ASTON — The world premiere of “No Risk, No Gain: The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia” is the feature attraction of the 2025 Neumann Inspires Film Festival.
The free documentary screening is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5, in the Bruder Life Center on Neumann University’s campus.
The film allows the Sisters to explain, in their own words, what it truly means to be a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia and why, even as vowed, religious life seems to be disappearing, the world needs their legacy now, more than ever.
Two years ago, Sara McDermott Jain decided to tell the story of the Sisters, a 170-year-old order of Catholic nuns who founded Neumann University in 1965. The average age of those in the congregation is now 84, and vows of poverty, chastity and obedience seem like a hard sell these days.
“I felt it was urgent to capture the stories in their own words,” says Jain, who was familiar with the Sisters through writing for Good News, the order’s magazine. “Here’s this group of people that has done so much good in the world. They are inspirational women with valuable lessons about how to live your life.”
Through the years since 1855, women in the congregation became hospital CEOs and college presidents, nursing professors and high school principals, always serving as champions of social justice for the poor and marginalized.
As an adjunct professor at Neumann in 2022, Jain suggested the idea of a documentary about the Sisters to Dr. Chris Domes, Neumann’s president.
He shared her formal proposal with Sr. Kathy Dougherty, vice president for mission and ministry. Dougherty was able to secure a sponsorship for the project from Philip Goropoulos, president of CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health.
Since May 2023, Jain has been employed by the university to produce the documentary and supervise the film festival. She interviewed 60 people for the film, including 40 Sisters, traveling from Pennsylvania and Maryland to Oregon and Washington. She even took a brief trip to Assisi, Italy, during the film project.
She amassed 4,000 pages of transcripts and wrote the script. Her first rough cut of the film ran for six hours and sent her into a 10-day cutting frenzy. The final edited version runs for one hour and 40 minutes.
The theme of the film, she explains, is “Having faith in moving forward with your goals and dreams. There were always challenges, but the Sisters always moved forward, using what they had and doing what they could do.”
“We were honored to think Sara would want to do a documentary on the congregation,” Dougherty remarked. “Her film offers a profound reflection on the faith and commitment of the Sisters throughout our history. Seeing our lives through the eyes of others is deeply moving, and Sara is a powerful storyteller.”
Jain is a novelist — “Wolves at Night” — a screenwriter who has worked with more than 75 authors in adapting their books to films — e.g. “To Kill an Alien,” “Chance,” “The Dawn,” “Foreign Nationals” — and the founder of the Princeton Independent Film Festival (PRINDIE), which ran from 2015-2022.
In addition to the featured documentary, the festival will also feature screenings of 25 original short films, 3 to 30 minutes in length, in three film blocks and several workshops, improv and stage combat, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. An awards ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m.
All film screenings and workshops will be held in the Bruder Life Center. To see the full agenda for the Neumann Inspires Film Festival, visit www.neumann.edu/filmfest.
Law firm offers free presentation on wills and trusts at Schoolhouse Center
Dana Breslin of Breslin, Murphy, and Roberts Law Firm, will present “Will vs Trust Which is better: Will or Trust?” at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 10 at Schoolhouse Center, 600 Swarthmore Ave., Folsom.
Breslin will discuss which methods best save on “death taxes,” what are the limits and other topics pertaining to wills and trusts.
Everyone is welcome to join the informative conversation and get their questions answered by elder law professionals. The presentation will also be offered virtually to those who cannot attend in person.
The class is free, but registration is required by emailing Allison Alfieri at aalfieri@scs-delco.org or calling 484- 496-2143.
‘Grease’ is the word as tickets for special Veterans Night go on sale
Tickets are on sale for the Media Theatre Veterans Night, featuring the musical “Grease,” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17.
The event will honor veterans and include a complimentary private reception in the Theatre’s Crystal Room, with a buffet, beer and wine.
Hosted by the Media Theatre Veterans Alliance, the event has been held for 25 years, honoring 82 combat veterans, in total.
Tickets, which include the 6 p.m. reception, are priced at $35, for all veterans and their guests.
The musical “Grease” features Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hot-rodding “Burger Palace Boys” and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s.
Head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new, good girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the special romance of their “Summer Nights” as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as “Greased Lightnin’, ” “It’s Raining on Prom Night,” “Alone at the Drive-In Movie,” recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation.
An eight-year run on Broadway and two subsequent revivals, along with innumerable school and community productions, place “Grease” among the world’s most popular musicals. The show runs at Media Theatre from April 30 through May 25.
For tickets, or more information, go to www.mediatheatre.org.
Media Theatre is at 104 E. State St., Media. For tickets for Veterans Night on May 17, call 610-891-0100 and mention “Veterans Night” to get the special price.
Community Arts Center presents A Tribute to the Divas at Friday Night Live
Community Arts Center’s Friday Night Live concert series will feature performer Ashli Rice in A Tribute to the Divas for Women’s Music Month.
