Working for Justice
Stopping Human Trafficking
INDIANA – The Sisters of St. Joseph and ten other orders of Catholic women religious in Indiana and Michigan Are working against Human Trafficking. They invests in hotel chains to affect social change. The group is collaborating with state and local officials to curb human trafficking during festivities leading up to the February 5 Super Bowl in Indianapolis. Incidents of human trafficking—or modern-day slavery—tend to spike alongside major sporting events like the Olympics, the World Cup and the Super Bowl to meet the high demand for commercial sex. Read more….
ST. LOUIS – On January 11 St. Louis’ Nix Conference and Meeting Management took a historic step to help end child sex trafficking when they became the first to sign the ECPAT Meeting Planners Code of Conduct (End Child Prostitution and Sex Trafficking). “The Sisters of St. Joseph are the catalysts for where we are today,” says Kimberly Ritter, senior account manager at Nix and coordinator of their child sex trafficking initiative. Read more….
Sisters join forces to strengthen Aboriginal Ministries
AUSTRALIA – A new partnership is being forged between the Sisters of St Joseph, the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, the Sisters of Mercy and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to strengthen their commitment to ministry with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Instigated by the Sisters of St Joseph, this partnership is still in its early stages and may involve other congregations as it develops. Read more….
Food Drive Celebrating Consecrated Life
PITTSBURGH – The Sisters of St. Joseph will honor the past, present and future of consecrated life by hosting a food drive to celebrate World Day of Consecrated Life on Sunday, February 5th, at the Motherhouse, 1020 State Street in Baden. Sisters will be available to accept items between 9 a.m. and noon at the chapel and reception area of the Motherhouse. The Sisters also invite the public to join them for 10 a.m. Mass.
“Our hope for the project is to not only welcome people into our motherhouses as a way of celebrating the gift and call of consecrated life, but to also provide an opportunity, through the food drive, to welcome people into our mission and ministries, as well,” said Mary Pellegrino, Congregational Moderator for the Sisters of St. Joseph. Read more….
CSJs attend USCCB Immigration Conference
UTAH – The conference addressed state and local immigration issues across the country and methods for opposing enforcement initiatives and supporting comprehensive immigration reform. Six Sisters of St. Joseph from three congregations attended the conference. Read more….
Red de América Latina
PERÜ – El 17 de diciembre se llevo a cabo la reunión de la Red de América Latina y del Caribe vía Skype, estamos en espera de la respuesta del Comité Global San José, para participar en la Cumbre de las Naciones Unidas que se llevará a cabo en Brasil del próximo año. Estamos contentas con la página web de la Red, que está a cargo la Hna. Adeli y estamos agradecidas por la respuesta de las responsables de cada congregación que están enviando las noticias. También, ya se vienen organizando la comisión del Encuentro de las Hermanas Jóvenes de
San José, que se realizará en el 2013. La próxima reunión de la Comisión de la Red se realizara en Curitiba – Brasil los días 18 al 22 de Junio. Para prepararnos a esta reunión nos encontraremos vía Skype en abril, la Hna. Josefa nos convocará. Leer mas….
ISJ de Chambery Fazem Primeira Profissão Religiosa
BRASIL – Com grande alegria respondemos ao chamado que um dia o Senhor nos fez: VEM E SEGUE- ME! E norteadas pela dinâmica de Jesus, amar e servir, celebramos no último dia 07 de janeiro de 2012, nossa Primeira Profissão Religiosa.
Para escutarmos o chamado e andarmos nos passos de Jesus, contamos com a ajuda e presença de pessoas muito especiais que fizeram parte de nossa caminhada vocacional. Ler noticia completa
Occupy Wall Street
NEW YORK – Sister Susan Wilcox, CSJ as part of Occupy Faith NYC participated in the third anniversary of Occupy Wall Street by challenging the most powerful church in NYC, Trinity Wall Street. Trinity Wall Street, an Episcopal Church is also a billion dollar land owner having been given substantial pre-revolutionary land grants which are owned by the church not the diocese. Led by Episcopal Bishop George Packard (retired), Sister Susan, three other Episcopal priests and two Catholic priests scaled the wall of Trinity Land Trust property on Canal and 6thAvenue. The Civil Disobedience was after multiple failed diplomatic attempts to convince the Vestry that OWS use of the land was more in line with the Gospel than leaving it vacant. A total of 49 were arrested by Trinity Wall Street in that action in which having clergy present helps to provide witness to improper procedure. When asked about the action, Fr. Juan Carlos Ruiz, said, “I just couldn’t let those kids go in alone [to make a statement about corporate greed] and get beat up again.” Read more….
