Latest News from the Sisters of Saint Joseph


SSJ E-NEWS is available for viewing on the SSJ website.

Edition No. 73 — July 3, 2018 
Saint Joseph Villa Gala Dinner
Golden Anniversary
June 24, 2018
Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
It was a beautiful and joyous evening in Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 24, 2018 as sisters, patrons, family and friends celebrated the Golden Anniversary of Saint Joseph Villa at the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club. Pat Ciarrocchi served as our gracious emcee.

Sister Anne Myers SSJ , Congregational President, began her welcome by thanking co-chairs, Mrs. Carol Fitzgerald, Executive Director Emeritus of the Pennsylvania Society, whose father literally built the Villa, Dr. John Scanlon, Chief Medical Officer of Chestnut Hill Hospital and Dr. Ken and Mrs. Rosemary Stout, who sponsored the use of the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club for this event. 

Anne continued, “The care of our infirm and elderly sisters has always been a priority for us. Their wisdom, loving service and holy lives are a legacy we cherish. Over the years, we have been blessed to see the original vision of caring for our sisters expand to include our lay residents and their families, who have enriched us in so many ways.

Building Saint Joseph Villa was a courageous risk for our Congregation. While this Golden Anniversary marks 50 years of a beautiful stone edifice, it is also a celebration of relationships, which are at the heart of our mission of unity as we live and work so that all people may be united with God and one another. 

Fifty years of vibrant faith, living hope and healing love shared, as well as kindness, peace and deep, pervasive prayer have built Saint Joseph Villa into a spiritual house, our spiritual home, a place of welcome for so many. This is what we celebrate today. Thank you, dear benefactors, for helping to make all of this possible! May God bless you.”

As the evening was drawing to a close, everyone was treated to a surprise performance by the Quaker City String Band. Outside — another surprise — this time in the sky. A glorious  double rainbow appeared over the Motherhouse arcing it’s way to Saint Joseph Villa. Alleluia!
Dr. John Scanlon and Mrs. Carol Fitzgerald
Sister Kathleen Leary SSJ leads the Invocation
On Wednesday, June 27 th the Sisters at the Villa celebrated with a Mini-Gala. 
Sister Dorothy Apprich SSJ thanked the sisters for their prayers, cooperation and participation as the renovation happened ‘around them’ over the past years. They enjoyed a delicious dinner and received cards and a monogrammed pen to remember the occasion of the 50 th Anniversary. After dinner the sisters viewed the video presentation Celebrating 50 Years — Saint Joseph Villa .
Thursday, June 28 th the Staff at Saint Joseph’s Villa celebrated with a buffet lunch and gift in appreciation for all they did over the past years to make the Villa such a beautiful home.
Prayer to End Gun Violence
Saint Joseph Villa
June 25, 2018
Saint Joseph Villa is a hub for the Commission for Justice to raise our concerns around immigration with the Share the Journey Campaign, Year of Mercy, our SSJ Justice Blogs, Racism and the #LoveBoldly Lenten Campaign. The representation from our Villa helps to keep us connected to our sisters whose lives attest to our call to  divide the city and address the misery .

The Commission met in January and discussed the need to address gun violence.  Sister Cynthia Ludwick SSJ  suggested having a prayer service and invite a speaker who could help the sisters learn more about families who have lost a loved one to gun violence. Sister  Helen Cole SSJ was chosen because of her work in Camden. 

Sister Colleen Dauerbach SSJ , Social Justice Coordinator, remarked, “Helen’s presence is bringing new life to the Camden community. She is a wonderful source of hope in in the mist of so many challenges and is clearly a healing presence among our dear neighbors.”
Pictured from left: Helen Clifton SSJ and Helen Cole SSJ
Father Chuck’s Challenge
Sister St. Herman and Mary Prinzo
Saint Joseph Villa
Father Chuck's Challenge (FCC) begun by Father Charles Pfeffer, is a small local charity attempting to help desperately poor people in Haiti and Nicaragua. More specifically, FCC projects are centered almost exclusively on improving the living conditions of the poor in Nicaragua and Haiti.
 
Father Charles Kennedy, brother of Sister Lourdes Kennedy SSJ, raises money for the project and offers volunteers the opportunity to travel with him to these countries to build homes and/or donate in any way they can.

When  Sister St. Herman SSJ and Mary Prinzo, a beloved volunteer at the Villa, learned about FCC they were thrilled to be involved. Their contribution — beanbags (filled with buttons) for the boys and adorable little dresses for the girls, made from pillowcases and St. Herman’s many pieces of extra material.
 
Sister St. Herman and Mary are grateful to contribute to this project, filling suitcases with dresses, bean bags and lots of love for the children of  Haiti and Nicaragua .
Bean bags
"Pillowcase" dresses
Pictured from left: St. Herman SSJ, Mary Prinzo and Lourdes Kennedy SSJ
Sisters of Saint Joseph Attend
Keep Families Together Rally in Philadelphia
July 1, 2018
"Rooted in the mission of Christ, ours is the same mission which continually unfolds in the Church, 'That all may be one as you, Father, are in me, and I in you. I pray that they may be one in us.' (Jn 17:21)."
                                        — SSJ Constitutions #17
Editor, Sister Carole Pollock SSJ | 215.248.7269 | [email protected] | http://ssjphila.org/home/