Edition No. 66 — March 28, 2018
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Good Works Program
March 2018
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The St. Joseph Worker Office and the Offices of Vocation and Formation co-hosted the Good Works Program in early March. Good Works offers college students an alternative spring break experience and provides college students with service experiences, justice education and opportunities to share prayer and the state of their hearts.
We were fortunate to have companioned two wonderful groups this year from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri and UNC, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We are especially grateful for the staff, students, resident and guests at LaSalle Academy, St. Martin de Porres School, St. John’s Hospice, St. Joan of Arc Mission Center, the Inglis House and Joseph’s House in Camden for accommodating our groups and for providing spaces for young people to learn and grow! We are also immensely grateful for our Sisters who supported our efforts these weeks! You know who you are! Thanks a million!!!
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Photos courtesy Julie Fertsch SSJ
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St. Timothy Parish, Philadelphia
90
th
Anniversary Celebration
March 18, 2018
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As part of the 90
th
Anniversary of St. Timothy Parish, all religious from St. Timothy’s and all Sisters of Saint Joseph missioned there over the years were invited to celebrate that milestone at a liturgy on Sunday, March 18, 2018.
Sister Anne Myers SSJ
, Congregational President, who attended St. Timothy grade school, expressed her congratulations and gratitude. “Thank you for honoring the many of us who are sons and daughters of St. Tim’s. In becoming sisters, brothers and priests, our vocations were nurtured by this wonderful faith community—that included our families, parishioners, the sisters and dedicated lay teachers who taught us and our priests who guided us. I would like to thank my own sisters, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, who taught and inspired so many of us. From the first two sisters who welcomed 49 children in a converted deli at Sackett and Barnett Streets to the 299 sisters who served at St Timothy’s as teachers, administrators and parish ministers, thank you for your dedicated service to all in need, for the excellent education we received and for the love of God you imparted to us, often teaching 75 children at once!
As we celebrate this special anniversary, the Sisters of Saint Joseph lift our hearts in prayer with and for you. We pray that God’s abundant graces and blessings will be showered upon you and your families. We thank God for these 90 years—here’s to 90 more!”
Following the Liturgy everyone was invited to the Convent to visit with the sisters and perhaps meet some
friends of old
and teachers. The guests were then treated to an elegant dinner in the school gym.
Sister Barbara Springer SSJ
, a member of the community at St. Tim’s, was delighted with the event. “ The Liturgy was very meaningful and a wonderful celebration. A feeling of great appreciation and joy was truly present throughout the day.”
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Photos courtesy Sharon White SSJ
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Saint Joseph Day
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
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By Christine Iacobacci SSJ
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What a wonderful Saint Joseph's Day celebration! On March 19th we celebrated Saint Joseph's Day at the 8:30 AM Mass in St. Peter's Church in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. Some of our Associates and several of our parishioners, as well as our school principal and eighth grade students, joined us as we renewed our vows. Our parish Priests, the Conventual Franciscan Friars, concelebrated the Mass and Deacon George Forshay assisted. Father Michael, the celebrant, gave a wonderful homily including some of the history of our founding and the ministry of our early sisters. He mentioned that since our arrival in St. Peter Parish in 1971, we have continued the wonderful ministry of education and service exhibited by our early sisters. Our final hymn, 'Go Make a Difference' echoed through the Church with great jubilation, clapping hands and joyful hearts. After Mass, many who joined us, expressed great joy and thanksgiving at our presence in the Parish. It was truly a memorable Saint Joseph's Day celebration!
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Pictured from left: Row 1: Sisters Patricia McClure, Anne Francine Mead, Jeanne Morgan, Christine J. Iacobacci and Trudy Ahern
Row 2: Associates Rosemary Tassie, Lucille Gerardi, Patricia Dunn and Mary Lou Santa Donato
Row 3: Associates Rosemarie House, Adele Byrne, Mary Lou Parsons, Mary Ryan and Art Ryan
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Photo courtesy Father Robert Benko, OFM Conv.
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Honoring Saint Joseph
MSJC Motherhouse
March 19, 2018
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To celebrate together in honor of Saint Joseph. the sisters and staff at Mount Saint Joseph Motherhouse gathered on Monday, March 19, 2018. Under the direction of
Sister Jean Laurich SSJ
, Mission Integration Coordinator, the day began with prayer followed by a sharing from a panel of four colleagues: Keith Stephens, Cristina Diaz,
Sister Jane Field SSJ
and
Sister Eileen McNally SSJ
. After reflecting on
Saint Joseph the Dreamer
, they shared with us their dreams, choices, life and relationships.
Once again, a service project was included as part of the celebration. After lunch everyone was invited to help make sandwiches and pack lunch bags for our dear neighbors at
Mary Mother of Mercy House
in Kensington.
Sister Anne Myers SSJ
, Congregational President, greeted everyone gathered for the Liturgy in the Motherhouse Chapel later in the afternoon. Anne reflected, “In this time when our society has been so impacted by the effects of violence, we remember Joseph, the just man, the gentle man, the man of peace, at whose side Jesus learned the ways of peace. Today, as we joyfully invoke the continued guidance of Joseph in living our mission, let us pray that he will inspire us to become ever more conscious of creating unity, justice and peace in our world.”
In her reflection at Liturgy,
Sister Antoinette Munafo SSJ
, shared, “Our Gospel for today tells us that after the angel came to him in a dream, Joseph “did as the angel of God directed him.” His attentive listening and trust in God’s providence enabled him to fulfill his role. Not only did Joseph dream, he also acted decisively. He listened to Mary and saw her through the birth of Jesus, the presentation in the Temple, the journey to Egypt and the loss of their Son in Jerusalem. Through everyday deeds and extraordinary ones, Joseph could be counted on. Faith and trust carried him through one step at a time, and the dreams came only in God’s good time. Are we attentive listeners, willing to await God’s good time for those dreams to be revealed and to mature?”
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Pictured from left: Jane Field SSJ, Cristina Diaz, Jean Laurich SSJ, Keith Stephens
and Eileen McNally SSJ
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Sisters who will make a pilgrimage to Le Puy in May receive a blessing.
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Pictured from left: Eileen Marnien SSJ, Regina Bell SSJ, Catherine Lockyer Moulton, Anne Myers SSJ, Maureen Erdlen SSJ and Teresa Shaw SSJ
Catherine, Chair of the Board of Directors, Chestnut Hill College, gifted us with the beautiful flowers on the altar.
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"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
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