37 years of serving the dear neighbor: A Thanksgiving tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph
By Allison Mosier12/04/2025
For 37 years, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania have embraced Thanksgiving as a day of service, an opportunity to nourish both body and spirit for neighbors in need. What began with nearly 140 meals in its first year has grown into one of the most beloved and far-reaching ministries in the Erie Diocese, a living testament to the Sisters’ 375-year global legacy and their 165 years of responding to the needs of the dear neighbor here in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
This year, more than 1,754 Thanksgiving dinners were lovingly prepared and delivered to individuals and families throughout the Erie region. Coordinated by the SSJ Mission & Ministries Foundation, the meal delivery has become the Foundation’s largest annual project—one made possible through the generosity of faithful donors, including individuals and families from across the country, Sisters, Agrégées, Associates, local businesses and long-standing community partners.
Car after car pulled into formation—30 vehicles and approximately 75 volunteers—ready to fan out across the region with a warm meal and an even warmer message: You are not forgotten. Volunteers came from every corner of the Sisters’ extended community: Catholic elementary schools, Mother Teresa Academy, SSJ Associates and Agrégées, Foundation Trustees, Sisters, SSJ staff, Gannon University, Metz Culinary Management, AHN/St. Vincent, Wegmans, King Communications the Erie Parking Authority, and many others who believe deeply in the Sisters’ mission. Their shared effort represents the heart of the congregation’s charism: service that unites, lifts and heals.
Over the years, the ministry has expanded far beyond its humble beginnings. In 2009, a new partnership with Gannon University provided the space needed for its growing scale. Home deliveries were added to ensure that those who are homebound could still share in the celebration. Today, thanks to this collaborative spirit, it is estimated that more than 33,000 meals have been served since the ministry began.
Yet the Thanksgiving meal delivery is about more than numbers—it is about presence. It is about meeting the dear neighbor where they are, offering dignity through hospitality and allowing gratitude to ripple outward into the community.
In this milestone year, as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania celebrate 165 years of service, the Thanksgiving dinner stands as a shining example of their enduring commitment to love, unity and neighborly care in the Diocese of Erie—one meal, one visit one act of hope at a time.
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