Sisters of Saint Joseph: Collaboration Locally and Globally

This week's issue of The Pilot has a special section on Vocations. If you have access to a hard copy of this edition, there is an article about the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston on pages 5-6. the title is Sisters of Saint Joseph: Collaboration Locally and Globally.

Unfortunately The Pilot does not post their special sections on their website. So our webweaver has posted the article on our website at http://www.csjboston.org/pr-vim2011.htm

The article tells a little about Taize prayer that is offered each month at our Motherhouse and about our Volunteer in Mission program which will happen at the end of June.

Sisters of St. Joseph: Soundings Update 11/10/10

The latest issue of Soundings Update is now available on our CSJ Boston website.

In this issue:
• Human Trafficking -- Raising Awareness in Saugus by Mary O'Rourke, CSJ
• Day-long pilgrimage to exhibit: Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America
  This week's issue of The Pilot, our Boston Catholic newspaper has printed our article about this visit to the exhibit.
This crime of human trafficking sometimes leaves people feeling helpless because it something that is often hidden in our midst. In this issue of Soundings there are three events coming up that offer an opportunities to do something that raises awareness and leads to action on behalf of survivors of human trafficking.

And...
As if all we hear about human trafficking isn't enough, a few months ago one of our SCJ Associates introduced us to yet another form of forced labor [a.k.a. slavery]. Her company, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceutical, has posted a  YouTube video titled "Be the Difference that Makes the Difference." It introduces us to this company's pioneering initiative in collaboration with Save the Children, India. Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceutical aims to help improve the lives of children working in the brick kiln factories in India. The video is just under seven minutes. If you've never heard of the brick children, this is a real eye-opener. Joanne, our CSJ Boston Associate, traveled to this area of India as part of this project and can be seen in several of the slides.

Being and Becoming Sisters of the Neighborhood of Boston and Beyond

This week our archdiocesan newspaper, The Pilot, has a special section titled "Women Religious/Vocations." We have an ad and an article in this section. If you have access to a hard copy of the issue, our ad is on page 6 and the article on page 7. However The Pilot does not seem to include their special sections on their website. So I've posted the ad, the article, and the accompanying pictures here.

Since 1873, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston have listened to the call and remained true to the dream of our foundresses “to undertake all the spiritual and corporal works of mercy of which women are capable.” In 1650, Father Jean Pierre Médaille advised six women who became the first Sisters of St. Joseph to “divide the city.” They were to go out into the various districts, discern the needs of the people who lived there, and respond to those needs. Today, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, share this mission with more than 13,000 Sisters of St. Joseph and 5,000 Associates in over 50 countries throughout the world.

As “sisters of the neighborhood,” we have served the people of greater Boston in countless ways for over 135 years. With excellence tempered by gentleness we make every effort to be faithful to our roots and meet the needs of people and seek to do whatever is possible for women to do. An ever-deepening fidelity to our founding spirit and mission calls us to be among the people of God in many and varied ministries. We serve as educators, lawyers, nurses, family therapists, social workers, health professionals, patient advocates, spiritual directors, parish ministers, hospital chaplains, campus ministers, theologians, psychologists, physical therapists, technology specialists, companions for those in need, advocates for the poor and marginalized, administrators, secretaries, artists, authors, musicians, poets and a multitude of other professions.

We are ordinary women doing ordinary things with an extraordinary vision rooted in the profound love of God and all God’s people. We desire to reach out to the “Dear Neighbor” without distinction enabling her/him to be embraced by God’s active, inclusive love. Our mission and the needs of the people have also brought us to places outside the Boston area including New Mexico and Peru. As a community of vowed apostolic women with a contemplative stance toward life, we seek to serve with “a generous heart.” We go wherever there is a need.

Recently we took a corporate stance decrying modern day slavery, the trafficking of women and children. Compelled by the gospel of Jesus, we are working to raise consciousness about this evil and to move people to action that will eradicate this sin against humanity. This past year, we also initiated “The Women’s Table.” Just as our earliest Sisters and Associates gathered around the hearth in Le Puy, France, so “The Women’s Table” strives to be a hub that promotes hospitality and connections among women, through circles of prayer, support groups, advocacy, networking, workshops, educational enrichment, and skill development. – all with an emphasis on empowerment of women from all walks of life.

Today, the tradition of loving service that began in 17th century France and continued in Boston in 1873 sustains us as we live into the twenty-first century. In community and prayerful contemplation we listen to this Spirit and move always toward profound love of God and love of neighbor without distinction.

Through our mission, ministry, and the witness of our lives we work to bring harmony to a dissonant world and unity where there is alienation. “We believe in both the possibility and the power of reconciliation and seek to let God bring about unity in our lives and in the lives of our sisters and brothers.”

Together with our Associates we embrace:
Gracious hospitality
Love and service of the Dear Neighbor without distinction
Peaceful resolution of conflict and
Care for all God’s creation.