Edition No. 125 — May 14, 2020
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Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker
A Day to Honor Sister Mary Veasy SSJ
and Sister Susan Lindinger SSJ
May 1, 2020
Edward J. Lis
Director Catholic Mission Integration
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Today the Church recognizes the witness of Saint Joseph the Worker, acknowledging that the foster father of Jesus was a man accustomed to working for a living to provide for his family, and who taught his trade of carpentry to his son Jesus in their little shop in Nazareth. While the proper feast day of the Sisters of Saint Joseph (SSJ) is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19, there has never been a more appropriate time to honor two of the SSJ sisters who we count now as our own here in the Developmental Programs Division—
Sister Mary Veasy SSJ
and
Sister Susan Lindinger SSJ
. These wonderful women of faith and service each reflect and embody so well the commitment of Saint Joseph the value of hard work well done with both creativity and dependence on God. Indeed, the witness of Good Saint Joseph for all workers in every time and place, especially now during this Covid-19 pandemic, is that work is more than a job— it’s a value through which we fulfill our God-given talents and potential for doing whatever good work there is to be done, in service of the whole human family, as we participate in God’s ongoing creative and saving work in the world. We are so blessed to have you among us, Sister Mary and Sister Susan— you are daily reminders of God’s unconditional love for us in the way that you accompany us through every joy and sorrow, and how you stand shoulder to shoulder with your brothers and sisters every day.
The founder of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Jesuit Father Jean-Pierre Médaille, endeavored in the mid-nineteenth century to form the first women to join the new congregation in a “spirit of littleness, hiddenness and self-emptying love” that would help the sisters to grow in love of God and neighbor, to consciously place their ego in the service of love, and to grow in freedom to choose the greater good in all their actions and relationships. The Sisters of Saint Joseph commit themselves to live and work so that the prayer of Jesus to the Father—“that all may be one” may be fulfilled. We attest to the ministry of Sister Mary and Sister Susan among us as God’s instruments of that love, freedom, and unity. Father Médaille wrote a list of 100 “spiritual maxims” to guide the spiritual growth and pastoral ministry of the sisters. Three of those maxims speak eloquently of the way that Sister Mary and Sister Susan walk among us:
1) Let your life be a continuous act of love;
2) Always speak positively of others and affirm their good qualities;
and
3) Endure temporary hardships for the sake of the greater good.
These two women truly reflect the words of the congregation’s 2019 Chapter Direction Statement: We, Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia, commit to be joyful, courageous witnesses to the gospel imperative to active, inclusive love. Informed by communal discernment and liberated by God's Spirit, we move boldly into the future.
Congratulations, Sue and Mary, on this beautiful tribute as you continue to be joyful, courageous and bold witnesses of inclusive love in your ministry at Divine Providence Village.
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Pictured center: Mary Veasy SSJ
Pictured right: Sue Lindinger SSJ
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Sisters Share How They Are Living and Working During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Saint Mary Newark, NJ
In an effort to serve our “dear neighbors” during this pandemic, the sisters at Saint Mary, in Newark are continuing to feed the hungry—packing hundreds of bags! Every Saturday the line gets longer
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Sister Linda Klaiss handing out food.
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Pictured from left: Linda Klaiss SSJ, Maureen Patricia Walsh SSJ and
Ann Marie Gass SSJ.
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Saint Cecilia School, Pennsauken, NJ
Sister Alicia Perna SSJ
, Principal of Saint Cecilia School, a Catholic Partnership School located in Pennsauken, New Jersey sent letters that her kindergarten, first, and second grade students sent to the sisters at Saint Joseph Villa to cheer them up.
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Asbury Park, NJ
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Mt. Carmel School is a K-8 parish school in Asbury Park, NJ. It will be 100 years old in 2023. The school has primarily served the immigrant populations that have called Asbury Park their home. In 1923, it was founded for the Italians who moved from Italy to Asbury. In the last 35 years, it has served the African-American students, the Haitian students and now the students are 85% Hispanic, primarily from Mexico.
During this pandemic, a number of outreaches have been accomplished.
- The school was closed on Friday, March 13, and the teachers have continued to instruct their students online and every family was provided with a Chromebook as needed. The teachers have actually continued some of the enrichment classes that the school normally provides: art classes on Monday and Friday, CrossFit on Tuesday, drama on Wednesday and cooking on Thursday.
- During the week of March 16-20, students and families were invited to “grab and go” for breakfasts and lunches each day. However, the principal realized that many families in need were afraid to leave their homes during this time. As a result Teri Craig, Principal, organized a delivery of meals to 60+ families on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week of a total of 960 breakfasts and lunches dropped off to the students’ homes. This began March 23 and has continued till today.
- This morning Jersey Mike’s Subs prepared 170 box lunches for these families and donated them. The Mt. Carmel delivery vans picked up the box lunches and delivered them with the regular breakfast and lunch deliveries.
- Finally, Sister Jude Boyce SSJ, Development Director, requested 2 emergency grants from the Congregation and due to the coordination of Sister Jane Field SSJ, the school received aid for our families. 30 + families have been helped with this grant money for food cards to Shoprite and for paying utility bills such as electric, water, and gas bills.
- Next week, the Convent in conjunction with the School is going to send a delivery of lunches to the Firehouse and Police station as a thank you for all they are doing on the front lines.
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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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