2003 Golden and Silver Jubilarians

Pictured above are the women who have given 50 years of faithful service to the mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. Back row, from left: Sr. Maureen Clare Hall, Sr. Rosetta Amendola, Sr. Catherine Sushil, General Minister Sr. Margaret Mary Kimmins, Sr. Celeste Sullivan, Sr. Mary Conboy, Sr. Elizabeth Moore, and Sr. Anne Crowe. Front row: Sr. Marie Rosaire Orvis, Sr. Anne Rothmeier, Sr. J. Marie Kelly, Sr. Anne Henry Wusteney, Sr. Susan Buckley, and Sr. Maria Helena Guimaraes Sepulveda.

Golden Jubilarians

Sr. Rosetta Amendola, OSF
Ministry in Education:
Teacher: Christ the King - Haddonfield, NJ; St. Mary's - Pompton Lakes, NJ Holy Cross - Calicoon, NY; St. Paul's - St. Petersburg, Fla.
Principal: St. Mary's - Port Jervis, NY
Religious Education: St. Justin Martyr - Largo, Fla.; St. Paul's - Tampa
Healthcare: St. Joseph's Hospital, Tampa, Fla.
Present ministry: Blessed Sacrament, Tampa, Fla., serving as Pastoral Assistant

Sr. Susan Buckley, OSF
After Profession I went to St. Joseph Convent/School in Lakeland, Fla. to teach kindergarten for one year, and then to St. Anne's Convent/School in Westville, NJ to teach fourth grade for 8 years. I moved to our Franciscan Ritiro in Allegany, NY to live a more contemplative life style for 19 years, and then served as director of formation for the congregation for 5 years. After formation, I came to Christ the King Convent in Snyder, NY and ministered as a chaplain and spiritual counselor at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, NY for 16 years. I still reside at Christ the King in Snyder, NY having just finished my work at Mercy, and am now solely engaged in Spiritual Direction and retreats.

Sr. Mary Conboy, OSF
Yes, it does seem like 50 short years since I entered the Allegany Franciscans! I arrived in the United States from County Leitrim, Ireland, and that CALL was persistent. Through my cousin, Mother Claudia, I was introduced to the Alleganies. Like the rest of my bandmates, I had on-the-job training as a teacher: Corpus Christi School, Miami; St. Francis School, Ft. Myers, Fla.; St. Margaret Mary School, Rochester, NY; Our Lady Help of Christians School, Pittsburg, Pa.; St. Peter's School, Pleasantville, NJ; Blessed Sacrament School, Utica, NY; Our Lady of Fatima School, Piscataway, NJ; St. Cecilia School, Pennsauken, NJ; St. Anthony School, Winsted, Conn.; and St. Patrick's School, Catskill, NY. I also worked in medical records and pastoral care at St. Joseph's Hospital, Providence, RI; in pastoral care at St. Clare's Hospital in New York City; and as a missionary in Bolivia. My present ministry is at St. Francis Chapel in Providence. These have been wonderful, grace-filled years. I pray in thanksgiving and jubilation to God for the people whom I hold in my heard. Alleluia!

Sr. Anne Crowe, OSF
I spent 15 years teaching elementary school, then four years teaching high school French. For the next 10 years I ministered in Brazil. When I returned to the United States, I served as assistant director of formation. I then served in pastoral ministry with a Portuguese community, and taught English as a Second Language at a parish on Long Island (New York). For two years I worked in formation with the Franciscans of Immaculate Conception Province in Boston. For the next three years I served as director of religious education for a Portuguese American parish in central Massachusetts. Then I had the opportunity to attend a wonderful renewal program in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. I now reside at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany, working at the switchboard and driving the sisters.

Sr. Mary Lou Gossin, OSF
The places where I have served the longest are:
Teacher - St. Cecilia's School - Pennsauken, NJ
Teacher - Fr. Leo Memorial School, Croghan, NY
Teacher - St. Anthony's School, New York, NY
Teacher - St. Paul's School, Highland Park, NJ
Teacher - St. Mary's School, Cortland, NY
Region II Secretary - Assumption Convent, Wood-Ridge, NJ
Region II Secretary - Christ the King Convent, Haddonfield, NJ
Region I Secretary - St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY

Sr. Maureen Clare Hall, OSF
I entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany at the Motherhouse in Allegany, New York, on August 15, leaving my home in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, on August 12. It was quite an experience for me as I had never left my island-home before. My first ministry was to teach 42 kindergarteners at St. Bonaventure School in Allegany. I loved it. Getting used to the new culture, the seasons, and especially the Allegany winters was quite a challenge--but the good Lord saw me through it all. I remained in Allegany for five years before returning to Jamaica, as I attended St. Bonaventure University and obtained my first degree three years after my First Profession of vows. After I returned to Jamaica, I taught at the Immaculate Conception High School, my alma mater, for five years before becoming the first Jamaican principal of that school. I retired from that position after 28 years and since then have been ministering in a variety of ways. I continue to serve on the Archdiocesan and Antilles Episcopal Liturgical Commissions, and teach a course on Liturgy in the Archdiocesan Lay Leadership program. I also give talks and workshops in Liturgy at the parish level. I am the co-cordinator of the Franciscan Values Team for the congregation's 10 schools on the island. I served on the General Council (congregational leadership) for 8 years, from 1992 to 2000. I also give spiritual direction and retreats and days of recollection, especially for the high school students and teachers in our schools. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of religious life and thank God daily for giving me the wonderful privilege of serving God through others in the Franciscan way.