If you are on facebook and wish to be part of the CSSJs and Occupy Together or Occupy Catholic Religious Life contact S. Susan Wilcox at swilcox@sjcny.edu and you will be added to the groups.
Person of the Year 2011
NEW YORK – Sister Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ has been named the 2011 Person of the Year by the National Catholic Reporter. In its choice, the NCR praises her work, her influence as a scholar and theologian and her grace under pressure as she responded to the criticism of her book The Quest for the Living God. It called into question the lack of process by the USCCB in their public criticism of this text without any prior notification to the author or providing any opportunity for honest dialogue about issues with which they disagreed. Read more….
Pre-Congreso Nacional de Nuevas Generaciones de Vida Consagrada
MËXICO Del pasado 19 al 21 de noviembre, las nuevas generaciones de Vida Religiosa nos convocamos para compartir la vida a través de la escucha a Dios en las culturas y realidades que hoy habitan nuestro México y nuestro mundo, contemplamos esta realidad a la luz de la palabra de Dios encarnada en la historia y nos motivamos a seguir aprendiendo a caminar con y como vida religiosa junto con otros y otras culturas y generaciones para así ser signos de vida y esperanza, y así seguir intentando colaborar y avanzar hacia la transformación de una nueva humanidad…. Las nuevas generaciones desde su ser discípulas/os y a la luz de la palabra, se sienten impulsadas a expresar sus clamores desde sus carismas y culturas, a fin de suscitar y proponer nuevos rostros de Vida Religiosa, a partir de la experiencia del encuentro personal con Jesús que es la fuente de mística y profecía para las religiosas y los religiosos que escuchan, disciernen y aprenden a construir una nueva humanidad. Leer más…. y aquí
Lenten Prayer Site
MINNESOTA – Sr. Baya Clare maintains a prayer site and is preparing prayers and reflections for each day of Lent. To access the site, or to help write reflections, go to: csjprayer.net
Federation Novices on the Road
CONCORDIA, KS – Two novices from the US Federation Novitiate are traveling to many CSJ sites and congregations. They visited the sisters at Concordia Kansas in January 2012. Their two-week stay with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia is part of their education as novices to understand that the Sisters of St. Joseph extend beyond just their individual congregations. Read more…
CSSJ News / Symposium
Online Symposium on Consecrated Life
ONLINE / ORANGE, CALIFORNIA – Linda Buck, CSJ will give the opening presentation for the Online Symposium on Consecrated Life. In her presentation entitled A Prophetic Moment: Transforming the Shadow and Bringing Religious Life into the 21st Century, Sr. Linda will speak about religious life as a call from God to be a distinct voice in the wilderness. “Within this wilderness is shadow material that begs to be uncovered and transformed. Is this the prophetic work that Religious are called to in the 21st century?” In light of the vows and the trends of the Church, she will explore these shadow elements and their transformational possibilities.
This will be a global/online presentation with local/face to face discussion. If you would like online viewing, see: www.ahereford.org/symposium
Anniversario
Logo por los 50 Años
PERÚ – Las hermanas de San José de Carondelet en Perú tienen un nuevo website para la vice provincia. Esto viene en en el año de la celebración de los 50 años desde las primeras hermanas fueron de los EEUU a Perú en 1962. La apertura de la celebración se realizó el día 3 de agosto. Leer más….
Encontro das Equipes de Coordenação das ISJC – Brasil/Bolívia
Avaliando o passado, refletindo o presente e projetando o futuro. Em Curitiba, Paraná, nos dias 08 a 12 de dezembro de 2011, aconteceu o encontro das 23 Irmãs que, atualmente, estão no serviço de coordenação da vida e missão das Irmãs de São José de Chambéry no Brasil e Bolívia. As Irmãs de Curitiba acolheram a todas com alegria, muita ternura e aconchego….
Occupy Movement
ALBANY – Sister Fran Dempsey and a group of others representing the Peace and Justice Commission of the Albany Diocese were carrying a banner at the local “Occupy Movement” on November 16. Two young men told the group that Jesus would have been with them were he here (when the men saw that they were Catholics). A homeless man named Steve saw that they had no board across th bottom of their banner and in minutes he returned with boards the exact size of the banner; the board helped the commission members keep the banner weighed down in the windy weather.
