Retirement Fund for Religious

Sisters and Brothers,

This weekend, December 9th & 10th, our Diocese of Erie will collect for the annual retirement fund this year. In our valley, we know of the dedicated and hard-working effort by the many communities of sisters (Benedictine, Mercy and Sisters of St Joseph) who staffed and taught in our schools and religious education programs. We have special memories of the generosity and hard work of the Sisters of St. Joseph as they began our Notre Dame school: Sr. Marie Corde (first Principal), Sr. Mary Timothy (Sr. Ann), Sr. Dominic, Sr. Cecelia and for the Shenango Valley Religious Education programs: Sr. Mary Paula, Sr. Mary Ann and Sr. Mary Rita.

In the 1990’s, Sr. Mary Drexler, Sr. Joyce Lowrey and Sr. Ann Donahue SSJs returned and were among our Notre Dame school administration and teaching staff. Sr. Margaret Pellerite, SSJ, has been in her teaching and ministry work since the beginning of Kennedy Catholic High School in the 70’s.

In a special way we remember Sr. Joyce Lowrey and Sr. Ann Donahue, both Sisters of St Joseph who died last year. Their ministry of teaching extended through their entire careers in many schools throughout our Diocese of Erie.