Friends and Associates of the St Augustine Congregation Make a Pilgrimage

June 24, 2019

Fifteen pilgrims from the St. Augustine Congregation arrived in Le Puy on Monday, June 17. They visited all of the sacred historical sites relevant to the foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and learned more about the spirituality of the sisters. They also visited Lourdes and Toulouse in southwestern France as well as Lyon and Annecy.

Several members of the group are associates. Others are either friends of the sisters or former professionals in the sisters' ministries.

Sisters Rita Baum and Kathleen Power led the group. Sister Rita served as a staff member of the International Centre for three years (2009-12). This photo was taken in the Living History Centre, which tells the story of how the St. Augustine Congregation, a direct off-shoot of the Le Puy Congregation, was founded .

In 1866, shortly after the conclusion of America's Civil War, eight “strong sisters, with a good head and solid virtue” were invited by Florida's first Bishop, Augustin Verot, for the purpose of educating and evangelizing the children of newly-freed slaves and the Lincolnville community. Those early days in Florida were not easy, but the sisters managed.

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"They faced prejudice, financial hardships, and many nights spent miserably scratching bed bug and mosquito bites. They even survived – and nursed others through – two Yellow Fever epidemics. Blessed with spiritual spunk, they met each challenge with love and strength, paving the way for the Sisters actively serving today....[However], the first Sisters showed godly grit in their controversial ministry, while adapting to a new country, climate and language. " The St. Augustine Social, November 11, 2016