By Muriel J. Smith
For Sister Dianna Higgins, it’s been a month beyond belief or dreams.
The Atlantic Highlands native, and a Mater Dei Prep graduate, is a Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Infant Jesus, stationed in Woodbury Heights, is celebrating her 25th year as a teaching Sister this year. As part of her celebrations, her parish and school in South Jersey, Pope John Paul VI, the largest Catholic school in the state, gave her a trip to the Holy Land, which she enjoyed last month.
Sister Dianna is the daughter of Jane Frotton of Atlantic Highlands and James Higgins of Florida. She grew up in Atlantic Highlands.
Her Jubilee celebration continues this Saturday when she is having a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Margaret Church in Woodbury Heights, followed by a reception. Then the following Sunday, Oct. 11, another Mass of Thanksgiving is being offered at 11:30 a.m. at St. Agnes Church in Atlantic Highlands, followed by a reception there.
But as if that isn’t enough for this dynamic nun who has been known to be as downright fun loving and daring as she is religious and deep thinking, last weekend, Sister Dianna also saw the Pope in Philadelphia and was present for his Mass on Benjamin Franklin Bridge. She Tweeted photos of herself patiently and quietly seated in a lawn chair alongside the road with the message, “Waiting for the Pope.” She photographed him as he passed her in the open-sided Popemobile, got out less than 200 feet past her, and went to the altar set up on the Bridge to offer mass.
Both thrilled and awed to be present at the mass he offered, Sister Dianna said the day with Pope Francis was an incredible part of a memorable Jubilee year.
She can now add a third pope to the number she has personally seen in her lifetime. Sister saw Pope John Paul II on two separate occasions and in two separate places, one at World Youth Day in Italy, the other in New York. She saw Pope Benedict XVI in New York and now Pope Francis. “It was totally awesome and exciting, especially since this is my celebration of religious life. I am very blessed and thankful.
Sister Dianna is a graduate of St. Agnes School, Class of 1977 and Mater Dei Prep, New Monmouth, 1981, before she earned a degree in Special Education from Glassboro State College in 1985. She entered the convent in 1988 and took her final vows in 1990. She earned a master’s degree in theology from St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia, a second in special education from Rowan University, and a third masters degree from St. Bonaventure’s in Buffalo, NY.
She belongs to the same teaching order that taught her in her primary school years and currently is a religion teacher herself at the Haddonfield high school as well as serving as Superior of the convent where she and other sisters reside.
