The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

After Sr. Rose Mary renewed her vows, she received the blessing of all assembled in chapel.

The weekend of August 7-8 was a joyful celebration of sisterhood as the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia gathered in the chapel of Our Lady of Angels Convent, in Aston, Pennsylvania, to witness the renewal of vows of Sister Rose Mary Eve Holter and the perpetual profession of Sister Patricia Kerezsi. Sister Rose Mary Eve renewed her vows during the 9 A.M. Eucharistic Liturgy which opened the sisters’ annual Gathering Day on Saturday, August 7.  Sister Patricia professed her perpetual vows at the 11 A.M. Eucharist on Sunday in the presence of approximately 300 of her Franciscan sisters, family, friends, and coworkers. The celebration continued with a festive luncheon in the motherhouse dining rooms following the Mass.

Each day’s liturgical celebration reflected both the common charism of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia and the unique gifts of Sisters Patricia and Rose Mary Eve. In her welcoming remarks at the beginning of Sunday’s liturgy, Sr. Marijane Hresko, OSF, who lives in local community with Sister Patty, noted that “for some people religious life points the way that best calls them to their finest and most spirit-filled selves.”  Patty and Rose Mary Eve’s smiling faces, supported by the prayers, songs, and blessings of the gathered community, affirmed their spirit-filled witness to the message of Sunday’s gospel passage: “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Luke 12:34).  

Sr. Patty and her mom

Sister Marijane recalled how “Patty has found her treasure in living the gospel according to our Franciscan way of life.”  This theme from the Sunday gospel reading was picked up in the homily by Fr. Cyprian Rosen, OFM, Cap., chaplain of Our Lady of Angels Convent, and in Patty’s remarks of thanksgiving after communion.  Patty reflected upon how her sense of God’s intimate presence was nurtured within her family, especially by her mother Pat, her deceased father Lou, her four brothers, and their families.  The seeds of her vocation to the Sisters of St. Francis were nourished during her many years as a student and later a teacher with our Sisters at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lenni, Pennsylvania, and within her experiences as a Franciscan Companion in Mission.  

Both the Lenni parish community and Sister Patty’s current coworkers at the Ministry of Caring in Wilmington, Delaware, were well represented among

Sr. Patty knelt before the altar during the singing of the "Litany of the Saints."

Patty’s guests. In addition to Father Cyprian as presider, concelebrants at the Eucharist included Fr. Michael Colagreco, the current pastor at Lenni; Monsignors Charles Vance and Fred Britto, who both served at St. Francis de Sales Parish; and Fr. Ronald Giannone, OFM, Cap., director of the Ministry of Caring in Wilmington, Delaware. Two religious sisters who have companioned Patty as spiritual directors, Sister Clare D’Aurio, OSF, and Sr. Peg Oravez, SSJ, proclaimed the first two readings; Fr. Vance proclaimed the gospel. In responding to Sister Esther Anderson’s examination of her readiness prior to professing her vows, Patty reaffirmed her commitment to live the Gospel according to the charism of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. The celebration of her perpetual profession reflected the interwoven familial, Franciscan, and ecclesial relationships characteristic of this call to “live as sister within this community, with the entire human family, and with all creation.”  

Profession of Vows Most gracious God, I acknowledge with gratitude your loving call to religious life. Today, in faith, in hope, and in love, I confirm my response to you through the profession of these vows. I Sister (N), dedicate myself to you freely and unreservedly through the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, according to the Rule and Life of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis and the Constitutions of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia (for one year/all the days of my life). In a spirit of continuous conversion, I bind myself in fidelity and love, closer to Christ and to the Church.  I place these vows in the care of Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, and in your hands, Sister (N), our congregational minister.

The Saturday morning Eucharist at which Rose Mary Eve renewed her vows was a simple, joyful votive Mass in honor of Mary, whom St. Francis of Assisi praised as “the Virgin made Church.”  In her reflection, Sister Anne Amati, OSF pondered the fertile images of the gospel (Lk. 11:27-28) to unveil how Jesus praised his mother for her maternal nurturing but even more so for her commitment to “hear the word of God and keep it.” She affirmed Rose Mary Eve for her continuing fidelity to the mystery of God’s call, through thirty years as a professed member

Sr. Rose Mary (center) is greeted by Srs. Diane Tomkinson and Esther Anderson.

of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, her discernment to depart the congregation in 1997, and her request to return and renew her vows last year. In her welcoming remarks after receiving Sister Rose Mary Eve’s vows, Sister Esther Anderson commented upon how the butterfly on Rose Mary Eve’s flowing blouse reflected her creative spirit and paschal journey as she again renewed her vows and the sisters expressed their support and delight to welcome her home. After the liturgy, the gathered sisters and companions moved to the Neumann College Life Center to continue our annual Gathering Day reflection on the theme of transformation, with presentations by Brother Michael Laratonda, FMS, on  “The Movement Towards Balance in Life: God’s Call to Ongoing Transformation.”