Aston, PA—Sister Maria Vicenta Rodriguez, OSF, (84) died in Assisi House on December 23. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 59 years. Sister Maria Vicenta was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, where she was a member of St. Anthony Parish and a graduate of Academia Monsenor Willinger High School in Barranquitas. She entered the congregation in 1951 and professed her first vows in 1954. She earned a B.S. in Education from the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, a B.S. in Secondary Education from Villanova, and an M.S. in Spanish from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Sister Maria Vicenta ministered both in education and parish ministry. Most of her years in ministry were spent in Puerto Rico.

Sister Maria Vicenta began and ended her years in ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She taught at Resurrection School in Chester (1954-1955) and at Neumann University in Aston (1970-1971). In 2003 she moved to Assisi House in Aston where she served in prayer ministry until her death.

Sister Maria Vicenta ministered in her native Puerto Rico for 42 years. She taught at Academia Monsenor Willinger in Barranquitas (1956-1968). From 1980-1984 she served as the diocesan coordinator of religion for the Diocese of Caguas. She served for many years in parish ministry at Parroquia San Antonio de Padua in Barranquitas (1971-1980, 1997-2000, 2001-2003). She was formation director for the Sisters of St. Francis at Santa Maria de Los Angeles in Barranquitas (1984-1990). From 1990-1991 she ministered at the Convento Madre Cabrini in Caparra and from 1992-1997 worked in parish ministry in Rio Piedras. She also ministered for a short time at St. John’s Parish in Antiqua, West Indies (1991-1992).

All services will be held in Our Lady of Angels Convent Chapel, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, Pennsylvania, 19014 on Friday, December 27. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 10:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Maria Vicenta is survived by her sisters, Maria Rodriguez and Carmen Rodriguez; three brothers, Carlo Rodriguez, Alfonso Rodriguez and Fernando Rodriguez; nieces and nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.