Meet our Team
Sister Bonnie McMenamin, SSJ
Director
Sister Bonnie McMenamin is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA. She has served as the director of the SSJ Neighborhood Center since its beginning days in 2017. She is grateful for the privilege of ministering with Neighbors, Sisters and SSJ Associates in Mission at the Neighborhood Center and for the opportunity to “foster a sense of community, uniting neighbor to neighbor and neighborhood to neighborhood, in the Cramer Hill section of Camden and beyond by providing opportunities for connection, enrichment, and empowerment.” Sister Bonnie is no stranger to Camden having ministered in the Diocese of Camden for 15 years as the Director of the Office of Ministry With the Deaf and Persons with Disabilities. Sister continues to minister with the Deaf as a pastoral minister, spiritual director and a team member of the Deaf Catholic Youth Initiative of the Americas and has participated in various Encuentros in Guatemala and Mexico.
Sister Clarisa Vazquez, SSJ
Outreach Coordinator
Sister Clarisa Vázquez, is a Sister of Saint Joseph. She ministered in Camden for 19 years. Ten wonderful years she served as a Family Support Coordinator for Catholic Partnership Schools offering basic skills, ESL classes, translations, and support to families. Nine happy years were spent at St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral Parish as a pastoral minister. Previous ministerial experiences include Pastoral Ministry in Gettysburg with the migrant community, teaching in the archdiocese of Philadelphia and in the diocese of Trenton in Asbury Park, NJ. Whenever possible, she connects families to the Neighborhood Center for assistance.
Sister Mary Berrymen, SSJ
Food Pantry Coordinator
My name is S. Mary Berryman and I have been a Sister of Saint Joseph for 55 years. I taught in Philadelphia, Suburbs and Sounth Jersey for 48 years. When I retired from teaching I became a volunteer at our SSJ Neighborhood Center. It was Exciting to be part of the planning of what we hoped to offer at the center. Christus Lutheran Church had a small food pantry that fed 18 families whne we took over and renovated their classroom space. I took over the food pantry and we have expanded to feeding 170 to 200 families the third wednesday of every month. I also teach a basic sewing class, teaching how to use a sewing machine and making pillows, phone cases, ect. I collect large, and extra large T-shirts and pillowcases and make bags for pantry day to give out meat, eggs, butter, ect. It helps cut down on using paper and plastic bags. So as you can tell, I am a very busy retiree.
Sara Navarro
Administrative Assistant
Sara Navarro was born in Honduras and grew up in Philadelphia. She is a graduate of Little Flower Catholic High School in Philly and obtained a BA in Religious Studies from St. Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. Since August 2, 2021, Sara has been the Administrative Assistant/Social Media Coordinator at the SSJ Neighborhood Center. She has demonstrated her passion for serving others with love and compassion. Sara’s warm, welcoming presence is a gift to all who encounter her. She has already embodied the mission of the Neighborhood Center and “fosters a sense of community, by uniting neighbor to neighbor.” Being fluent in Spanish, Sara has been able to share the Center’s offerings in Spanish via WhatsApp. Our Neighbors have responded to this inclusive outreach and relationships are deepening and broadening.