News - News RSS Feed

The 15 pilgrims of the Congregation of St. Joseph "hit the streets" of Le Puy to walk in the footsteps of the six founding sisters. They took a break on the Twisted Bridge that spans the Borne River for their group photo. One of the buildings they saw was the original orphans' home of the six founding sisters (below left), which is located next to St. Clair Chapel. Today it serves as the library for the town of Aiguilhe.

Sisters from Brazil and Denmark participated in the Two Trinities program directed by Sr. Linda Buck (Orange). Although the sisters had decades of experience in community, they deepened their understanding of the new movements of the Spirit for today's wounded world. Sr. Joana Mendes (Rochester-Brazil) served as the Portuguese-English translator. This photo was taken in front of Mother St. John Fontbonne's birthplace in Bas-en-Basset.

As "The Lace Is Not Yet Finished" program comes to a close, this portrait shows the participants wearing their new silk scarves that were presented as gifts by the Indian sisters. The dramatic setting of Le Puy enhances the colorful beauty of the group. Sr Jane DeLisle (Orange) served as director with Sr Gloria Cruz (Brentwood-Puerto Rico) as Spanish-English translator. The group was truly international with 5 Indian sisters, 2 Argentinian sisters, 1 American sister, and 1 American associate.

The Mission Alive! program offers a pilgrimage for lay partners in mission and provides an immersion experience into the original spirit and global dimension of the charism and spiritual tradition of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The week-long experience offered a rhythm of presentations, interactive participation, prayer, and visits to historic sites in Le Puy-en-Velay. A day trip to Lyon was also included. The Mission Alive! program at the International Centre featured Sr. Dolores Clerico (Philadelphia) served as the presenter and participants included 8 Brazilians, 1 Argentinian, 1 Uruguayan, 4 Canadians, 1 American. Sr Gloria Cruz (Brentwood-Puerto Rico) and Sr Joana Mendes (Rochester-Brazil) were the Spanish-English and Portuguese-English translators, respectively.

Twenty-two French sisters of the Institute of St Joseph (the original Le Puy congregation) spent Wednesday, June 21 at the International Centre for a community meeting. Like sisters everywhere, they were very disciplined in arriving at the same time, starting their meetings on time, and finishing all business on time. Of course, their loving presence permeated the whole house in their joy of being and working together. There's nothing like the spirit of the Sisters of St Joseph—and it is evident in every congregation throughout the world!

Energy. Enthusiasm. Excitement. Exploration. Just a few words to describe the 17 students from the nine SSJ colleges located across the USA who came to Le Puy June 12-15. Even the long flight from the USA did not dampen their spirit of adventure as they sought a deeper understanding of and connection to the Sisters of St. Joseph charism and spirituality. They were a group on the move through the city of Le Puy with climbs to St. Michel, the Rue des Tables, the Cathedral, and the Blessed Mother statue. They also visited the Kitchen and walked the same streets as the founding sisters did nearly 400 years ago. In the evenings the students took time to share their heart-felt reflections.

A group of 24 sisters, alumni, board members, faculty, and staff celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of Fontbonne University in St. Louis (USA) by going on a pilgrimage to Le Puy and Lyon June 4-7. The group also went to Paris and Rome. The group is pictured here at Mother St. John Fontbonne’s birthplace home. Dr. Nancy Blattner, president of Fontbonne, led the group with Sr. Joan Lescinski, SSJ-Carondelet, president emeritus of St. Ambrose University. Fontbonne University is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

Faculty and staff of Mt. St. Mary's University spent June 1-4 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. MSMU President Ann McElaney-Johnson accompanied the group and 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. The group also traveled to Bas-en-Basset to see the birthplace of Mother St. John Fontbonne and to have a delicious French picnic lunch.

The Orange Sisters of Los Angeles, California (USA), made their annual pilgrimage along with several lay persons who are associates and partners in mission during their May 17-22 visit to Le Puy. The group also went to Carcassonne, the birthplace of Fr. Medaille, as well as Bas-en-Basset, the birthplace of Mother St. John Fontbonne. Sr. Mary Beth Ingham, president of the Congregation, and Sr. Jane DeLisle, director of the Center for Spiritual Development, led the group.

Several Indian and African sisters from the Annecy Congregation (France) made a whirlwind tour of SSJ historical sites in Le Puy, Bas-en-Basset, and Monistrol on May 12-13. They spent a night at the International Centre. Sr. Viannay Thanniath who is on the Annecy leadership team sponsored the two-day excursion. Sr. Viannay is also vice president of the International Centre Board.

