Edition No. 255—April 23, 2024

Jubilee Celebration

Saint Joseph Villa

April 6, 2024

What a joy and an inspiration to celebrate Jubilee Day at Saint Joseph Villa. On Saturday, April 6, 2024, sisters, families, and friends came together to celebrate 80, 75, 70 and 60 years of vowed commitment and faithful love as Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Celebrating 80 Years: Sister Dorothy Rooney

Celebrating 75 Years: Sisters Helen Patrick Clifton, Sister Anne William Fagan, Sister Dorothy M. Annas, Sister Walter Helene Krimm, William Teresa Leonard

and Mary Rose Dugan

Celebrating 70 Years: Sisters Judith Ridley, Mary Gregory Di Gioia, Catherine V. Corrigan, Michael Immaculate Keane, Mary Catherine Walton, Constance Gardner and Phyllis Marie Brenner

Celebrating 60 Years: Sisters Diane Louise Driscoll, Susan Eileen Wagaman, Phyllis Jewel Tracy, Catherine Thibault, Mary Patricia Rilley, Mary Kelley,

Kathleen Marie Mackerer, Sister Margaret J. Oravez, Diane Marie Wolf

and Theresa McCrossen

Congregational President Sister Maureen G. Erdlen SSJ, warmly welcomed all present in the Chapel, recalling with gratitude the lives of the Jubilarians. “Welcome to all gathered here today and those of you with us on the livestream as we honor the remarkable milestone in the lives of our Sisters. Sisters, we rejoice with you, and because of you! your faithful response to the invitation of our loving God is an inspiration to all. There is much to celebrate today as we congratulate our Jubilarians. 

Sisters, your selfless dedication, perseverance, and faith shine forth every day. As we reflect on your journeys that have brought us to this day, we are reminded of the countless lives you have touched.



Please know that each of you is gift—to your family, to our congregation, and to the church. May the unioning love you share with all continue to strengthen you, bring you joy, and fill our world. Thank you for all you are. We love you!”

Celebrating 80 Years

Seated: Sister Dorothy Rooney

Standing, from left: Sisters Karen Dietrich, Maureen G. Erdlen, Eileen Marnien,

Owen Patricia Bonner and Teresa Shaw

Celebrating 75 Years

Seated, from left: Sisters William Teresa Leonard, Anne William Fagan,

Mary Rose Dugan, Helen Patrick Clifton and Dorothy M. Annas

Standing, from left: Sisters Karen Dietrich, Maureen G. Erdlen, Walter Helene Krimm, Eileen Marnien, Owen Patricia Bonner and Teresa Shaw

Celebrating 70 Years

Seated, from left: Sisters Marie Gregory Di Gioia, Phyllis Marie Brenner,

Catherine V. Corrigan, Constance Gardner and Mary Catherine Walton

Standing, from left: Sisters Karen Dietrich, Maureen G. Erdlen, Judith Ridley,

Eileen Marnien, Owen Patricia Bonner and Teresa Shaw

Celebrating 60 Years

Seated, from left: Sisters Catherine Thibault, Mary Kelley and Theresa McCrossen

Standing, from left: Sisters Eileen Marnien, Susan Eileen Wagaman, Diane Marie Wolf, Karen Dietrich, Margaret J. Oravez, Kathleen Marie Mackerer, Phyllis Jewel Tracy, Owen Patricia Bonner, Maureen G. Erdlen, Diane Louise Driscoll

and Teresa Shaw

Celebrating 60 Years

Seated: Sister Mary Patricia Rilley

Living Jubilee Each Day

by Julie Gabell, SSJ Associate in Mission

There’s something about a Jubilee. It allows us to affirm the accomplishments of a life well-lived; enables us to renew old friendships and celebrate the new. It recognizes that even our smallest successes underscore that we have done a pretty good job of struggling through this thing called life. It reminds us that, when push comes to shove, our inadequacies do not define who we are. Jubilees are our chance to celebrate personhood in a very special way. 

The word “jubilee” is rooted in Jewish history and refers to a sabbatical year that included forgiveness of debt as well as liberation of slaves. Though many orthodox Jews still observe strict biblical laws, “jubilee” regulations that impacted land ownership and stewardship have not been observed for many centuries. Today,” jubilee” generally occurs every 25 years and is a season of rejoicing and festivity. The word itself comes from the Hebrew meaning “ram’s horn trumpet,” an instrument often played to mark the solemn Jewish New Year. 

Often these days we see injustices that are a direct antithesis to influences which build a spirit of Jubilee. Pope Francis has shown us time and again how important it is to reconcile with peoples of all races and beliefs. In his encyclical Fratelli Tutti he discusses ways to bridge gaps that exist in our society. Most practical for us at the Villa is that we continue to take a stand on social issues through prayer, advocacy, and by educating ourselves on current societal issues. For us this is Jubilee.



Jubilee is built on the give and take of ordinary living, lived out in extraordinary ways. We all play a part in this. All of us have reason to celebrate friendship, the existence of small successes, and the goodness of God in our lives.

Associates in Mission

Spring Gathering

April 6, 2024

By Dannah Addalli, Associate in Mission

Fifty-six SSJ Associates, along with Sister Sharon White SSJ, gathered at the Sisters of Saint Joseph Motherhouse auditorium in Chestnut Hill, PA on Saturday April 6, 2024, for our Associate in Mission Annual Spring Gathering, "Celebrating the Past and Planting Seeds for the Future."

It was exciting to be together, in-person, for the first time since 2018! 

The Associate in Mission Office Staff, along with members of the Associate Advisory Board, the Consultation Planning Committee, and volunteers created a day that was meaningful for all.

We gathered to celebrate all the ways that the 2019 Associate in Mission Direction Statement has been realized over the past five years and to look ahead to the next five years as we journey through our 2024 Associate Consultation process: How are we being called to live this mission of unioning love in our world at this time? What seeds might we need to plant now to ensure a future full of growth?

Our day was filled with prayer, reflection, input, sharing, building relationships, and enjoying our time together. Always grateful for the opportunity to deepen and widen our relationships and conversations as we are..."aware of God's urgent longing for our mission of unioning love to transform the world in our times..."

Only 15 tickets left for a chance to win a trip for two to Ireland!

Sponsorships are still available for the SSJ Welcome Center’s 4th Annual Golf Outing at Sandy Run Golf Club in Orleand, PA on May 20, 2024.

Visit https://forms.gle/JtvfzDwwWEonStRN6 for sponsorship information.

Editor, Sister Carole Pollock SSJ | 215.248.7269 | cpollock@ssjphila.org | https://ssjphila.org/