OSF - Young Adult Engagement

08/12/2026

Belated blessings for the Feast of St. Clare!
"May the Lord be always with you and may you be always with God!"

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Clare of Assisi—a woman of remarkable courage, deep faith, and unwavering trust in God.

Born into wealth and privilege, Clare chose a radically different path. Inspired by St. Francis, she embraced a life of prayer, simplicity, and joyful dependence on God, eventually founding the community we know today as the Poor Clares.

More than 800 years later, her witness still speaks to us. Clare reminds us that strength can be quiet, simplicity can be freeing, and a life centered in God can illuminate the way for others.

As Franciscans, we give thanks today for Clare's enduring example and ask her to inspire us to live with courage, love generously, and bring the light of Christ wherever it is needed.

Happy Feast of St. Clare! May her light continue to shine through all of us.

08/10/2026

Meet our "sister sisters"

08/06/2026

I am not a golfer but I always enjoy volunteering at our annual golf tournament. Everyone has a great time, while helping support our ministries and the care of our elder sisters at Assisi House.

Who doesn't love a great day on the golf course followed by a good party?

Join us for a day of golf, camaraderie, and friendly competition—all while supporting the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.

The course will be filled with opportunities to test your luck and your skills, including the Dice Roll, Mulligans (available for purchase), the Sister Putt Challenge, Longest Drive, and Closest to the Pin.

And the fun doesn't end after the 18th hole. Stay for great food, exciting raffles, a 50/50 drawing, and our popular Ring Toss for a chance to win bottles of your favorite spirits.

Whether you're registering as an individual golfer, a foursome, or a sponsor, everything you need is available through one convenient registration link.

Gather your team, invite your friends, and register today—we can't wait to see you on September 28!

Monday, September 28
Penn Oaks Golf Club
West Chester, Pennsylvania

Register online: osfphila.org/events/golf

06/29/2026

Blessings on our new leadership team!

With grateful hearts, we are pleased to introduce the newly elected Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, chosen this week during our 2026 Congregational Chapter.

Congregational Minister: Sister Clare D’Auria, OSF (Standing, center)

Council Members, Standing: Sister Pat Hutchison, OSF, and Sister Lydia Etter, OSF; Seated: Sister Linda Sariego, OSF, and Sister Janet Thiel, OSF.

We are deeply grateful to these sisters for their generous "yes" to serving our congregation in this important ministry of leadership. As they begin this new chapter, we ask you to keep them in your prayers, that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and strengthen them as they lead us into the future.

We look forward to sharing more about their stories and the gifts they bring to our congreation. Please join us in celebrating them and holding them in prayer as they begin this journey of leadership together. 🩷

06/29/2026

We celebrated the 40th Anniversary of our Franciscan Companions in Mission during our congregational chapter last week. Such a blessing to walk together as sisters and companions, following in the footprints of Jesus in the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare, and our foundress Mother Francis!

06/25/2026

It is good when sisters and companions gather together! We appreciate your prayers as we continue our congregational chapter🙏

06/16/2026

Wondering about God's call in your life? Let the wisdom of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi help you listen for the Holy Spirit's guidance. The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia invite you to our free, online Life Decisions/Discernment in the Franciscan Spirit retreat on Sunday, July 26, 2026. from 12-5:30 p.m. Eastern U.S. time. See the link for further details.

Are you considering big decisions in your life? Join us for our free, online retreat, Life Decisions/Discernment in the Franciscan Spirit. Inspired by the wisdom of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, this retreat guides participants through a Franciscan discernment process that can assist with thei...

06/16/2026

May songs of the angels mingle with our songs at Sr. Marie Catherine's funeral liturgies today, to welcome her home into eternity.

Please join us as we pray for Sr. Marie Catherine Spellman, OSF, 96, who died in Assisi House on June 7, 2026. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 70 years. Born Rita Helen in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of Irish immigrants, a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, and a graduate of the now-closed Holy Trinity High School in Roxbury. She entered the congregation in 1953 and professed first vows in 1956. She earned a B.S. in Education from Villanova University, and ministered both as an educator and in healthcare, dedicating roughly half of her years to each.

May she now enjoy the fullness of life in God’s eternal embrace.

Read her full obituary: https://osfphila.org/obituaries/sister-marie-catherine-spellman/

06/08/2026

Sr. Florence beautifully lived her Franciscan call, in the spirit of our foundress, Mother Francis Bachmann, who was also a wife, mother, widow and Franciscan sister. May Sr. Florence rejoice in eternity with all her relations!

Please join us as we pray for Sr. Florence Petsch, 94, who died in Assisi House on June 4, 2026. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 44 years.

Born in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, she graduated from Fremont County Vocational High School and attended Central Wyoming College. She was a Shoshone Tribal member from the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. After being married and raising a family, she was widowed at a young age. Following a period of discernment, she pursued her call to religious life, entering the congregation in 1979 at the age of 48 and professing her first vows in 1982. She ministered primarily in pastoral care.

May she now rest in the love she so generously shared with others.

Read her full obituary: https://osfphila.org/obituaries/sister-florence-petsch/

06/08/2026

Praying and witnessing for an end to gun violence in our local, national and global communities!