Sister Rosemarie Griffin | 75 Years
Sister Rosemarie joined the religious life after being raised in a large religious family of 12 children with parents who lived their faith and instilled it in each one of them. After her mother died in 1945 when Sister Rosemarie was just 12 years old, she was inspired to join the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth after her oldest sister resigned from her job as the admiral’s secretary of the Philadelphia Navy Yard to care for their three youngest children.
Sister Rosemarie attended Nazareth Academy High School, Holy Family University for teaching, Villanova University for her MA in education, and the University of Notre Dame for some scholarship credits. Though she is now retired, Sister Rosemarie ministered at Visitation Parish wherever she was needed. As a lively, joyful, and helpful soul, Sister Rosemarie enjoys sewing, reading, and aiding those requiring help.
Sister Celeste Hupert | 75 Years
Sister Celeste Hupert’s call to religious life stemmed from her mother’s prayers and continued to grow through the spiritual nudge she received from the Nazareth Sisters who taught her at St. Hyacinth Grade School and Mount Nazareth Academy. Sister Celeste received her BA at Duquesne University and her MA at Mercy College. She worked as a pastoral assistant at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Parish in Pittsburgh and at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal in Meadowlands, PA, and also taught at Holy Family School in Lawrenceville, PA, and St. Barbara School in Dearborn, MI, with an additional parish minister position at St. Christopher School in Detroit. Though Sister observed other communities, she was influenced by the Nazareth sisters for their kindness and joy they seemed to always have.
Sister Celeste enjoys composing poetry in her free time, playing the organ, reading, and volunteering where she is called. Growing up in a family of eight children who constantly served the sisters in and out of the classroom, Sister Celeste has learned the value of llistening to others and serving where she is needed.
Sister Helen Petela | 75 Years
What drew Sister Helen to her decision to join the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth was each sister’s spirit of joy and dedication to the students at Nazareth Academy. Sister Helen attended Nazareth Academy High School and Holy Family College and received an MA in English at Scranton University. She has been working in the CSFN Development Office for more than 30 years.
As a faithful, loyal, and helpful student, Sister Helen experienced the Lord’s calling when she was in seventh grade. Since the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth was the only community she knew, she chose to join their community. Sister Helen has a special interest in history and loves to play cards. The most important aspect of living within the charism of the CSFN community is doing the will of God.
Sister Eileen Therese Przybylowski | 75 Years
The year Sister Eileen Therese applied in 1950 to join the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth was the 75th Year Celebration of Founding by Mother Foundress. Every 25 years after, she celebrates in full synchronicity with the congregation.
In her 75 years of religious life, Sister Eileen Therese has served as a teacher to all grade levels for 25 years, led a group of Associates of the Holy Family in the Mid-Atlantic Area for 27 years, and retired as a chaplain after 30 years at Nazareth Hospital in Philadelphia. Previously, Sister Eileen received her BA in English at Holy Family University before getting her master’s in theology at Regina Mundi in Rome and at La Salle University in pastoral ministry.
What drew Sister Eileen to the CSFNs were the Sisters who taught her from kindergarten to university. Their living of the Charism along with her faith-filled family inspired her to respond to God’s call.
Sister Sylvia Kubiak (Anna Kubiak) | 50 Years
Sister Sylvia Kubiak’s 50 years as a religious started with her simple desire to serve God as a nun, and only grew after learning about the Nazareth sisters from friends she worked with.
Sister Sylvia went to nursing school in Warsaw, Poland, in 1982 before attending Vernon Junior College in Wichita Falls, TX for vocational nursing in 1992. She finished her education in 2003 at the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Her current ministry is at Christus Mother Frances Hospital serving as a registered nurse at the Outpatient Infusion Clinic since 2019, with previous experience at Bethania Hospital in Wichita Falls as a Licensed vocational nurse.
“As a nurse, I have the privilege to participate in the healing ministry of Jesus, so helping patients in their illness as well as their family during this difficult time was special.” Because family is such an important aspect of our charism, Sister Sylvia’s family and sisters from her local community have a special place in her heart.
Sister Julianna Tran | 50 Years
Sister Julianna was first called to the Lord when she was a little girl. Having inherited a legacy of faith from her parents, Sister Julianna wanted to dedicate her life to working with poor families. Sister Julianna attended high school in Vietnam and received her bachelor’s degree, a Master of Pastoral Ministry in Texas, and a Master of Education in Philadelphia. For the last 14 years, she has worked at Holy Family University as the director of the English Program for Vietnam.
Previously, Sister volunteered at the 8th Police District Advisory Council in Philadelphia for 12 years, served as a social worker for Catholic Charities in the Dallas Diocese and the Director of Religious Education, and also at the Vietnamese Martyrs Church, the Tribunal, the Ministry Formation Committee, and the Catechist Advisory Board for the Diocesan Office of Children’s Catechesis, all in the Fort Worth Diocese in Texas.
Sister Diane Marie Corrado | 50 Years
Reflecting on her 50 years in religious life, Sister Diane Marie Corrado said, “In imitation of the Holy Family, I have considered it an honor and privilege to help people of all ages and listen to them express their joys and sorrows and needs.” Sister Diane Marie went to Nativity B.V.M. for high school and graduated with a BA in Spanish and education at Holy Family University. She then received her MA in Spanish at Millersville University in Lancaster, PA, and her MA in sacraments and liturgy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. For 10 years, Sister has ministered at Visitation B.V.M. Parish in Norristown, PA, as a Director of Religious Education. Previously, she served 26 years as Principal of Visitation B.V.M. School as well.
Sister Diane Marie’s high school Spanish teacher, Sister M. Philomena, CSFN first influenced her decision to enter religious life, and was continuously drawn to CSFN through Sisters M. Immaculata and M. Frances Veitz at Holy Family University.
Sister Marie Kim Thanh Tran | 50 Years
Sister Marie Kim Thanh Tran first had the desire to become a religious sister at 17 years old. After the Holy Spirit led her to join the Sisters of the Holy Rosary in Saigon, South Vietnam, she remained from 1963-1973 until the congregation broke into small communities after bombings occurred in North Vietnam. Sister left Vietnam and lived with her family for five years in Port Arthur, TX, going to school and working at the Texas Health Department in TB Control.
On December 28, 1982, Sister Marie Kim joined the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth in New Jersey and made her perpetual vows in 1990. She attended community college in New Jersey and received an associate degree in child care. Sister also worked at Immaculate Conception School in Grand Prairie, teaching pre-K students for 19 years as well as volunteering in the library.
Sister Emmanuela Le | 25 Years
Sister Emmanuela Le entered the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in July 2000 and is now celebrating 25 years of religious life. After feeling deep in her heart a great desire to make God known and loved, she pursued ministering in the field of vocation formation and has never felt more connected to family life.
Sister Emmanuela has served as national vocation director where she could be with God’s people through teaching, youth ministry, discernment weekends, programs, and retreats. She is very grateful for the opportunity to share with young women her love for God and for her community, finding that she is growing with each encounter.
“My life continues to be seeded by God and nourished by prayer and loving support from the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Family is where life begins and love never ends.”