Pilgrimage to Paimol
UGANDA – To honor the teenage catechists Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa, who died for their faith in October 1918, S. Marion Weinzapfel joined with thousands of others on a pilgrimage to Paimol, situated in remote Northeastern Uganda, the cite of their martyrdom. In making the trek, S. Marion not only wanted to go for herself, but also to support and encourage the catechists with whom she works in Gulu. Read more….
O Antiphons – Christmas Blessings
December 17th: O Sapientia (Is. 11:2-3; 28:29): “O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth.”
December 18th: O Adonai (Is. 11:4-5; 33:22): “O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.”
December 19th: O Radix Jesse (Is. 11:1, 10): “O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us, and do not delay.”
December 20th: O Clavis David (Is. 9:6; 22:22): “O key of David and scepter of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
December 21st: O Oriens (Is. 9:1): “O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
December 22nd: O Rex Gentium (Is. 2:4; 9:5): “O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay.”
December 23rd: O Emmanuel (Is. 7:14) : “O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Savior. O come and save us, Lord, our God.”
Christmas Blessings!
Blessed Advent
ONLINE – 
The Online Advent Calendar for 2011 begins on November 27; you can go to http://csjprayer.net now to subscribe to the daily email reflections. And tell your friends as well!
This site is created and maintained by Baya Clare, CSJ to facilitate participative prayer and reflection in the Ignatian tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Baya Clare is a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. living in St. Paul Minnesota. Contributors are welcome. Please contact Baya at bayathread@gmail.com.
ONLINE – From Albany, NY, Sister Joyce Gadoua, CSJ, provides online meditations for each of the days of Advent. Each meditation focuses on the Scriptures and leads us in truly “praying Advent.” Reflections are followed by questions to ponder as we enter into the mystery of the coming of the Word Incarnate. See meditations….
Sister Lorry Villemaire Helps Labyrinth Take Shape at Jail
SPRINGFIELD – Thanks in part to the efforts of Sister Lorry Villemaire, the inmates at the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction in Northampton have a beautiful outdoor labyrinth to use for meditation and reflection. The large circular stone pathway was built during the summer and early fall by a group of 20 inmates using manual labor.
Following the dedication of the newly laid path October 20th, Sr. Lorry said “The project was ‘a dream come true’ in the sense that the inmates will have a labyrinth to walk even if the program is not in session.” That, she says, will provide continuity and moments of quiet and peace. Read more….
Prayer for the End and Healing of Domestic Violence
ONLINE – The Sisters of St. Joseph in Sydney, Australia have prepared a prayer and reflection for the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, Nov 25, 2011. The powerpoint can be downloaded and used for personal or group prayer and reflection. Read more….
Invitation to Conversation
Do you sense the urgency to commit yourself to the future of religious life as it is emerging today?
Do you find yourself longing for community living that energizes you for mission?
At the Giving Voice gathering this summer, a group of American sisters in our 40s and 50s from various religious families felt a new energy stirring among us, and expressed a desire to continue the contemplative process and conversation, moving into action. Responding to this desire we invite you to participate in a process beginning this Advent and running through Pentecost. Read more….
Learning, Reading, Hoping
TANZANIA – As a former librarian, Sr. Jackie Goodin was aghast when she first went to Tanzania at the lack of textbooks, bookstores, and educational resources for children and adults alike. Typically, students in both government and private schools (except for the most elite) do not have individual textbooks that they can take home each night; nor are there a set of textbooks even for a classroom of 40 students to share. She set to work to connect neighbor with neighbor – in this case, tapping the resources of her CSJ community in the US to supply funds and books. Read more….
Scholarship created in honor of Sr. Adele Lambert
BATON ROUGE, LA – 
In honor of St. Joseph’s Academy President Sister Adele Lambert, CSJ, who will retire at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year, her family has created the Sister Adele Lambert, CSJ Scholarship. This scholarship will benefit any deserving young woman whose family is in need of financial assistance in order for her to attend the Academy. Read more….
