Aston, PA—Sister Bridget McNamara, OSF (formerly Sister Daniel Helene), 77, died in Assisi House on Friday, August 19, 2022. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 57 years. Sister Bridget was born in County Clare, Ireland. Prior to her entrance to the congregation in 1963, she was a member of St. Patrick’s in O’Callaghan’s Mills, Loughborough.  Sister Bridget professed her first vows in 1965. She earned a B.S. in social services from Marylhurst University and a Ph.D. in spirituality from Gonzaga University.  She ministered primarily in education and spiritual ministry.

Sister Bridget ministered for 16 years in the Diocese of Allentown at St. Joseph Hospital, Reading. There she served as vice president of mission and ministry and as director of volunteers.  Later she remained in the diocese and served as an itinerant spiritual director. She also spent four years in the Harrisburg diocese in spiritual ministry at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Wernersville and in advocacy services at the Department of Public Welfare.

During her 23 years serving on the West Coast, Sister Bridget ministered for seven years in Spokane, where she taught at St. Charles School and served in spiritual direction and as director of the Christus Program at Gonzaga University.  She taught for six years in the Baker diocese at Sacred Heart Academy in Klamath Falls and six years in the Portland diocese at LaSalle High School in Milwaukie.  Sister Bridget also taught for one year at St. John School, Wasco, in the Fresno diocese; two years at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in San Diego; and one year at St. Edwards School, Corona, in the Diocese of San Bernardino.

In 2022, she moved to Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania, where she served in prayer and hospitality and provided occasional spiritual direction until her death.

All services will be held in Assisi House on Thursday, August 25.  Services will be livestreamed. Viewing at 9:30 A.M. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M.  Burial will be at 12 P.M. (noon) in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery. Sister Bridget is survived by her sister, Mary Ann McInerney; her nieces and nephews; and her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.

For a more personal write-up on Sister Bridget, click here.

The livestream will begin at 9:30 A.M. Click here to access the livestream: https://livestream.com/accounts/18363082/srBridgetMcNamara.