Sister Jean Clare Rohe celebrates 104 years
ASTON » Sister Jean Clare Rohe, OSF turned 104 years old on Saturday, March 12, claiming the title of the oldest member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia congregation.
While snow and ice rained down on her Aston community that day, Sr. Jean was snug inside Assisi House, the Sisters’ retirement community in Aston, quietly celebrating her birthday with her fellow sisters. The oldest of nine children and daughter of Joseph and Genevieve Rohe, Sr. Jean describes herself as a “simple farm girl that made good.” She was born on a small farm in the White Marsh area of Baltimore County, Maryland. She entered the congregation at the age of 17 along with her cousin, the late Sr. Alice Catherine. Sister Jean has been a Sister of St. Francis for the past 84 years.
Many of Sr. Jean Clare’s years were spent teaching. Having a Master of Science degree, she especially enjoyed teaching biology, and she has many students who fondly remember her class as a rigorous one. Many also say she was their favorite teacher. Sr. Jean Clare ministered for 48 years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where she taught at Immaculate Conception School in Towson, SS. Philip and James School in Baltimore, the Catholic High School of Baltimore, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School in Middle River. After retiring from teaching, she worked in the rectory at St. Anthony of Padua Parish. During her 27 years in the Diocese of Wilmington, Sr. Jean taught at St. Paul School, Padua Academy, and St. John the Beloved School.
In 2014, Sr. Jean Clare moved to Assisi House, where she has served in prayer and hospitality ministry. In addition to daily prayer and her service projects, Sr. Jean enjoys playing cards and doing puzzles. When asked recently to reflect on her life as a Sister of St. Francis, she replied, “I have had an interesting and enjoyable life as a Franciscan. I’ve had a long life and have loved every minute of it.”
The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia is a community of approximately 335 Catholic women religious who choose a Gospel way of life lived in community and uphold a long and honored tradition of loving God and being in relationships through loving service. For more information, visit http://www. osfphila.org/.
Ridley Park UM Church Food Pantry issues call for volunteers
The Ridley Park United Methodist Church Food Pantry needs volunteers. It takes many people to unpack food orders, build bags of groceries and help people with their groceries to their cars.
Mondays, five strong people are needed to help unload donations and put them in the proper places. These deliveries start around 8:30 a.m. and must be completed by noon.
On Tuesdays, the panty receives multiple donations and opens to the public. Volunteers are needed, 8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m., to unload all the donations, put in proper places, create the bags of food, and help to carry groceries up the stairs to the person’s cars.
The food pantry is open every Tuesday from 11 am to 1 pm., as well as on the last Friday of the month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed again to help people carry food to their vehicles.
The food pantry was established in the late 1990s as a few shelves of food in the church’s library for those in need. In early 2000, it moved to a small room in the church’s lower level to continue to serve those in need of food. Once the COVID pandemic hit, the need for food skyrocketed. The food pantry has grown to take over five rooms on the lower level of the church, servicing approximately 60-75 families on a weekly basis.
Average family size is three, so that is 180-225 people that the pantry is feeding. In addition to food, the pantry supplies coats and hats in winter, school supplies at the beginning of the school year, as well as personal items, monthly.
To volunteer, contact the church at 610-5341081 or visit http://www. ridleyparkumc,org.
Spring carnival arrives at Broomall Fire Co. in April
The Broomall Fire Co. will sponsor the Majestic Midways Carnival, Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24, and again the following weekend, April 29 through May 1. The event will be held on the Broomall Fire Co. grounds located at Malin Road and West Chester Pike in Broomall.
The carnival will be held, 6-11 p.m. Fridays; 3-11 p.m. Saturdays; and 1-6 p.m. Sundays. In addition to the various rides, face painting and escape rooms will be on site, with both benefiting the fire company.
For more information, visit https://broomallfirecompany.com.
Marriage Enrichment Day comes to Delaware County Saturday
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Life and Family is planning a Marriage Enrichment Day to enrich and strengthen Catholic couples, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at Cardinal O’Hara High School, 1701 Sproul Road, Springfield.
People are invited to enjoy a day with their spouse or fiancé while listening to a lineup of dynamic speakers who will help strengthen the marriage bond. The event will include Mass with Bishop John McIntyre, as a continental breakfast, lunch and fellowship. Topics will include “Communication, Friendship and Placing Christ at the Center,” “Four Disciplines of a Catholic Family, “Praying as a Couple, “Forgiving and Blessing Your Spouse,” and “Communicating in Love.”
For more information, visit http://phi.marriagesofgrace.org/events.
Chanticleer opens Wednesday for season
Chanticleer’s gardeners and staff are preparing for Wednesday, March 30, at 10 a.m., when the garden opens to the public for its 29th season. Chanticleer, 786 Church Road, Wayne, is a 35acre pleasure garden featuring contemporary designs within an historic setting.
Visitors are invited to stroll the gardens Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. — 5 p.m., through October 30. The garden opens early at 8 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month from April through October and the garden remains open until 8 p.m. on Fridays, May through Labor Day. House & Garden tours for individual guests are offered every Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. Garden Highlights tours are offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. The cost for each of these tours is $5 plus general admission ($12) and run from April through October. Space is limited. Tours can be arranged at https://chanticleergarden.org/group_ info.html.
Chanticleer and the Radnor Conservancy will offer spring classes taught by Chanticleer staff, using the garden as the classroom. Classes will range in topic including Vegetable Gardening (April 20), Spring Flowering Plants (May 4), and Lawn Alternatives (May 25). To learn more about these classes and to register, visit http://www.chanticleergarden.org/classes.html.
Food Truck Friday benefits South Media Fire Co.
Food Truck Friday will return to South Media Fire Co., 535 Washington Ave., Nether Providence, 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 1. The event will continue the 100th anniversary celebration of the all-volunteer fire company.
At Food Truck Friday, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase chances to win the 100th Anniversary Raffle Basket, worth over $3,400 in cash, gift certificates, and merchandise. Raffle tickets will cost $10 or 3 for $25 and a table for ticket sales will be at the Food Truck event. Food truck vendors will include Farmstead, Menagerie Foods, and Owls Water Ice and Treats.
For more information, call 610-566-6151 or visit http://www.southmediafire.com.