The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Discernment:  Getting to Know Us, Getting to Know God's Will

• Talk with a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia to become familiar with the charism of our congregation and to learn more about us.
• Prayer and reflection are central to discovering God’s will in your life.
• Meet with a spiritual director or mentor.

Understanding Stereotypes

One of the most challenging aspects of discerning religious life is getting beyond the stereotypes of what people think of “nuns.”  Once you get to know us, you will realize that we are:

• Women who are vibrant and alive
• Women who are actively involved in serving the needs of the poor
• Women who are instruments of changing unjust structures
• Women who care deeply about relationship with God and with others
• Women of prayer
• Women who are on fire with the love of Jesus and who seek to share this love so generously with others
• Women who take the necessary risks to be a loving, compassionate presence in our violent world
• Women who travel the world to help those in need in an attempt to right the wrongs of society

 Meet Simona Botezatu and Sara Marks, Our Novices 

Challenged to dare
Daring  enough to take the risk and
Passionate enough to make the difference!

Simona, can you tell us a little bit about your family and about where you grew up? 

I was born and raised in Romania in a small family of three children. My brother Florin is married and has two boys of his own. Antoaneta (Toni), my younger sister, is expecting her first child. I grew up in the small city of Moinesti, north of the capital, Bucharest. I lived in a countryside surrounded by breath-taking views of nature. We had all kinds of animals and every animal had its own name. My parents worked for many years in a furniture factory until the Revolution came in 1989. Then it closed and many people lost their jobs. Not long after that traumatic life-changing event, they both retired and since have lived and worked the land, taking care of a small farm.  

Where did you study?

Because I love people and want to show justice at all levels, I felt with all my heart that I must or should do something. I went to the only Catholic university at that time in Romania and studied theology and social work. During that time I got involved with different nongovernmental agencies where I ministered with abandoned children in an orphanage, as well as with children and single mothers infected with HIV/AIDS.

When did you leave Romania?

After I left the university, I was invited by a coworker to be part of a volunteer group in England. While there I was in a residential project working with run-away or “throw-away” teenagers and also was a mentor and cotrainer at a maximum security prison, working with young offenders. When I left England, I returned to Romania and because of my passion in working with detainees, I got involved with a pilot project developed by the Ministry of Justice. I changed my specialty once again from social worker to probation counselor. Looking in retrospect at all these places and people, I discovered that the experiences have taught me a valuable life lesson and drew me closer to God and his purpose for me. I can’t say I chose religious life and followed this idea since I was a child. But rather God chose, called, and prepared me each step of my journey.

How did you first meet the Sisters of St. Francis?

After a long journey that took me across two oceans and involvement in different ministries, one beautiful October day in 2007, I met Sr. Betsy Goodwin in Boston through a common passion of working toward the eradication of human trafficking. That was the beginning of a simple, quiet, and gentile relationship that little-by-little developed into a more profound relationship with the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.  After one year of working with Sr. Betsy, I came to the motherhouse for a Mini-Sabbath, where from the hill coming up to the Glen, I fell in love with and was mesmerized by the beauty, simplicity, and serenity of the place. When I first stepped into the motherhouse, I knew that something more powerful, grace-filled, and peaceful took over my whole being. I knew from that moment that this is the place where I belong and want to be for the rest of my life.

What impressed you most about the sisters?

What I am most impressed with and love about the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia is their love for one another and their love for all creation, their faithfulness and continuous presence to each other and to those whom they serve, their honesty and mutual support, and their tremendous witness and inspiration—not so much by words and deeds but rather by their being and continuous dedication and passion for the love of God and his Living Word. It seems to me that no matter the sisters’ ages, professional backgrounds, roles, and country of origin, they seem so much inflamed with the love and gratitude of and for God, the Gospel, people, creation, and all that sustains and surrounds us here on Earth and even beyond.

What will be your ministry during candidacy?

