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The sisters from Orange, California, re-started their CSJ Heritage Pilgrimage since the Covid pandemic. Four sisters from Formation and their director, Sr. Kit Gray participated in the pilgrimage, which was led by Sr. Mary Beth Ingham (superior general) and Sr Jane Delisle. During the two-week pilgrimage, the sisters took buses and trains to visit Annecy, Bas-en-Basset, Monistrol, Carcacassonne, and Le Puy.

Faculty and staff of Mt. St. Mary's University spent June 5-8 in Le Puy as part of their annual pilgrimage to explore and be inspired by the history and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph. University President Ann McElaney-Johnson accompanied the group while Shannon Green, director of the CSJ Institute presented a history of the Sisters of St. Joseph to orient the group to the various sites they would see. This pilgrimage was sponsored by the MSMU Office of the President.

Fifteen young women from Mt St Mary's University in Los Angeles visited France May 26-29. Each day the young women focused on a particular theme in the history and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph and visited significant places in Le Puy. They also shared their reflections about what inspired them or connected them to the founding sisters and talked about their own experiences of community. This pilgrimage was sponsored by the MSMU Office of the President.

The 10-day program (May 3-13) began officially with a French meal. Sisters also gathered around the table to meet each other. They came from India, Burkina Faso, Congo, Vietnam/Norway. Languages were in English and French while staff spoke in a combination of French, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

On April 20 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia (USA) made their annual pilgrimage in Le Puy and Lyon, France. They were the first group to come to the International Centre after 2 years of the Covid pandemic.

After four years on the Board, Sister Loretta Manzara said good-bye to Le Puy as she assumes a new role on the Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada. Board members held a reception for Sr. Loretta before the last meal of their three-day meetings held April 6-8. She was given a gift of homemade lace made by Martine, a local lacemaker. Sr. Loretta had served as Executive Director of the Sisters of St. Joseph Canadian Federation. She was also Vice President of the International Centre Board before becoming President.

We are very excited to announce that the Centre will re-open for programs, pilgrimages, retreats, and individual visits this year! It has been two years since our doors have welcomed sisters, associates, agrégées, partners, and lay people, and we are ready and willing to serve you!

It is with joy and gratitude that on Sunday, October 17, the Italian Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph celebrated in Turin, the Bicentenary of the arrival in 1821 of the Little Design in Italy.

The International Centre Board met on September 17-19 with five members in person and three members on Zoom who were unable to be present in Le Puy.

At its September meeting, the Board thanked Sr. Ieda for her service as president and member of the Executive Committee for several years.

For over the 12 months, Novitiate Community of the Institute of the Sisters of St. Joseph had tried numerous times to visit the Centre. Their plans, however, were dashed by coronavirus restrictions and lock-downs. In May, they were finally able to travel from Lyon to Le Puy—and they even brought a picnic lunch of sandwiches, salad, cheese, dessert, and Muscat wine.

Flowers are popping out all over and the garden is growing: tomatoes, pumpkins, and cabbage.

Last spring, France began vaccinating millions of people to protect them from the coronavirus. Eluiza and Olga received their shots in May and June.

At its April meeting, the International Centre Board decided to close the Centre for the 2021 season. Concerns and uncertainty about the health and safety of visitors traveling to France from many parts of the world during the coronavirus pandemic made this decision necessary. The Board, however, is already looking to the future and wants to use this year to advance new initiatives at the Centre.

The Living History Centre is now posted in Powerpoint.

Nineteen sheep arrived in small groups starting on April 9 to munch grass in the backyard of the International Centre. By April 24, they had eaten all the grass and moved on to a 15-hectare (37 acres) pasture.

Last June’s flood damaged the ceiling and walls of the Community Room. This made it necessary to repair the leaks and to paint and re-paper the room. For 7 days, Philippe and his apprentice, Enzo, worked diligently to produce a beautiful result. The nature-oriented theme of the room provides a warm, bright, and welcoming feel. We look forward to the days when we can share this room with you.

Here is a collage of our celebrations

We are mindful that across the globe, many will be mourning loved ones lost to COVID–19 and many will be without family and friends, due to COVID–19 restrictions. This Christmas, many hundreds of thousands will be homeless, without food, shelter, comfort and safety, due to devastating natural disasters, warfare, political injustice and unrest. We hope that the video and music resources below will offer some comfort, real hope and a spark of joy. More than that, we pray that these resources will make a world of difference, in as much as they might draw people into the warm loving presence of Emmanuel, God who is with us, in and through it all.