My name is Sr. Mary Rita Kuhn and I am a Sister of Saint Joseph and vicar for religious for the Diocese of Erie. As vicar for religious, I represent the bishop and carry out the responsibilities he sees as related to those who are members of religious communities within the diocese.

As the vicar for religious and representative of women religious for the diocese, I serve on the administrative cabinet of the diocese and meet with a variety of committees serving the needs of the people of God throughout the 13 counties of northwest Pennsylvania. In addition, I provide services and programs on behalf of our bishop to women religious in the diocese. Examples include:

• Enrichment programs for members of religious communities
• Liturgical celebrations
• Visitation of communities and sisters
• Compensation related to communities
• Keeping brief biographical data about communities and individual sisters
• Meeting with superiors of communities on a regular basis
• Providing vocational awareness materials for conferences, schools and individuals
• Meeting with individual sisters or persons interested in information about religious life
• Attending meetings of the National Conference of Vicars for Religious
• Providing a clearinghouse for ministry positions and for those seeking positions
  

Who are Women Religious?
Women religious are single laywomen consecrated to God in faith through public profession of vows.
They are women of hope who choose to live the call of creation and baptism in a lifestyle centered
around prayer, community and ministry. If you find yourself searching for meaning in life that gives
witness to the Gospel values of Jesus, this way of life could be one of your considerations—and may
be a great challenge! I’d like to hear from you!

Sister Mary Rita

 

For further information:
Sister Mary Rita Kuhn, SSJ
Vicar for the Religious
429 East Grandview Blvd.
P.O. Box 10397
Erie, PA 16514-0397
Phone: 814.824.1125 • Fax: 814.824.1124
E-mail: mkuhn@eriercd.org