Edition No. 193—December 10, 2021 |
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Sisters of St. Joseph and Partners Proclaim Outside the White House: End the Misuse of Title 42! |
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Nearly 30 Sisters of St. Joseph, associates, and partners in mission from around the country joined NETWORK and other faith-based and secular immigrant rights groups Friday morning to call on the Biden Administration to end the misuse of Title 42.
Title 42 expels migrants arriving at the southern border without any due process and in violation of their legal right to claim asylum. The public health clause — initially enacted by the Trump Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic — remains in place by the Biden Administration today. The immoral use of Title 42 denies the God-given, inherent human dignity of our migrant siblings and the basic right to seek asylum protected under international law.
The day’s event featured stories from the U.S.–Mexico border and a prayerful demand to Catholic President Joseph Biden to end the immoral use of Title 42. Among those gathered outside the White House included a sister representing the Congregation of St. Joseph; 5 sisters from St. Louis; 16 sisters and associates from Philadelphia; and 7 sisters and high school students from New York.
Sister of St. Joseph Janet Kinney (Brentwood) — an attendee at the event — said the deplorable conditions she witnessed firsthand at the border compelled her to be present today. “It is a travesty,” Sr. Janet said, “I am here today to pray and act for justice for our immigrant friends who deserve our support.”
Santiago, a Honduran migrant living in Mexico for the past 11 years, shared at the public witness how Title 42 affects his family. Earlier this year, the violence became worse near his home, so his family “had to make the very difficult decision to migrate.” When he and his younger son went to the border for a way to request asylum, the immigration agents told him “the border is closed.”
Today’s public witness in Washington D.C. calls on all members of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph – sisters, associates, partners in mission – to call on the White House to immediately end the misuse of Title 42.
The event was organized by NETWORK, the national Catholic social justice lobby, and included testimony from migrants and immigration coalitions Haiti Bridge Alliance, and Welcome With Dignity.
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Black Catholic History Month
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Academy
Washington, D.C.
Sister Patricia Ralph SSJ
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I just love bragging about St. Francis Xavier! A couple of weeks ago in honor of Black Catholic History Month my 4th and 5th graders did a Black Catholic Live Wax Museum. The story is now the lead feature of the Catholic Standard. |
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Sister Patricia Ralph SSJ visits with student Joseph Chase as he portrays TODAY weather forecaster Al Roker. |
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Click here to read how St. Francis Xavier students bring historic and contemporary Black Catholics to life
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St. John's Parish
Newark, NJ
Day of Service
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In their recent letter to the Congregation, the General Council shared their reflection on the timeliness of the year of Joseph, especially in light of the many injustices in our world, our country, our cities and our neighborhoods over this past year. They invited us to pray, act, learn, listen and give as we ponder the question,“What can I/we do to make the world more just?”
On Wednesday, December 8th the Council participated in a day of service at St. John’s Parish in Newark, NJ.
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Pictured from left: Sisters Maureen Erdlen, Charlene Kostuk, Karen Dietrich, Eileen Marnien, Owen Patricia Bonner and Terry Shaw |
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Saint Joseph Villa
Blessing Our Participants in Governance
December 9, 2021
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Sister Owen Patricia SSJ welcomed all those gathered in the Villa Chapel for the prayer service: “Thank you for gathering with us to pray and bless our Congregation as we collaborate on the implementation of our Chapter 2019 directive on governance.
We are so grateful for the prayer, participation and good energy of our Sisters in this process and, as always, we rely on all of you ministering here at Saint Joseph Villa through your prayer and presence. We are also very pleased that so many of you are taking a role in the governance process.
Today, we pray that the Liberating Spirit of God will continue to inspire and open us to new ways of living our Mission and discerning our future together.”
As we pilot our governance model, we recall these words from our Constitutions: “Each of us affects the whole membership in a unique way since we influence both present and future as spirit and heritage become more deeply expressed in our lives. In the union which is ours by a shared charism we experience a kinship of grace in our dynamic response to the Gospel.” (Constitutions, Membership 97-98)
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“Create, implement and evaluate collaborative Congregational governance and decision-making processes that facilitate active participation, mutual empowerment and accountability.” |
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Sister Eileen Marnien SSJ prayed the closing prayer: “Your word is near, O Lord our God. Your grace is near. Come to us, then, with mildness and power. Do not let us be deaf to You but make us receptive and open to Jesus Christ Your Son, who will come to look for us and save us today and every day for ever and ever. Amen” ( Huub Oosterhuis, Your Word is Near)
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Thank you so much to everyone who prayed, supported and helped to promote this year’s Chance Drive!
Winners of the 2021 Chance Drive
Grand Prize Winner:
Ann Murray Cinelli – Middletown, DE
$500 Winners:
1. Joseph Kulick – Trussville, AL
2. Marian and Tim Doherty – Lawrence Township, NJ
3. Florence Keiser – Drums, PA
4. Patti Schmidt – Park Hall, VA
5. Denise White – Flourtown, PA
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Looking for Inspiration?
You can find it by clicking on images below!
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"With the help of God's grace and in fidelity to our founder's expressed wish, we live and work lovingly among all persons with a special preference for those who are poor, which calls us wherever we are to be in union with them."
— SSJ Constitutions #21
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