By Catholic Philly Staff Report • Posted June 8, 2023

The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia are celebrating jubilarians marking 50 and 70 years of service as consecrated religious.

Throughout the weekend of June 3-4 jubilarians gathered for a weekend of recollection and prayer focusing on fond memories, celebrating both the past and expressing hope for the years ahead at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston.

On Saturday June 3, congregational leadership hosted a special dinner for all the jubilarians at the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston. Father Cyprian Rosen, O.F.M. Cap., presided over a jubilee liturgy June 4 during which the jubilarians renewed their vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.

All eight of the diamond jubilarians who are celebrating 70 years of religious profession currently minister in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Collectively the nine jubilarians represent 610 years of service in 15 dioceses throughout the United States.

Diamond Jubilarians (70 Years) Currently Serving in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Sister Marietta Culhane, OSF, is a diamond jubilarian celebrating 70 years of religious profession. Sister Marietta’s previous ministries in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia include serving as instructor/academic dean at Neumann University and as coordinator of education at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston. Currently, Sister Marietta serves as a volunteer at Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, Pennsylvania.

Sister Marie Patrice Feeney, OSF, taught at St. Benedict School, Philadelphia; St. Stanislaus School, Lansdale; Nativity B.V.M. School, Media; St. Aloysius School, Pottstown; St. Elizabeth School, Philadelphia; and St. Ignatius School, Yardley. She also served in social services at St. Francis Inn as the director, founder of St. Mary Franciscan Shelter in Phoenixville, as a volunteer at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, and St. Andrew Church in Newtown. Currently she serves as a volunteer at Assisi House.

Sister Eileen Hennessy, OSF, (formerly Sister Felicine Marie) currently serves in the health office at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston, Pennsylvania. Her previous ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia includes patient access registrar at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne and in local house ministry at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston.

Sister Leonora Juliani, OSF, (formerly Sister Marie Rita) a native of Philadelphia who attended St. Mary the Eternal Parish, served as a volunteer in the archives and in local house ministry at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston. Currently she ministers in prayer and hospitality at Assisi House.

Sister Ann McFadden, OSF, (formerly Sister Thomas Mary) currently serves in prayer and hospitality ministry at Assisi House. Sister Marie Michelle Michel, OSF, also ministers in prayer and hospitality at Assisi House.

Sister Nuala Kathleen Swan, OSF, (formerly Sister Fintan), currently serves as a volunteer at Assisi House, as well as at Anna’s Place in Chester.

Sister Mary Agnes Walsh, OSF, (formerly Sister Philomene) taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Morton, St. Stanislaus School in Lansdale, and St. Alphonsus School and St. Elizabeth School both in Philadelphia. She currently serves as an associate with the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, Pennsylvania.

Golden Jubilarian (50 Years) Previously Ministered in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia:

Sister Mary Dawson Smith, OSF, a golden jubilarian celebrating 50 years of religious profession, currently serves as the school counselor at St. Ann School in the Diocese of Wilmington. Previous ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia area includes serving as director of Pastoral Services for the congregation at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston, Pennsylvania.