Sister Anne Marie Saphara

Sisters Anne Marie Saphara and Roberta Smith, general minister

Sister Anne Marie Saphara professed her perpetual vows as a Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities during a Mass at the Franciscan Villa chapel in Syracuse, N.Y. on Saturday, August 9.

Sister Anne Marie attended Catholic schools in Auburn, N.Y. She said when she was 18 she wanted to join a religious community but, as they say “life is what happens when you are making other plans” and young Anne Marie was pulled in a different direction. She married and had a son, left Auburn and held jobs as a graphic artist and Web designer at the Pentagon and other government organizations. “The call to religious life was still in the back of my mind,” she explains. “After 10 long years of discerning it, I had to follow through on my instincts. I moved back to Syracuse, and followed my calling to religious life.” Sister Anne Marie reflects on the twists and turns in her life that eventually brought her to the Sisters of St. Francis. “God has no time limits. We have no control over when he will call us,” she says. “In my case it was later on in life. I hope that my many life experiences and gifts will enable me to always be there for others.” On the day of her profession, Sister Anne Marie was joyfully embraced by the love and prayers of her sisters in community, friends and family.