As this email is sent to you, I am announcing to our faculty, staff, and student leaders that I will be retiring as University President on June 30, 2014.

I am grateful for having been able to play a role in Holy Family University's tremendous transformation from a college to a university, and from a small, local private school to one with students from other states and other countries.

More importantly, I feel so privileged to have served you and so many Holy Family students. This University has been an integral part of my life since I, myself, was a student pursuing my Bachelor's degree here.

My heart is filled with gratitude to God; to Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Foundress of the Congregations of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, whose spirit inspires the Mission and ideas of Holy Family University; to our visionary Sisters who laid the foundation for this ministry; to all the dedicated Sisters who have taught in these classrooms and worked in these offices; to the loyal lay faculty members who supported our Mission; to the dedicated members of the Board of Trustees, whose wisdom and guidance have been invaluable; and to all of you, who are part of the thousands of students whose success stories have made it all worthwhile.

A search is underway to find my successor and I am sure you join me in prayer wishing the best of luck to the entire Holy Family community as it begins its journey forward.

God Bless You All,

Sister Francesca