of Jesus
(Francine Delaney)
July 15, 1943 – June 24, 2002
Immaculate Conception Province
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“A life of fidelity to our Lord and God, a life of union with him on earth, a life of suffering and sacrifice accepted for him, will by his divine power become a new life. It will be a glorious and transformed one. Then the soul reunited with the body will experience eternal bliss. She will have everlasting delight in the possession of him, to whom she consecrated herself – her Beloved. For his sake, she renounced everything, including herself, to devote the brief period of her earthly pilgrimage to his glory.” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Journey with Her)
Thy will be done! More than the motto inscribed on the coat of arms of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, these words breathe the life of fidelity, patient endurance, self-sacrifice, joyful acceptance and complete surrender to the One who calls us by name and teaches us the true path of life and eternity. In the footsteps of her spiritual mother, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Sister Michaelann faithfully followed the covenant of love made with her God in humbly living a life so very worthy of her call.
In a note written in late April to the sisters of her local community, Sister Michaelann reflected, “I am so deeply honored to be a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth.” In more ways than can be numbered, Nazareth was truly written on Sister Michaelann’s heart. Deeply in love with her God in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit, she enfleshed in her bearing, in her word and in her actions the legacy of her beloved mother in religion, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd.
As the sky gradually darkened and the summer rains fell to the waiting earth, and with family and her sisters quietly keeping vigil, Sister Michaelann gently closed her eyes for the last time on Monday, June 24, 2002, the feast of St. John the Baptizer. She had learned and lived in a spirit of grace and deep fidelity the extraordinary and mysterious meaning of our Mother Foundress’ constant and sometimes urgent plea to attend to the will of God in response to God’s everlasting love.
And so it was in love that baby Francine was born to John Delaney and Frances McBride on July 15, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the oldest child and only daughter of four children born to the Delaney household through the years. Her always proud and loving parents brought Francine to the transforming waters of the baptismal font at St. Rose of Lima Church where she was clothed in the white garment of Christ and welcomed into the embrace of God’s saving mystery on August 8, 1943.
In her early formative years, young Francine attended St. Timothy School in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia. Her Catholic education continued as her parents then enrolled her in St. Hubert’s High School for Girls. It was there at her alma mater that Francine had already begun to sense deep within her heart a longing to serve God and others in religious life. Among the many religious communities ministering in the archdiocesan high school, Francine was soon singularly attracted to the simplicity and family spirit of the Nazareth sisters she met. Upon graduation in 1961, Francine heeded the sage advice of her father and sought out employment in the work world for one year before entering the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in the Immaculate Conception Province, Philadelphia, on September 8, 1962.
As she crossed the Nazareth threshold, Francine looked to the future with anticipation and urgent longing. With eyes fixed on Jesus, she became a novice on August 10, 1963, and gratefully accepted the name of Sister Michaelann. She pronounced the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience for the first time on August 12, 1965, and perpetually sealed her covenant with God by the profession of final vows on August 11, 1970. From that time, she would be known as Sister Michaelann of Jesus. Her ever-deepening and personal prayer life centered in Jesus, her chosen mystery, was clearly evidenced in her deep love of ministry to God’s people. To spread the kingdom of God’s love in imitation of Blessed Frances Siedliska was the vision that motivated and sustained her, at all times and in all places.
Soon offered the opportunity for continuing studies, Sister Michaelann graduated with a Bachelor of Art degree in elementary education from Holy Family College, Philadelphia, in 1974. In 1980, Sister earned a Master of Art degree from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Pennsylvania. Post-graduate studies at Fordham University in New York and at Marywood College, Scranton, Pennsylvania served as enrichment opportunities, adding to the expanse of Sister Michaelann’s already diversified professional experiences that included ministry in education at the elementary, secondary and college levels.
A born teacher like only a chosen few, Sister Michaelann, by her presence and example, offered her students the gifts of a broad knowledge, informed conscience and a never to be mistaken, truly loving heart. Sister ministered in such places as St. Katherine of Siena, St. John Cantius, St. Peter Claver, Nazareth Academy Grade School and Our Lady of Calvary in Philadelphia, as well as Visitation, BVM, Trooper, Pennsylvania. In 1981, Sister Michaelann accepted an assignment to Nazareth Academy High School where she served as teacher and dean of students. To her students, though, Sister was much more than that: she could always be counted on as mentor and confidante in time of need, a model and guide for the growing up years. Sister Michaleann lectured in the religious studies department at Holy Family College, for a time, as well.
