always visitors! We are privileged in our local convents to share a special relationship with our retired sisters. Each of our convents “adopts” one or more of the sisters at Assisi House. And we know well that, while “presents” are gratefully accepted for birthdays, feast days, and holidays, our “presence” is a gift that always brings that special smile to the faces of these women on whose shoulders we all stand.