“When life is not a
bed of roses, remember
who wore the thorns.”
— Anonymous


“Our life is March
weather, savage and serene in one hour.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
In Praise of St. Joseph
The Feast of St. Joseph is this Friday, March 19. He is the patron saint of
the Catholic church, unborn children, fathers, immigrants, workers, pilgrims, carpenters, engineers, realtors, against doubt and hesitation, and for happy death.

“When I was 7 years old, I wanted a father. My dad died when I was a few months shy of 2, so I never knew him. My mother never remarried. It was the 1940s, and family life was so evident — Mom, Dad, kids, car, telephone and chicken in the pot every Sunday. None of these seemed to define my life. Determined to fix my situation, I went to my bedroom one day, put a statue of St. Joseph on the chair, opened the Bible (I wish I knew what page I turned to), said a prayer and declared St. Joseph to be my father. Spiritual adoption? To this day, St. Joseph and I have been pals.”
— Sister Barbara Ann Webster

“St. Joseph is important to me, as he watched over Jesus and Mary. He did it quietly and with great love. To love and to be loved is the greatest joy on earth.”
— Sister Cecilia Jacko
Throughout Women’s History Month, our alumnae are honoring members of the School Sisters of St. Francis who touched their lives back then and who they consider to have been particularly influential in who they are now.
‘Angel’ Among Them
A pair of Skylarks recall the profound impact that Sister Denise Olshausky had on them at St. Francis Academy in Texas.
Home Away from Home
A Mount Assisi Academy alum remembers the Sisters who gave her
the stability she needed in her life.
Do you have a Sister Story to share? Submit it through our Alumnae Portal.
Sister M. Virginelle Makos captured this photo of the stunning sunrise over Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa., on March 16.
Lenten Sacrifices
Do Not End at Easter
I remember a catechist telling us the story of a little girl who gave up all her candy for Lent. She put the box up high so she could not reach it or be tempted to eat the candy. But her brother watched her and, when she wasn't looking, he took out every piece of candy that she had put in.

When Lent was over, she reached up and took down the box. Was she surprised when down came an empty box! Despite the brother’s questionable actions, this story was intended to teach us that we should not be ready to eat all the candy that we had given up once Lent ends, but to really give it up.
— Sister Lois Jean DiFalco
Upcoming Online Spiritual Programs
March 23
March 29-30
April 6
April 15
April 21