Retreat offered
WICHITA – The Magnificat Center in Wichita, KS is offering: Who is God for you, now? A retreat to be held June 2-8 2012. It is offered for men and women religious under age 65 (no one will be asked for ID!), and is designed to give the younger members of our religious congregations the opportunity to spend quality time in prayer and meaningful conversations with one another on the topic of: “Who is God for you, now?” Paula Drass, CSJ and John Quigley OFM will be presenting. More information….(scroll down for this opportunity.)
Emerging Future Conversation
ONLINE – Do you sense the urgency to commit yourself to the future of religious life as it is emerging today? Do you find yourself longing for community living that energizes you for mission? At the Giving Voice gathering this summer, a group of sisters in their 40s and 50s felt a new energy stirring among them, and expressed a desire to continue the contemplative process and conversation, moving into action. Please pass this on to women in your community who may be interested.
Responding to this desire Giving Voice invites you to participate in a process beginning this Advent and running through Pentecost. “Using the 12 Marks of new faith-based intentional communities to frame our prayer and conversation, every two or three weeks, we will take up one of the twelve marks, taking it to our contemplative practice and listening deeply to our God and to the stirring in our hearts. Then we will gather in circles, face-to-face, on skype or in other creative ways to share what has been happening for us around that mark.” More information….
CSSJ News – Nov 2011
News from Down Under
SYDNEY – One of the founders of the Sisters of St Joseph founded in Australia in 1866 was Mary MacKillop who became Australia’s first canonised Saint in October 2010. The inspiration for the congregation was influenced by the other founder Father Julian Tenison Woods experiencing the spirit of the Sisters of St Joseph in Le Puy. The first anniversary of Mary MacKillop’s canonisation was marked in many places including where she is buried in Sydney, with a new statue of her being blessed. Read more and see photos….
“Little did either of us dream what was to spring from so small a beginning”
Mary MacKillop to the Sisters 4th March 1891
Read more about the Sisters of St. Joseph in Australia and New Zealand….
Milestone for Women’s Education in Canada
TORONTO – The Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loretto Sisters) worked with the University of St. Michael’s College to make higher education available to Toronto’s women, beginning in 1911. They are now celebrating“100 Years of Women’s Education at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, 1911 – 2011.” See their on-line exhibit celebrating the anniversary here…
Sr. Janet Mock Honored
BADEN – Congratulations to Sister Janet Mock, a Sister of St. Joseph of Baden, PA, who will receive the prestigious Mary Emil Penet, IHM, Award for outstanding contributions to initial and life-long formation of women and men religious. The honor was announced by the Board of Directors of the Religious Formation Conference. Sister Janet will receive the award Nov. 19 at the RFC Congress Banquet.
US Federation Novitiate
Chicago – New members of the Sisters of Saint Joseph come together for a Federation Novitiate Program. For them, this is a time to study and integrate the mission, history, spirit and spirituality of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in preparation for vowed life. Meet the new novices of 2011 Federation Novitiate: For more….
Novice Welcomed
BADEN – Sister Zita Iwuoha, a registered nurse, was received into the Sisters of St. Joseph community as a novice during a “ritual of reception” in the Motherhouse chapel on September 10, 2011. More… (scroll down)
Religious in their 20s and 30s
USA – Are you a woman religious in your 20s or 30s? Join us for the 2012 Giving Voice gathering of Sisters from various communities who are in their 20s and 30s January 13-15, 2012 in Phoenix, AZ. Do you know a woman religious in her 20s or 30s? Let her know about this great opportunity to reinvigorate the LIFE in religious life! Visit the Giving Voice website for more information and a registration form. Or contact Julie Christensen, CSJ.
Story of this Newsletter/Blog
This newsletter and blog arose out of a need to communicate with Sisters of St. Joseph around the world. There are now nearly 700 sisters who receive the CSSJ e-newsletter/blog worldwide. We are still working to build the multi-linugal readership, and welcome the input of our sisters who speak various languages on how to make the newsletter more accessible. Currently over 40 communication directors and other leaders receive an invitation to submit their news each month. From the responses to that query, the news is gathered and assembled. If you would like to receive the monthly reminder, email me at amyhereford @ gmail . com …. or you can go to the bottom of an email newsletter and click update subscription preferences – check the box for communiation directors – and you’ll receive those reminders.
Emerging Future: Musings on Community
“Living in community” is key for me.
Many sisters today talk about “living in community” as gathering regularly for sharing prayer and sharing meals yet living singly. I don’t quarrel with that choice for them, but it’s not for me.
