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Testimonials
TESTIMONIALS FROM FRIENDS AND DONORS
At the heart of our mission to serve the poor and underserved wherever they may be are the thousands of friends and donors like you, who share in our love for all God's people and desire to want to make a difference. We are forever grateful for your willingness to walk with us in our journey of faithful service.
Have the Sisters of St. Francis Touched or Inspired Your Life? Let us know how! Send your stories, words of gratitude and pictures to ggriffin@sosf.org
“To all of us who grew up at Mount Loretto, the sisters are and always will be unsung heroes. Our continued affiliation with them through the Mount Loretto Alumni Association, is something we are extremely proud of and hope to extend as long as the sisters will allow us. They are a joy to be with and we look forward to being with them every year to thank them for their gift to us.”
AL RICHICHI, MOUNT LORETTO ORPHANAGE ALUMNI
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“When the sisters personally touch your life and your children, it truly enhances your desire to want to give back – especially knowing these sisters ministered unselfishly to others for so many years. They deserve our support.”
JERRY MAZURKIEWICZ, MISSION ADVANCEMENT BOARD CHARIMAN AND CONGREGATION FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER, WESTERN NEW YORK REGION.
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“When a friend of mine was convincing me to join a committee for the Sisters of St. Francis he said, ‘Tim, when you walk through the doors at St. Mary’s of the Angels convent for the first time you will feel the magic.’ Since the day I walked through those doors eight years ago, I can say that the “magic” my friend alluded to extends far beyond St. Mary’s. My community and every community where the sisters reside are truly blessed by their presence. I am blessed to have the sisters in my life.”
TIM KANE, MISSION ADVANCEMENT BOARD AND CONGREGATIONAL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER, WESTERN NEW YORK REGION
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“What can I say? The Sisters of St. Francis have set the standard for Catholic care and compassion in Central New York for as long as I can remember! Personally, the sisters have always been there for me and my family. Three of my five children were born at St Joseph's Hospital. The staff's compassion and attention to every detail was a direct reflection of the high, Catholic standards set by the sisters.“All of our children went through Catholic grammar school where they benefited greatly from an environment filled with love and commitment to bettering each and every child. The principal, Sister E.J. Timson, led by example. Her calm and compassionate caring and dedication was manifested throughout the institution, from the janitors to the teachers. We could not have asked for a better experience for our children.
PATRICK MANNION, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL PARENT AND MISSION ADVANCEMENT BOARD CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION
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“The time spent with Sister Ruth has brought us such joy, happiness and a great sense of love. We feel very blessed for her prayers for our family and her warm and caring ways.”
LAURA GUTT ABOUT SISTER RUTH WANGLER, ADOPT A SISTER PRAYER PARTNER
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“Although Franciscan Associates live separate lives from the sisters, together we walk a path working for the good of the kingdom.”
DEBORAH NAILOS, FRANCISCAN ASSOCIATE
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“At ten years old, I entered The Convent School in Syracuse N.Y. and had the unique experience of being taught by the Sisters of St. Francis through high school graduation. Their ability to encourage my sense of humor, confidence and independent thinking by their own example has enriched my life. So good was the experience that I continued my education at a Franciscan university. The Sisters of St. Francis taught me to embrace and celebrate our differences as gifts to each other, to find joy in our diversity and faiths.”
CONNIE WHITTON, CONVENT SCHOOL ALUMNA AND MISSION ADVANCEMENT BOARD MEMBER, CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION
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"You may not know it, but over these few months your impact on me, and the program's impact on me, has really shone through. I will always be a Change a Heart volunteer, it is something that I will carry with me forever; and the impact of your life on mine is something that will always be apparent on the ever-changing surface of my soul. Thank you for all that you have done for me Sister Donna. You have helped me in ways perhaps you may never fully know."
ANTHONY SLOAN, FORMER CHANGE A HEART PARTICIPANT IN AN EMAIL TO SISTER DONNA STEPHENSON
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"I am so impressed at how involved the sisters are in social justice and service ministries. I see the true passion and love they have for God, their community and others."
AMY ADAMS, FORMER CHANGE A HEART PARTICIPANT
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“Although it has been 40 plus years since having Sister Fabian as a teacher she has been someone who has had a positive influence on my life and I think of often. Although at that stage of my life I was not the best student but she always took the extra time to work with her students.
JOHN P. MARY, ST. GEORGE ELEMENTARY AND HILL TOP CATHOLIC SCHOOL ALUMNI
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“I have worked with the Sisters of St Francis at St Joseph’s Hospital Health Center since 1974. In over 36 years of affiliation with the sisters I have witnessed the spirit of St Francis in many ways. Starting with Sister Patricia Ann, who was the chief executive officer of St Joseph’s, and clearly lived the St Francis quote “preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words” - through my career of collaboration with all of the employed sisters, general ministers and members of the leadership teams. All clearly contributed to the community spirit at St Joseph’s. Although the number of sisters at the hospital has declined over the years, the spirit of St. Francis is alive and well as we are reminded through the hospital’s mission statement ‘We are passionate healers dedicated to honoring the sacred in our sisters and brothers’…. It has truly been a privilege and honor to have been part of this great community for my entire professional career.”
TED PASINSKI, FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, SYRACUSE, N.Y.
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“When I reflect back on the defining moments my life, I am always drawn to the fond memories of my early school years with the Sisters of St. Francis. From St. Eugene’s School in Yonkers, N.Y. to St. Clare Academy in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., the influence of the sisters imprinted my personal values that guide me to this day: always appreciate and use to the fullest the ‘gifts ‘God gave us; strive for excellence in all you do and do it with great passion; and it is only in the giving and doing for others that we truly fulfill ourselves. I am most thankful for having known Sisters Virginia Cassidy, Mary Paul Reynolds, Bernadette and Patricia McCaffrey - all strong role models for impressionable young girls in turbulent times.
Little did I realize at the time that the volunteer work I did at St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains for community outreach work during high school, would be the most defining experience of my professional life. Having the opportunity to be a small part the ‘mission in action’ of the SOSF as they cared for multiply disabled children in their residential program at St. Agnes, was life changing for me. The compassionate care and love they showed these vulnerable little ones stayed with me through the next four years of college and drew me back there after school where I remained for the 35 years and now have the honor of being the executive director of this wonderful program that grew out of the original mission of the sisters in 1908.”
MAUREEN TOMKIEL, ST. EUGENE'S SCHOOL AND ST. CLARE ACADEMY ALUMNA
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