Sister Elaine Murphy, OSF, will celebrate her 50th anniversary as a Joliet Franciscan during a Mass June 19 at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet, Ill., at 10:30 a.m.
A native of Chicago, she earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Francis (now University of St. Francis) and then went on to earn a master’s degree in theology from the Aquinas Institute of Theology. She also holds a Clinical Pastoral Education Certificate from the Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, Ill.
In the Diocese of Davenport, Sr. Murphy was pastoral associate at St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt and Ss. Philip & James Parish in Grand Mound.
Outside the diocese she was a teacher in Chicago and did missionary work in Brazil. In 1978 she was named to the Congregation Governing Board and served as area coordinator until 1984 when she was elected President of the Congregation. From 1988-91, she served as the President of St. Francis Academy in Joliet. She also has served as director of admissions for Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home in Joliet.
Currently Sr. Murphy resides in Our Lady of Angels Village where she does community service and participates in a ministry of prayer for the needs of the Congregation, the Church and society.