For me, living in community means gathering regularly for sharing prayer and sharing meals AND living in the same house with other sisters.
Community is “something people do now.” It’s like we’re rediscovering what we’ve always known. But in this case choosing it deliberately. Maybe in the whole development of religious life and planetary life, some had to choose to live singly so that we could make this rediscovery.
The thing I would add is this. If there is to be a future to this thing we call religious life as Sisters of St. Joseph, then I think it’s important that some of us choose to live in community (in the same house) with sisters. I think it is these communities of sisters that hold the key to sustainability for the life, the key to attracting, and sustaining new members. And sustaining our lives as well.
Living in ‘intentional community that may or may not have other sisters’ can also be good. But my concern is the relationship between identity, boundaries and sustainability. In the intentional community movement, people acknowledge that there’s a tension between boundaries and sustainability. It’s great to include everyone, to open the doors, to open the community. But that isn’t sustainable in the long run. The intimacy and identity of the group are dissipated.
Sustainability of the Sisters of St. Joseph isn’t everything, but personally I feel called to live this life, and to do what I can to ensure its sustainability for the next generations.
–Amy Hereford, csj (Carondelet, St. Louis)
CSSJ News – October 2011
Founder’s Day
This year we celebrate 361 years from October 15, 1650 when the first six women committed themselves to the Little Design in Le Puy, France. As we think back to that simple, quiet beginning, we see the spirit of the Little Design very much alive and active today, in neighborhoods across the globe where we live, pray and minister, true to the heritage of those first six women.
Among the celebrations planned is an online event which will gather over 70 sisters from five countries to reflect on how the spirit of Le Puy is alive among us today and what it means to be Sisters of St. Joseph living into the heart of the 21st century. The opening prayer will be lead by Mother St. John Fontbonne (played by Sr. Donna Gunn, csj from St. Louis, MO). Sr. María Rubina, csj and Sr. Sally Harper, csj, from Perú will share reflections on how they see the charism alive today. Opportunities for personal reflection and sharing with the online community will round out the event. There is still an opportunity to join. For more information or to register….
Celebration with the Street Children
(Bhubaneswar, India) The Little Design is alive in India where the Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy added a feather in the life of the street children when Bhubaneswar community decided to celebrate this year the Independence Day with the Street Children of Bhubaneswar. It was indeed a great joy for them. This celebration brought a sense of citizenship and celebration of a family festival.
This day called us to think…. Can we precisely respond to the most downtrodden children of our Society? In this modern world which is fascinated by all latest scientific technologies that which shapes and moulds the attitude and behavior of the people, we need to think beyond the COMFORT ZONE, to risk into a mission of being with the most unwanted burdens of the society to live the greatest love. Read more….
Eau, Source de Vie
(Mozambique) Après différents temps de réflexion vint l’idée de construire des citernes pour recueillir l’eau de pluie. Nous avons bâti le projet et l’avons envoyé à différentes entités, amis, bienfaiteurs et entrepreneurs locaux. Ce sont les Sœurs de la Fédération des
Etats-Unis qui ont accueilli le projet et collaborent à sa réalisation. Plus… English: Water, the source of life (p.11) Italiano: Acqua Fonte di Vita (p. 10)
Pembroke Anniversary Celebration
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Pembroke are a group of forty Roman Catholic women religious based in eastern Ontario. We are the smallest of six such groups that together form the Canadian Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph. Pembroke story….
On August 25, 2011 a beautiful Eucharistic celebration of the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Pembroke Diocese was celebrated at 11:00 a.m. by our Bishop Michael Mulhall. Following a catered lunch with invited guests, the Sisters went to the cemetery to pay special tribute to our deceased Sisters in a ritual of prayerful remembrance and naming of each of our 143 deceased members which was prepared by Catherine Yantha, csj and Anita McGean, Associate member.
International Centre Programming
2012 Programs
With great joy and welcome we the staff of Centre International St Joseph, invite you to come to our global Congregation’s home away from home in Le Puy, France. During the year 2012 the following opportunities are offered as we live “that all may be one.”
