I met Sr. Anne in the 1960s when a young priest at Villanova involved in peace activities. Then, in 1969 a group of us met with Tom Cornell, N.Y. Catholic Worker, and launched the Philadelphia CPF. Sr. Anne was there at the beginning …
There are so many wonderful stories/memories of Sr. Annie’s peace activities through the years. I remember in 1980 when Archbishop Romero wrote to President Carter asking him not to send the military aid to El Salvador which funded the ‘unscrupulous military officers’ in their oppression and killing of peasants, priests, nuns, anyone interfering with the rule of the rich and powerful. In support of the Archbishop’s request a small delegation from Philadelphia CPF joined other peace activists and knelt in a circle in the Capitol Rotunda and prayed that Congress would respond to Bishop Romero’s plea. We were arrested. Annie was handcuffed with her arms behind her back and we were hauled off to a DC Jail for a long, cold night in a crowded cell. We were released the next afternoon. This event did not deter Sr. Annie, who was imbued with Dorothy Day’s spirit, in her passionate pursuit of justice.
In her earlier years at the Southwest Community Enrichment Center Sr. Anne, Fr. Ed Dillon and a few others created a program for community members incarcerated at Graterford State Prison. They named the program HEAL, Healing Everyone at All Levels. No modest undertaking!
Sr. Annie had a great laugh and enjoyed life. I have fond memories of Sunday afternoons with Fr. Ed and Sr. Anne at her small apartment watching the Eagles … a bond of friendship.
The Trinitarian Sisters supported Sr. Anne until her last breath. A few of us were blessed to be with them as Annie passed on to the Lord. Amen Joe Bradley
When I was a teenager living in Brooklyn, I was a member of a lay apostolate group. Through that connection I met Sr. Anne at the Dr. White Memorial Center in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The first time I met Sr. Anne I was awestruck. She was a beautiful young Sister, so warm and friendly with an easy smile and a wonderful sense of humor. I used to visit her weekly to help out at the center. She was my inspiration then and continued to be during her lifetime.
Years later when we both were members of CPF, we used to go weekly, early in the morning, to the army induction center at 401 N. Broad. It was during the Vietnam War and we would distribute literature to the inductees about alternate service, such as 'CO' status. We were usually very cold when we finished and would go across the street to a White Tower for coffee before going to work.
Sr. Anne's dedication to the poor was boundless. I will not soon forget her. Fran McGinty
Sr. Anne co-founder SCEC
Before moving to her apartment on Spring Garden Street, Sr. Anne was director of the Southwest Community Enrichment Center (SCEC) near 46th & Woodland. In one of three row houses a seniors club met weekly; nourishing meals were served for those in need and volunteers delivered meals for the homebound. Another house provided space for Sr. Anne to offer classes to help parents dealing with toddlers and their needs. In a third house she encouraged and supported an art center which flourished under the capable direction of Sr. Helen David Brancato.
When Sr. Anne was in charge of the SCEC she arranged for vans to take family members to visit fathers, brothers, uncles who were incarcerated in Graterford prison. She went along, too. Later she wrote to women lifers in Muncy prison including Sheena King who sent Sr. Anne a book of her own published poems. It was a good experience being an SCEC volunteer and we all enjoyed the occasional parties at Sr. Anne’s house that gave everyone the chance to unwind, relax and have fun.
Phyllis Grady
When I started working at the SCEC, I didn’t have a clue what was expected of me or the journey on which Woody and I would find ourselves - playing with the children, Santa with the seniors, or helping to solve financial, housing or health problems. Sr. Anne welcomed and trusted me. When I needed her advice, she seemed to have the answer.
Sr. Anne had a passion for serving the community. She loved the children. She felt it important for staff and community to share meals; lunch with the Bible Class, a home-cooked meal with the seniors, a hearty lunch with the men, or a chaotic meal with the Family School, were opportunities to learn from one another.
As I walked the streets of S.W. Philadelphia, women, men and children would ask “how is Sister Anne”, or “tell Sister Anne hi”. Sr. Anne’s legacy continues to shine on the Southwest community. Thank you Sister Anne.
Rosie Woodman
Sister Anne Boniface was unique in so many ways. She was smart, funny, stubborn, generous and very kind. She had her own way of doing things. When it was freezing cold, she carried her gloves because it was too much trouble to take them off and on. A hat was also too much trouble. She spent time and energy on problems of friends, efforts for peace and the alleviation of poverty and homelessness. I will miss her sense of humor, her laugh and her gutsy way of dealing with old age. Be happy, Sr. Anne. Hope to see you later. Mary Lou Grady
Sr. Anne led with her smile
"Gentle Annie" is an Irish tune that perfectly describes Sister Anne Boniface Doyle M.S.B.T. Always gentle, Annie led with her smile. She was fiercely proud of being a nun, a social worker, a woman organizer, a protestor for peace, a loyal family member and friend. In 1969 she breathed life into a troubled and forgotten neighborhood by co-creating and managing the SCEC. Annie had the uncanny ability to solicit time and money from you and in turn you thanked her for the privilege of helping her!
In her most recent apartment building she would sit on a bench in the lobby almost every day for an hour or two counselling fellow tenants on their problems and family matters. "I am 89 and still working" she mused. And then she laughed saying, "Most of my clients are men!" Annie will be missed on the bench and in the hearts of all of us who loved her.
Kathy Redpath Beal
Sr. Anne Boniface and Bishop Tom Gumbleton at the Franziska Jägerstätter memorial Service