As more and more lay people are interested in coming to Le Puy to deepen their understanding of the history and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the International Centre Board decided to offer a second program for lay people with Sr. Mary Rowell (SSJs in Canada) as presenter. “Stepping into the Past, Living in the Present, and Journeying toward the Future” (May 1-7) integrated prayer, reflection, presentations, and sharing with visits to special SSJ sites in Le Puy and Lyon. Questo programma comprendeva preghiera, riflessione, presentazioni e condivisione, con visite a luoghi importanti per le suore di san Giuseppe, a Le Puy e a Lione.

Even the rain, wind, and cloudy skies did not dampen the spirits of six sisters and two associates who made the annual pilgrimage to Le Puy and Lyon April 19-25. Sr. Regina Laurich and Sr. Trudy Ahern were the group leaders.

Twenty-five teenage girls ages 14-18 from San Diego, California (USA) came to Le Puy April 7-10 with five chaperones to learn more about the origins of the Sisters of St. Joseph. They timed their visit to the Easter Triduum, which gave them a more intense experience of Church during its most important holy days. They attended the Way of the Cross on Good Friday and Easter Sunday Mass at 7 a.m. at the Cathedral, which was also the Mass for the pilgrims beginning their journey on the Camino of St. Jacques of Compostelle. Dr. Brandy Sato, the principal, accompanied the group with co- planner, Ryan Martin-Spencer, director of mission integration.

Sr. Catherine Barange, superior general of the Lyon Congregation in France, was honored for her 20+ years of service to the International Centre at the Board's March 28-30 semi-annual meeting. She was among those who conceived and founded the Centre in 2000. She has served as secretary to the Board for several years. At this year's Chapter in her Congregation, she stepped down from her position as superior after 10 years. Sr. Catherine has provided leadership to her congregation for decades as an administrator, a provincial, and in several other roles.

The Roots & Wings program (March 13-19) brought young sisters with temporary or one year of perpetual vows from India, Burkina Faso, Congo, Madagascar, Chad, and Sri Lanka. The objective of the program was to give the sisters an opportunity to re-read their lives and vocational call in the light of the origins of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and to move into how they can live their vowed “yes” today within the reality of our world and the “Dear Neighbor" near and far.

Cracks on the interior and exterior due to structural damage of the four-story building that housed the Living History Centre (Scenography) since 2016 has led to the need to close it. The building was in the courtyard of the Institute of St. Joseph (the Le Puy sisters) and constructed in 1846. A structural engineer assessed the building and determined that it was too dangerous for the public to enter it. Fortunately, the damaged building will have NO effect on the Kitchen. Studies are being conducted to find another place for the Scenography.

The Global Coordinating Committee (GCG) met on October 22-24 to discuss various issues pertinent to the Sisters of St. Joseph worldwide. Congregational leaders from Argentina, Canada, France, Italy, the UK, and the USA attended. One of the group’s important discussions was how to inform and deepen the charism with our lay partners and friends. The GCG examines social justice on a global scale and advocated for the second of two Roots and Wings programs for young sisters making final profession. The Global Coordinating Committee also supports representation of the Sisters of St. Joseph at the United Nations. Sister Barbara Bozak (Chambéry-USA) is our delegate.

The International Centre Board continues its work in spreading the SSJ charism throughout the world. It met for its semi-annual meeting on October 18-20 and planned its 2023 programs, which will be publicized in December after dates and presenters are confirmed.

Sister Barbara Bozak is the UN-NGO coordinator for the Congregations of the Sisters of St. Joseph at the United Nations. She filed the following report on her activities at the October 2022 meeting of the Global Coordinating Committee, which discuss various issues pertinent to the Sisters of St. Joseph worldwide.

The annual pilgrimage of the Congregation of St. Joseph took place October 5-10 in Le Puy was led by Sister Carol Crepeau. As a part of the pilgrimage, the group spent a day in La Chaise Dieu, site of the Benedictine abbey founded in 1043 by Robert de Turlande (left) and reconstructed in the 14th century by Pope Clement VI. They went to Mass in the chapel and afterward had dinner in a French-Italian restaurant in the town. Some members went on a tour of the abbey, which included a visit to the Medieval tapestries that used to hang in the chapel but are now preserved in one of the halls of the abbey. On one of its days, the group shared a meal called “The Joseph Table” where they each brought an offering. After leaving Le Puy, the group visited Lyon, Annecy, and Taizé before they headed back to the USA on October 15.