A Night to Remember: Celebrating 125 Years with Friends and Supporters
In 1900, three Polish orphans from Pittsburgh’s Strip District came into the loving care of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth at their retreat home outside the city. Today, 125 years later, their commitment to Pittsburgh’s children and families inspires Holy Family Institute’s work as a multi-faceted social services organization.
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, Holy Family invited friends and supporters from throughout our decades of service to celebrate our rich history, reaffirm our mission, and look toward a bright future for the organization. Duquesne University served as the venue, marking our long relationship and cooperation with the priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.
The day started with a mass in Duquesne University’s Chapel of the Holy Spirit, where Michael Sexauer was officially commissioned as Chief Executive Officer of Holy Family Institute. The commissioning was overseen by Sister Thea Krause, Provincial Superior for the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in the United States. Sister Thea was joined by more than 20 other Sisters who attended the event to celebrate Holy Family Institute as an important ministry of the Congregation.
Following the service, guests gathered in the Union Ballroom for the remainder of the evening’s program. In addition to marking a milestone anniversary, the event served as an opportunity to recognize some of Holy Family’s most staunch supporters with the presentation of the Spirit of Family Award.
This year’s awardees included Rosemary Corsetti and Vincent DeChellis, Jim and Gretchen Haggerty, and Fran and Paula Daily. Rosemary, Jim, and Fran have served for decades as Trustees for Holy Family Institute, lending their considerable expertise to the agency. The dedication of these awardees is evident in their commitment as leaders for the organization, and also in their modeling of our mission in their own families, living out the values of faith, hope, and love.
The evening also included a display of artifacts from Holy Family’s past along with remarks by Duquesne University President Dr. Ken Gormley and Art Rooney II, President of the Pittsburgh Steelers and honorary chair (with his wife, Greta) of the event, both of whom are longtime friends of Holy Family Institute.
As the presentation concluded, newly commissioned CEO Michael Sexauer unveiled a surprise for Sister Linda. The new gymnasium currently under construction on HFI’s campus will be named the “Yankoski Family Activities Center,” in honor of Sister Linda’s decades of service and the support of her entire family for the organization.
The evening wrapped up with hugs, well wishes, and dancing. Whether guests have been involved with Holy Family for decades or just learned about our work, the evening was not only a joyful celebration, but a powerful reminder of the many lives that have been touched by Holy Family Institute over the past 125 years.
