By CatholicPhilly Staff • Posted July 17, 2024

The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia are celebrating jubilarians marking significant milestones as consecrated religious.

Last month, more than 165 members of the Sisters of St. Francis gathered to give witness to the lives and service of the congregation’s 2024 jubilarians marking 70, 50, and 25 years of service.

Father Cyprian Rosen, O.F.M. Cap., presided over a jubilee liturgy June 9 during which the jubilarians renewed their vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.

Eleven of the diamond jubilarians who are celebrating 70 years of religious profession and one silver jubilarian who is celebrating 25 years of religious profession have previously or are currently ministering in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Collectively the 15 jubilarians represent 965 years of service in 23 states and 25 dioceses, including Africa and Puerto Rico.

Diamond Jubilarians (70 Years) previously ministered in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

  • Sister Margaret Cunniffe, OSF, (formerly Sister Aloysius Marie) was born in Philadelphia. She currently lives at Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania, serving in prayer and hospitality ministry. She previously ministered in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where she taught at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Doylestown; Resurrection School, Chester; St. Maria Goretti High School; Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls; Cardinal O’Hara High School, Springfield; and Our Lady of Angels College (now Neumann University) in Aston. She also served as a volunteer for Assisi House.
  • Sister Dolores Duffy, OSF, (formerly Sister John Mary) was born in Philadelphia. She currently serves in prayer and hospitality ministry at Assisi House, Aston, Pennsylvania. She previously ministered in elementary and secondary education at St. Hubert High School for Girls; St. Maria Goretti High School; Cardinal O’Hara High School; and Bishop Conwell High School. She also served as librarian at St. Nicholas School and as a volunteer at St. Anthony of Padua Regional School, both in Philadelphia.
  • Sister Mary Frances Flood, OSF, (formerly Edward Mary) was born in Washington, D.C. She currently serves as a volunteer at the University of Maryland’s St. Joseph Medical Center. Previously in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, she ministered in education, teaching at Our Lady of Consolation School, St. Bonaventure School, and St. Alphonsus School, all in Philadelphia.  She also served as principal at St. John Neumann School in Bryn Mawr, and at St. Mary of the Assumption School in Philadelphia.
  • Sister Isabel Marie Haughey, OSF, was born in White Plains, New York. She currently serves in prayer and hospitality ministry at Assisi House, Aston, Pennsylvania. She previously ministered in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia teaching at Resurrection School in Chester. She then served as Director of Nursing for St. Joseph Manor in Meadowbrook and as a nurse at St. Mary Manor in Lansdale.  She served the congregation as manager of the Franciscan Health Systems and as provinciated for the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer in Huntington Valley.
  • Sister Damian Marie Jackson, OSF, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She currently serves in prayer and hospitality ministry at Assisi House in Aston. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, she previously served in education teaching at St. Benedict School, St. Bonaventure School, St. Maria Goretti High School, Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, and J.W. Hallahan Catholic High School for Girls, all in Philadelphia. She also taught at Resurrection School, Chester; Nativity BVM School, Media; Cardinal O’Hara High School, Springfield; and served as retreat director at the Dominican Retreat House in Elkins Park.
  • Sister Regina McCloskey, OSF, (formerly Sister Norbert) was born in Philadelphia. She currently serves in prayer and hospitality ministry at Assisi House in Aston. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, she previously served in education at Cardinal O’Hara High School, Springfield; St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls; and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook. She also served the congregation as part of the generalate staff and as a Franciscan Care Team member at Assisi House.
  • Sister Bernadette McGoldrick, OSF, (formerly Sister Richard Marie), was born in Co. Longford, Ireland. She currently serves as a volunteer at the Ministry of Caring in Wilmington, Delaware. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, she previously served in education at All Saints School, St. Elizabeth School, and St. Benedict School in Philadelphia; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Doylestown; St. John Neumann School, Bryn Mawr; and St. Stanislaus School, Lansdale.
  • Sister Noelita Rodriguez, OSF, was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. She currently serves in prayer and hospitality ministry at Assisi House, Aston. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, she previously served in social services through archdiocesan Catholic Social Services, St. Boniface School, Southern Homes Services, and Marginal Poor Assistance, all in Philadelphia.
  • Sister Dolora Taylor, OSF, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and currently serves as administrative assistant at Immaculate Conception School in Towson and as a volunteer at The Catholic High School of Baltimore. She previously served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in healthcare at St. Agnes Hospital and St. Mary Hospital.
  • Sister Virginia Spiegel, OSF, was born in Fullerton, Maryland. She currently serves in prayer and hospitality ministry at Assisi House in Aston. She previously served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in finance and administration. She served the congregation as both treasurer and assistant congregational minister.  She also served as Director of Finance for the Dominican Sisters in Elkins Park and as a volunteer at Assisi House.
  • Sister Jean Ustasiewski, OSF, (formerly Sister Virginette) was born in Baltimore, Maryland.  She currently serves as a volunteer with the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, previous ministry includes serving as Provincial, Director of Companions, and Coordinator of the House for the Sisters of St. Francis.

Silver Jubilarian (25 Years)

  • Sister Mary Beth Antonelli, OSF, was born in Philadelphia. She currently ministers as the Coordinator on Mission for the Congregational Wellness Services. Formerly she served as a nurse at Ken Crest Medical Center and at Overbrook School for the Blind. She also previously served as the congregation’s Vocation Director.