I am in process of searching for a full-time job. Since my last day in Boston, October 1, I have no job but am looking assiduously for one. My previous job was with Catholic Charities as a paralegal in Immigration and Refugee Services, which I loved very much. My passion and love is in serving the poor, the abused, the neglected, the imprisoned, the trafficked, the abandoned, the immigrant, the addicted, and the sick and homebound.

What are some of your expectations during candidacy?

As a candidate I would expect to continue the journey to be and become the person that God created me to be. What I most desire is to grow and deepen my relationship with God, myself, and all those that God blesses my day with. I would also desire to deepen my understanding of the life of the congregation and its charism—translating it in daily living. Through my community living, I hope to grow and deepen my prayer life as an individual and also communally. I would also like to get to know and understand the heart of Francis and Mother Francis Bachmann in my daily living.

Sara, where did you grow up?

West Chester, Pennsylvania.

How did you first meet our sisters?
It seems odd but attending a state university was how I became acquainted with the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia. As a student at West Chester University, I participated in the Newman Center’s Busy Persons Retreat where I met a number of vocation directors. I was always jealous of my friends who were paired with Sr. Debbie Krist. She was fun, energetic, and engaging—and had fabulous style. And best of all, she took her directees shopping! I looked forward to this particular retreat every year in hopes that I could finagle my way into her group of students—and every year the students she had directed before, who took priority, would request her. While I never had an opportunity to meet with her during this particular retreat, I have been blessed to have her walk with me since my time in college.

Through retreats like those that Sr. Debbie participated in, evenings of reflection with Sr. Mary Pat, and the time we spent on retreat at the Spiritual Center hosted by Sr. Christa, I was able to grow deeper in my understanding and love for this congregation.

What will be your ministry during your candidacy?

I will continue to work at Neumann University as a campus minister where I have been ministering since January 2009.

Can you tell us a little about your family?

What can I say! We are a bunch of hillbillies from the hills of Chester County. We have been known to have jam parties, backyard bon-fires, and midnight bocce ball tournaments. We love tractor rides and walking around barefoot is something we do year-round. My older brother, younger sister, and I grew up in an imaginative world where we fought beasts to defend the labyrinth in which we had built our abstract kingdom (a simple tree house did not feed our ambitious imaginations). My parents always supported our playful childhood dreams and continually encouraged us to be individuals capable of thinking for ourselves. 

My brother lives in California with his wife and daughter, my niece Caroline. My sister lives in West Chester with her fiancé and her dog, Charlie. We are a unique family in that we are about as different as five people can be, yet somehow—most of the time—it just works!

What are some of your expectations of candidacy?

I expect to both gain something from and bring something to the congregation. I have discovered within myself that living in community draws me deeper into the revelation of God’s actions in my life and in our world. This year will hopefully provide me with the time and environment to grow in my understanding of what it means to be a Franciscan and will allow me to grow in relationship with a variety of sisters with whom I can continue to learn to live the Gospel life. 

Along with the prayerful piece of community, I also expect to have fun, to enjoy being on this journey, to laugh, to play, and to love. 

What else would you like us to know about you?

My email contains the number 816. People are quick to assume it is my birthday but in reality it is the date that Elvis Presley died—a date I commemorate each year and a date on which I receive a phone call from my father in which he gives me his condolences. I am an avid Elvis Presley fan, probably because he was a rebel, pushed the limits, and made people think. My birthday is actually February 4. I love celebrating birthdays more than holidays—and not just my own. Birthdays are the one day a year where we celebrate an individual as a unique creation of God and I believe that needs to be celebrated to the fullest! 

My favorite person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit, my favorite saint (although never formally recognized by the Church as “saint”) is Julian of Norwich, and my favorite image of the Blessed Mother is Our Lady of Guadalupe. I love to travel, sing, play guitar, write, water ski, swim, play cards, dance, cook, be silly, and enjoy life. I highly dislike mushrooms, cilantro, sea food, and cracking knuckles. I wish I could figure skate, ballroom dance, and play piano. And at this very moment, my heart is filled with joy!