News

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.

This year's Mission Effectiveness program was a hybrid zoom and in-person experience Sept 21-Oct 1. Sister Dolores Clerico (Philadelphia-USA) zoomed in from the USA with the 18 participants from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Wales, and the USA. Sister Phyllis DiFuccia (Erie-USA) coordinated the program on-site in Le Puy while Sister Marlena Roeger (Rochester-USA) served as Portuguese-English translator. It was the first year that people from Denmark and Wales participated. The program provided a meaningful and profound experience for everyone as the participants committed themselves to adopt and live-out the charism.

“The Lace Is Not Yet Finished” program met for a week in August with Sister Jane DeLisle, (Orange-USA) as presenter. Sisters from Brazil and the USA attended the program. Unfortunately, five Indian sisters scheduled to attend had complications with their visas that prevented them from coming. Many thanks to our translator, Sister Marlena Roeger (Rochester-USA) who has lived in Brazil for the past 43 years.

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.