Sister M. Alphonsa Concilio, IHM

“If your day is hemmed in with prayer, it is less likely to come
unraveled.” C. Lewis

After WWI, August Concilio left home in Italy, settled in Bethlehem, PA, and began teaching in the Science Department of Lehigh University. There he met Anna Nolan, one of the school’s secretaries, who would become his wife. They gave “Birth in Bethlehem” to 7 children who, sadly, were also known as “Depression Babies.” Because of the Depression, August left Lehigh (“Last in, First Out”) and got a job in a hardware store. Later, with his wife’s support, he went to Temple Law School and returned to Bethlehem to join a successful firm. He did serve in WWII but his ability to speak Italian kept him out of combat.

Alphonsa born Katherine Marie, had five sisters and one brother. As her siblings married, they all had large families and, though the siblings continued to live in Bethlehem, her nieces, nephews, “grands” and “great grands” (who also had large families) scattered across the country to make their homes. Concilio Family Reunions bring together a very large family.

Katherine knew she had a vocation from a very young age, but there is a difference between a vocation and the choice of a congregation where you live it out. Katherine didn’t know any IHMs through grade or high school. During her senior year, Katherine was contacted by a friend who was attending Marywood College, and she encouraged Katherine to “come and see this place!” Katherine did. Then she applied for and received a scholarship and began her studies at Marywood’s Music Department where she met Sister Marie Cecilia – her music teacher – who also became her IHM Sponsor.

Sister Alphonsa began her life in ministry as a high school teacher in Lock Haven. For me, teaching high school meant English/Communications classes and related extracurricular activities – i.e. school play. For Alphonsa, music was one of many high school subjects that she taught and, added to that, were the concerts, school musicals, piano lessons and church choir!

Alphonsa served in several PA schools from 1954 – 1961. In 1961 she began her ten year (favorite) teaching ministry in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The one blessing/curse of being stationed in Idaho is that it’s so far from Scranton. Your local community is your main IHM experience. Travel to Scranton was rare, and Zoom was definitely not an option. In 1971, the IHMs ended their service in Idaho and Alphonsa was assigned
to teach in both the grade and high school in Cresco, PA.

Alphonsa joined the Marywood Music Department in 1975. She regularly travelled to receive voice lessons from Tom Hauser (an extraordinary vocal coach whom many IHMs have met during Alphonsa’s years at Marywood when the Music Department would host vocal seminars for area teachers.)

Alphonsa was a Professor of Music and Voice from 1975 – 2012. After her retirement, she taught private music lessons and helped in support services until 2024 when she joined one of the independent living communities at OLP.

One of her greatest joys is that, because she has been faithful to the vocal exercises she learned from Tom Hauser, to this day she is able to cantor and has had the opportunity to hear former students whose voices are still in excellent shape because of their same fidelity to their training.

But, of all these talents, the one quality Alphonsa hopes she’s remembered for is “being kind.” Since we couldn’t begin our interview until after she completed her time playing Scrabble with our oldest sister, Sister Marionette (103).