Sr. J. Marie Kelly, OSF

Sr. Elizabeth Moore, OSF

Sr. Marie Rosaire Orvis, OSF

Sr. Anne Rothmeier, OSF

Sr. Maria Helena Guimaraes Sepulveda, OSF

Sr. Marie Celeste Sullivan, OSF
In my 50 years in health care ministry, I have been stationed in just two places -St. Joseph's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island and St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Florida. I had a time out for full time study at St. Bonaventure University. My longest stay was in Tampa (28 years) at St. Joseph's. When friends ask me if that is unusual, I say, "Yes, it surely is!" Maybe I wasn't reassigned because I always had something very important in the works that I just couldn't walk away from. My love for hospital administration was ingrained in me from my early work experience at Boston Children's Hospital (1948-1952) and my introduction to the Allegany Franciscans was at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Boston. I thank God for good health and much happiness in serving Him.

Sr. Catherine Sushil, OSF
I attended St. Francis Xavier School in Ft. Myers, Fla. as a student. In 1952 I received the habit and began my novitiate year. I made first vows in 1954 and taught fourth grade at St. Cecilia School in Pensauken, NJ. For the next ten years I taught eighth grade and then served as principal for 3 years at Sacred Heart School in Homestead, Fla. In 1964 I made final vows. I taught seventh and eighth grade social studies and served as assistant principal of the junior high from 1969 to 1979 at St. Paul School in St. Petersburg, Fla. Then I taught fifth and sixth grade at Corpus Christi School in Miami. For the next 21 years I taught sixth through eighth grade social studies at St. Francis Xavier School in Ft. Myers; then served as administrative assistant for curriculum development at St. Francis Xavier. I am an avid Miami Dolphins fan, and made cameo appearances in St. Francis Xavier productions such as The Sound of Music and Annie.

Sr. Anne Henry Wusteney, OSF
I entered my religious life on October 4, 1952 instead of in September, because my father was visiting his parents in Germany for the first time since he came to America. My mother and twin sister, Kay, drove me to my first mission at St. Patrick Convent, Catskill, NY as a postulant. The next day, October 5, I was in the second grade classroom with Sr. Corona Evans, and I was the teacher the following day! I went to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY in June 1953 and was a novice for one year. I worked in the kitchen making coffee, tea and lunches. As a professed sister, I taught at St. Paul School, Highland Park, NJ (1954-63); Holy Cross School, Bronx, NY (1963-65); principal/teacher at St. Francis School, New Milford, CT (1965-71). In 1971 I was selected to be on our Corporate Renewal Team, and was also First Councilor. I was principal of St. Mary School, Cortland, NY (1974-82); teacher at St. John School, Olean, NY (1982-86); and principal at St. Anthony School, Winsted, CT (1986-88). In 1988, I entered a rehab facility for one year. That year in rehab has helped me learn to love who I am.

On October 18, 1989, I arrived at St. Mary of the Angels Convent, Haddonfield, NJ, and in the next two months had a carpel tunnel operation and hip replacement. After recuperation, I began working at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden, NJ, doing secretarial work, until retirement December 29, 2000. I retired at St. Mary of the Angels Convent, Haddonfield, NJ, until I moved to Massachusetts to be near my twin sister, who was sick. Today I live with Srs. Virginia May, Margaret Pacheco, and Mary Angela DiCara in Medford, MA. I try to visit my sister Kay about three days a week. I also volunteer to distribute Communion once a week to the sick at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Medford, MA. After writing my history, I find I've lived in fourteen different places in 51 years. Today I am very grateful to God, my community, my family and my friends.

Sr. Susan Osmola, OSF
Since becoming an Allegany Franciscan, I have ministered in the following places: St. Francis Hospital, Miami Beach, Fl (X2); St. Francis Hospital, Olean, NY; St. Mary's Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL; St. Joseph's Hospital, Tampa, FL. After a year's sabbatical, I felt the need to search out a new way to live out my ministry. Therefore, for the past two years, I have been engaged in full time, undergraduate study with a degree in Pastoral Counseling as my goal. The past 25 years have passed quickly, and I can truthfully say that each part of the journey, no matter how difficult at times, has been gift.