Sister Michaelann’s profound love for the art of teaching reached well beyond the traditional classroom setting, as, over time, she became increasingly well-known for her talks in sacramental and family programs throughout her beloved Church of Philadelphia and neighboring dioceses.
In 1989, Sister Michaelann was called upon to assume a leadership role as secretary and councilor in the newly elected provincial administration of the Immaculate Conception Province. There was no doubt that Sister brought genuine care and concern for her sisters to the needed administrative skills she already possessed and so freely and generously shared.
Her leadership abilities and innate skills did not go unnoticed. In 1995, the sisters in the Immaculate Conception Province elected Sister Michaelann as provincial superior. Hard-working and wholly dedicated to the task at hand as well as to the many decisions to be made in the name of the province, in Sister Michaelann’s mind and heart, the sisters always came first. After all, she loved them. It was as simple as that. And it was here that Sister Michaelann showed herself the truest of leaders. Heart to heart is a phrase that aptly describes the place where Sister Michaelann met each of her sisters, and for that matter, all whom she met. For her, every encounter offered a graced moment to the glory of God whether in personal conversation or in conducting province business.
As board member and subsequently as chair of the Boards of Trustees of Holy Family College, Nazareth Academy High School and St. Mary’s Villa for Children, Sister Michaelann articulated the Nazareth charism and mission with deep reverence and unwavering loyalty. As board member at Nazareth Hospital, Sister Michaelann played a pivotal role in the hospital’s sponsorship transfer. As provincial and chair of the board at St. Mary’s Villa for Children, Sister Michaelann was instrumental in the inter-provincial collaborative effort with Holy Family Institute, St. Joseph Province, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on behalf of St. Mary’s Villa for Children here in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Sister served on the boards at St. Agnes Hospital, Philadelphia and St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware. In 1998, Sister Michaelann was elected as chair of the Core Group of Major Superiors in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. At Holy Family College, Sister was the recipient of awards highlighting her accomplishments in professional advancement and community service as well as contributions to the development of the College itself.
Sister Michaelann was no stranger to the Congregation’s General Chapter proceedings: She proudly represented her home province in the chapters of 1980, 1992, 1997, and 2001, respectively. On June 29, 2001, one year ago today, the Twenty-first General Chapter opened in Rome. In a spirit of deep discernment and with hearts centered in the Holy Spirit, the chapter delegates elected Sister Michaelann as superior general of the Congregation on July 20, 2001. Open and available to God’s will, Sister Michaelann humbly accepted the will of the chapter. Not too many months later, however, in an extremely painful decision, Sister Michaelann regretfully resigned her position for health reasons and, as she stated in a letter to the community, for, what she knew in her heart to be, the good of the Congregation.
It was soon after that Sister Michaelann was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare disorder affecting her bone marrow. The only cure: a bone marrow transplant. Finally, in early May, after battling unexpected complications, Sister Michaelann courageously underwent the transplant. The complications increased with time; the setbacks became more frequent. Hers had become a life of intense suffering. In what can only be described as a spirit of self-donation, she persevered, offering all for the needs of the Congregation, time and again. No word of complaint to God or another could ever be heard. In an earlier note she had written to the sisters in her local community she shared: “I have told my healthcare agents, encourage me to fight and if things go wrong, love me enough to let me go. It is fully in God’s hands now.”
Dear Sister Michaelann, faithful daughter of Nazareth, rest now fully and completely in God’s, loving hands. Your earthly pilgrimage is ended. Yours was a life of fidelity, a life of union with God, a life of suffering, a life of sacrifice wholly embraced for the love of God. Yours is a NEW life now, glorious and transformed. May you forever know our deep gratitude for the gift of your loving presence and selfless service among us. In the company of Mother Foundress and our holy Martyred Sisters graciously intercede for us for the sake of the Kingdom. May God’s holy will be done!
Digitized by S. Brendan O'Brien, CSFN
Instructor
School of Arts & Sciences
History Department
Holy Family University
9801 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19114
215-637-7700 x3279
srbrendan@holyfamily.edu
http://web3.holyfamily.edu/srbrendan
Last updated: October 2006