Sr. Frances Patrice Kirk
Class of 1946

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Elizabeth (aka Betty) Kirk was born in 1932 to Francis and Elizabeth Kirk, Irish Immigrants from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.  They arrived in the United States in the early 1920’s and settled on the 6700 block of Glenloch Street in the Tacony section of Philadelphia.  Elizabeth was the oldest of five children.  Betty, as her friends now call her, graduated from St. Leo’s in 1946.  It was during her time at St. Leo’s that Betty was first influenced by the Sisters of St. Joseph.  Sister Alma Immaculate, Sister Consolata and Mother Victorine left a lasting impression on young Elizabeth.

Betty entered St. Hubert’s High School for Girls and graduated in 1950.  After graduation, she spent one year working at Smith, Kline and French in center city before getting a call for her vocation.  Elizabeth Kirk left for Chestnut Hill in 1951 and began her life with the Sisters of St. Joseph, taking the name of Sister Frances Patrice. Young Sr. Frances first mission was at St. Hugh’s parish in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Sister Frances went on to earn a B.S. from Chestnut  Hill  College and a M.A. from Glassboro  College. (Now Rowan  University)

After teaching at various schools, Sister Frances became principal at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Moorestown, NJ from 1970 to 1976.  She then returned to St. Leo’s to teach in 1976 and at just the right time.  St. Leo’s Parish was going to celebrate the Centenary of it’s founding in 1984.  Sister Frances played a big part in the success of the celebration as Co-Chairman of the Centennial Committee.  To quote Father Daniel J. Hoy, pastor, “Her enthusiasm and dedicated labor will long be remembered”. Sr. Frances spent 8 years teaching at her beloved St. Leo’s.

During the same time period, Sister Frances also became affiliated with the organization Project Children. Their mission was to sponsor children from Northern Ireland for summer vacations in the United States. The children were mainly from Belfast and Derry and had been exposed to war first hand. Through Sr. Frances dedication several hundred children received a welcome respite from the “Troubles”.  As a result of her efforts, Sister Frances was elected Grand Marshal of the 1990 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Philadelphia, becoming the first female in the history of the parade to be elected as Grand Marshal.

Sister Frances is now retired and living in residence at St. Joseph’s Villa, Flourtown, PA.  Sr. Frances is celebrating her 59^th Anniversary as a Sister of St. Joseph.

                                                            Biography by Michael H. Sullivan ‘65