The event is Friday, March 28 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
Delaware County native Ashli Rice is a powerful vocalist, who honed her performance in musical theater environments. Rice sings the national anthem at home games for the Philadelphia Union.
The R&B/soul singer will be accompanied by a stellar backup band, uplifting her singular vocal performance within a musical presentation that will be an evening to remember as she pays tribute to some of the great divas of music.
Tickets cost $15; $10 for CAC members; $5 for children under 12. Attendees are welcome to BYOB and bring take out to enjoy during the show. Seating is café style in the large art gallery.
The Community Arts Center is at 414 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford. For more information, call 610-566-1713, ext. 12.
To purchase tickets: https://communityartscenter.org/events/friday-night-live-with-ashli-rice.
Archbishop Nelson Pérez to celebrate Mass honoring persons with disabilities
Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the annual archdiocesan Mass Honoring Persons with Disabilities, the Deaf Community, and their caregivers at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 30 at Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul, 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia.
The Saint John Paul II Parish Choir will provide liturgical music. Immediately following Mass, a reception will be held in the auditorium of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center.
All are welcome to attend the Mass and reception that is sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office for Persons with Disabilities and the Deaf Apostolate. Guests are asked to arrive by 2:30 p.m.
All people of goodwill are invited to attend in-person or virtually. The Mass will be livestreamed via the Archdiocesan Vimeo Channel at https://vimeo.com/event/2470138 and Archbishop Pérez’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ArchbishopPerez.
Havertown Choristers announce date of spring concert
The Havertown Choristers, directed by Jennifer Cox, will present its spring concert at 8 p.m. n Monday, April 28 in the Haverford Township High School auditorium, 200 Mill Road, Havertown.
The program will include “The Last Words of David” by Thompson, “Speak to One Another of Psalms” by Berger, “Climbin’ Up the Mountain” by Smith, and selections from “The Sound of Music” by Rodgers/Hammerstein II/Warnick.
An additional feature will be an audience sing-along.
Guest artists presented on the program will be the Haverford High School Chamber Singers directed by David Fernandes.
The Havertown Choristers is affiliated with the Haverford Township Adult School. The event is free but donations are appreciated. For information, call 610-446-1595.
Special service to honor Vietnam Vets on Saturday
The Veterans Commission at Washington Memorial Chapel has announced that it will host a special service and luncheon to honor National Vietnam War Veterans Day at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29 at the Washington Memorial Chapel, 2000 Valley Forge Park Road, King of Prussia.
Commemorating the 1973 withdrawal of the last U.S. combat troops from Vietnam, the event will recognize the courage, sacrifice and bravery of the men and women who served during the Vietnam War.
The service will include prayers, Scripture readings, and hymns to pay tribute to Vietnam veterans and their families.
A keynote address will also be delivered by Navy veteran Gardiner Pearson reflecting on the service and legacy of Vietnam veterans and the importance of remembering their contributions to our nation.
Pearson, who served as junior officer from 1967 to 1970, was stationed aboard the USS Crockett, operating on the Cua Lon River, providing support for military operations during the Vietnam War.
Father Tommy will be hosting his Revolutionary BBQ in Patriots Hall immediately following the service.
The event is free, but reservations are requested at: https://evite.me/WMCVietnamVeterans2025.
For questions, contact the veterans commission at veteranscommission@wmchapel.org.
Delco Loves Animals gives away pet food and more at special event
Delco Loves Animals hosted a Pet Pantry event on Sunday, sponsored by Delco Loves Animals’ Lisa and Rich Small, of Collingdale, and educator/animal advocate John Sperduto, owner of Alphabet Lane Child Development Center in Folsom, where the event was held.
“The event was a huge success,” the Smalls said.
Donors brought pet foods and supplies to the event in the early afternoon, and then from 3 to 5 p.m., people who had enrolled in the pet food pantry prior to the event, came and gathered essential items their pets needed, such as cat and dog food, treats, toys, cat shelters, collars, dog sweaters and more.
The items will help care for their family pets and the strays for which they’re feeding and caring.
Collingdale Spayed Club Board Members Jane Gaspari and Trish McBride were on hand to talk to people about the spay/neuter and wellness services the business provides and how they help stray animals, too.
For more information and enrollment details or upcoming events for Delco Loves Animals, send an email to delcolovesanimals@gmail.com.
The Real Church Brookhaven to hold annual block party Saturday
The Real Church Brookhaven, 301 Edwards Drive, Brookhaven, will have its sixth annual block party from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29.
Everyone is welcome to the event which will feature free food, giveaways, live entertainment, door prizes, a food competition, bounce houses, free groceries and carnival games.
For more information, call 610-876-5853 or email realchurchbrookhaven@gmail.com.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.