Leadership Then & Now – June 6 – 13, 2012 Register by February 15, 2012 (en/fr)
On Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of our Founders – July 11-18, 2012 Register by April 1, 2012 (en/fr/es/pt)
The Little Design in the Evolving Universe (for those who professed vows in last 15 years) – August 8-15, 2012 Register by April 1, 2012 (en/fr); July 16-23, 2013 Register by April 1, 2013 (pt/es)
Mission Effectiveness: the Charism Alive in CSSJ Ministries – September 22-29, 2012 Register by June 1, 2012 (en/es)
Parenthesis indicate languages of programs. As always, pilgrimages, visits and sabbaticals can be arraged for groups. We hope to greet you in person.
May God’s choicest blessings be yours,
–The Centre International Staff, Carol Crepeau, Gracy Thomas, Rita Baum
http://www.centreinternationalssj.org
centre.international@wanadoo.fr
Dreaming of Something New
I had an interesting conversation recently about emerging future and the challenges of thinking and dreaming of something new. I was sharing some of my hopes for living vowed religious life in vibrant communities and beginning to live into this now.
The face of our congregations will be changing a lot over the next 10-20 years, and there are groups asking about merging, reconfiguring, etc. But my perspective is that merging the whole congregations takes a lot of time, energy and resources, but I wonder if it really addresses the underlying issues. But some of us will need a unified group, particularly those of us in younger cohorts. Can we imagine something new, taking the risk and responsibility for building the future we dream of, yet still staying in relationship with our home congregations? I would love to try….
Feel free to share you comments below.
Amy Hereford
Women’s Pilgrimage Opportunities
- Women’s Pilgrimage II Women in the Bible Holy Land and Jordan , March 20 – April 2, 2012 Pat Kozak, CSJ, Caroloyn Osiek, RSCJ, Marianne Race, CSJ contact Marianne at mrace@csjoseph.org or 708-363-6728
- Women’s Pilgrimage I Women in the Bible Holy Land, November 2 – 12, 2012 Pat Kozak, CSJ, Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ, Marianne Race, CSJ contact Marianne at mrace@csjoseph.org or 708-363-6728
CSSJ News September 2011
Gathering the Daughters
Gathering the Daughters 2012 will take place April 12 – 15, 2012 at Siena Retreat Center 5635 Erie St. Racine, Wisconsin, 53402. Contact the Initial Formation Committee for more information: Kathy, Mary, Anne, Rita Ann and Bernie. The program gathers those in formation and some newer finally professed sisters.
Sr. Mary Jo Professes Final Vows
In a joy-filled mass on July 30 in the chapel at the LaGrange Park center, Sister Mary Jo Curtsinger made her final commitment as a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph. For more information…
Federation Novitiate
From Kathy McCluskey:
First, let me say a huge thank you for your generous participation in the housewarming for the new Federation Novitiate house in Chicago! Thanks to your donations in dollars, furnishings and assistance in moving and setting up, the house is nearly ready for the arrival of our novices and their home directors on Sunday, August 21. Federation Novice Directors Bernadette (Bernie) Dean and Anne Davis will welcome them.
This year’s novices are Monique Siswoyo who is coming from Orange and Preenika Dabrera from Brentwood. Once they are settled in, their pictures and stories will be posted on the federation web site.
Please hold our novices and directors in your prayers throughout this year. I know they will be strengthened by your love and support.
CSSJ Newsletter Blog
This newsletter will be posted to a blog at http://cssjnews.wordpress.com. You can link to that, or look up news or links from past newsletters.
