For 40 years, Sr. Mary Beth Antonelli has been a healing, compassionate presence in various settings. Working as a nurse in hospital and school settings and later as a hospital chaplain, Sr. Mary Beth brings the fruits of her healing ministry to her work as wellness coordinator for the sisters living on mission. In this vital ministry, Mary Beth can combine her experience as a nurse and pastoral minister, assisting the sisters with their healthcare needs and overall health and well-being.

Sr. Mary Beth Antonelli with her nephew, Gerry and family.

The youngest of five children, Mary Beth, grew up in the Briarcliffe neighborhood of Glenolden in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. She credits her parents, Anthony and Elena, with leading her to her vocation. She said, “I grew up in a loving Italian family where food, family, and faith were celebrated.” She remains close to her siblings— Anthony, Julie, Elena, and Margie— and her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She is incredibly proud of her godson and nephew, Gerry, a Holy Cross priest who works at the University of Notre Dame.

Mary Beth’s vocation was nurtured by the religious women she met as a child and young adult. Taught in elementary school by the IHM sisters at St. Joseph in Collingdale, Mary Beth attended Archbishop Prendergast for her high school years. She got to know the Sisters of Mercy as a student at Gwynedd Mercy College, where she received her BSN. Mary Beth went on to work with the Sisters of Mercy as a nurse at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital.

While working as a young nurse, Mary Beth had what she described as an “aha moment.” While helping a patient wash up, she knelt on the floor to wash the patient’s feet with a basin and a towel. The patient was so grateful for this simple act, which Mary Beth had performed hundreds of times before. She described the encounter, saying, “As this patient looked into my eyes and thanked me profusely, I was struck with a sense of meaning, purpose, and direction. I will be forever grateful for that moment and that person; and for the many moments after that continue to invite me to a question posed over 800 years ago by St. Francis: ‘Who are you, O God, and who am I?’”

Sr. Mary Beth poses with her good friend Mary Craig during her final vow liturgy.

Mary Beth first connected with the Sisters of St. Francis through her friend Mary Craig and her spiritual director, Sr. Clare D’Auria. Mary Beth would often visit when Mary Craig was living with the sisters at All Saints in Bridesburg during her candidacy. Remembering this time, she shared, “The sisters had a deep sense of welcoming and hospitality. They also laughed a lot and knew how to celebrate and have fun together.” Her connection with the congregation grew when she became a companion. She even had the opportunity to serve as a companion in ministry in the Dominican Republic with Srs. Pat Hinton and Theresa Elitz. Mary Beth credits her experiences as a companion with playing a vital role in her vocation, especially her experiences in the Dominican Republic. She said, “Being with the people there was instrumental in my vocation. Their sense of gratitude and deep faith touched my heart.”

Mary Beth with students in the Dominican Republic, a mission that played a vital role in her vocation.

After making her first vows, Sr. Mary Beth ministered as a nurse coordinator at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, as a nurse at Ken-Crest Medical Center in Philadelphia. and as a school nurse at Overbrook School for the Blind. She also was in vocations ministry for several years before returning to school to earn her Master’s in Pastoral Counseling from Neumann University.

Following her study at Neumann, Sr. Mary Beth returned to St. Francis Hospital as a chaplain before coming to work for the congregation in 2018 as the director of pastoral services. In 2023, pastoral services became wellness services, and Mary Beth became the wellness coordinator for the sisters living on mission. In this new role, Sr. Mary Beth focuses on the needs of the sisters not living at Our Lady of Angels or Assisi House. Whether accompanying a sister to a healthcare appointment, an emergency room visit, or staying overnight to support a sister recovering from outpatient surgery, Mary Beth brings her healing presence to sisters in need. When asked about the blessings of her ministry, she said, “I am blessed to know our sisters on a more personal level. Accompanying them as they navigate aging and encouraging them to seek a healthy and balanced life—nurturing body, mind, and spirit.” Sr. Mary Beth shared, “There is a quote from Gabriel Marcel that sums up my philosophy of ministry. He states, ‘A patient (sister) is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery in whose presence we are invited to dwell.’ I believe each person with whom I minister is created in God’s image. There is a reason that our paths have crossed; in some way, they have blessed my life and helped enlarge my capacity to love.”

Sr. Mary Beth and her parents process in during her final vow liturgy.

In her work in wellness services, Sr. Mary Beth is part of what she describes as a “great team,” including Julie Stewart and Srs. Jane LaManna, Theresa Yanda, and Moira Frawley. Mary Beth states, “We are very collaborative and help one another in the day-to-day work. We also laugh a lot!” Julie Stewart shared, “Mary Beth is a joy to work with because she goes ‘to infinity, and beyond’ in her love and care for the team and for the sisters. There is no job too big or too small for her. She is an amazing teammate to have; always willing to step up and help where needed.”

When not busy working, Sr. Mary Beth enjoys spending time with her family. She also loves sports—especially the Phillies and the Eagles. Reflecting on her life and ministry, Sr. Mary Beth said, “There have been numerous ‘aha moments’ in my life since that day 40 years ago washing that patient’s feet, but that moment strikes me as pivotal in my life’s calling because it flows from that place deep within where God has put a name and a face on my deepest purpose and meaning.

For me, it is as a nurse and pastoral presence over the past 40 years and, for the past 25 years, as a Sister of St. Francis. As I celebrate my silver jubilee this year, I am grateful for the many years and the sisters who have blessed my life.”

Colleen Collins