Modern CSSJ Lacemakers
Lacemaking is part of our CSSJ history right from the early days when our sisters empowered the women of their day, giving them a way of earning their living. Education continues to be a way of loving the dear neighbor and giving them a real dignity so that they can support themselves and help build a better society. Today, lacemaking is still a part of our story. Manna house in Concordia offers lace making retreats. (More information…). One of our sisters produced a youtube video that offers instruction on tatting, and has had over 160,000 hits, … and counting. (View video…)
Founders Day Online Event
There is still time to sign up for the Founders Day Online Event on Sunday October 16, 2011, 1-5 pm Central US Time, celebrating 361 years since the foundation in Le Puy, France. We will host a conversation at Carondelet-StL that will also have an online component to enable participation from across the Sisters of St. Joseph world. Join us for prayer, reflection and conversation about Foundation, Re-Foundation and the Identity of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Sign up online: www.ahereford.org/cssj
Association of Colleges
The Association of Colleges of Sisters of Saint Joseph draws together seven colleges and universities founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph to articulate and further the contemporary expression of the educational mission and legacy of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The Association fosters collaboration among all the member institutions; provides resources for the faculty, staff and students at member colleges and universities and encourages mission integration on each campus. For information and CSSJ resources, see http://www.acssj.org/
Encountering Earth with Lin Neil
This project, Encountering Earth: Reclaiming the Human in the Web of Life, features three workshop presentations which will help participants to become more mindful of Earth issues and how these issues can be addressed in this time of ecological crises. Each of the three workshops weaves the information together in a PowerPoint presentation with art, music, literature, personal and group reflection to create presentations that will help the participants create a deeper awareness of the Earth, her systems and creatures. Contact Lin at: lneil@csjalbany.org
St Joseph Workers – New Orleans
The St. Joseph Worker Program is a volunteer program for women (ages 21- 30) offering an opportunity for those who desire to give a year ministering, sharing community and praying together in the spirit of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The program is grounded in the values of: leadership, justice, spirituality and community and sponsored by the Congregation of St. Joseph. See their blog: http://www.stjosephworker-neworleans.blogspot.com/
Awakening the Dreamer
The ATD symposium aims to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet. Join with others to create an online presentation of the ATD symposium for the CSSJ world. Contact Amy Hereford at amyhereford@gmail.com
Share your news … spread the word
This newsletter is a grassroots effort to increase communication across the US Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, as well as the international St. Joseph community. Thanks for those who have shared their news. We would invite you to forward this message to anyone in your community who may be interested. Sign up to receive this newsletter at www.ahereford.org/cssj and send your CSSJ news to amyhereford@gmail.com
CSSJ Newsletter Debut
Foundation, Re-Foundation and the Identity of the Sisters of St. Joseph
You are invited to participate in a Founders Day Online Event on Sunday October 16, 2011
The Consecrated Life Committee (CSJ-StL) is hosting this event as part of an ongoing conversation about consecrated life, and as a follow-up from our province day of reflection on Consecrated Life in July 2011.
We invite you to a Founders’ Day celebration on Sunday October 16, 2011 from 1-5 pm Central US Time, celebrating 361 years since the foundation in Le Puy, France. We will host a conversation at Carondelet-StL that will also have an online component to enable participation from across the Sisters of St. Joseph world. Join us for prayer, reflection and conversation about Foundation, Re-Foundation and the Identity of the Sisters of St. Joseph. (Times listed in Central Time)
12:30 Prayer / Sharing of the Heart (Opening Online – Sharing locally)
01:15 Presentation – Sr. Maria Rubina, csj and Sally Harper csj (Online)
01:45 Personal Reflection (locally)
02:30 Small Group Reflection (locally)
03:15 Individual or Group Exercise (explanation online, work locally)
04:15 Presentations of projects from exercise (Online – participants can email, or present online).
04:45 Closing Prayer (Online)
Sign up online: www.ahereford.org/cssj
Calling for writers
You are invited to share CSSJ information, professions, programs or projects across the federation. If you would like to get your information out to the federation, send an article, including a link to your site if it is helpful. Send to: cssj@ahereford.org We are especially inviting reflections on the 2011 federation event in St. Louis.
Online Symposium on Religious Life
Join us for an ongoing, online conversation on emergent Religious Life, Transformation of Religious Life and Refoundation. The interdisciplinary conversation will be national online and local face to face, intercongregational, in partnership with Giving Voice.
Four online forums will be held in 2012, each convened on a Sunday afternoon and lasting about 90 minutes. Presenters, respondents, and participants can participate from their computers, either individually, or in group settings. By doing an online forum, we are hoping for a participation of members who couldn’t travel for the event. Small groups can gather in living rooms, others can gather in larger group settings. These groups can then continue the conversation locally and share their insights in an online forum.
Call for Papers
We are calling for papers that will be the springboard for conversation, preference will be given to proposals from religious under the age of 60. See www.ahereford.org/symposium for more information, to submit a proposal or to register.
Spread the word
This newsletter is a grassroots effort to increase communication across the US Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, as well as the international St. Joseph community. I would invite you to forward this message to anyone in your community who may be interested. They can sign up to receive this newsletter at www.ahereford.org/cssj. Anyone interested in writing or editing for the newsletter is also welcome to contact me (see above: Calling for writers)
Peace,
Amy Hereford
Carondelet – StL
CSSJ Email Newsletter – a grassroots effort to facilitate communication across the Sisters of St. Joseph Federation.
