World Day of Prayer for Vocations

BE BEARERS OF A PROMISE:
A REFLECTION FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS, 2021

In these troubled days in our world, as we face the prolonged Covid crisis and all of its consequences, and as we experience social unrest globally, many of us long for a message of hope and promise. In his address for the 2021 World Day of Prayer for Vocations (April 25), Pope Francis reminds us that it is not simply a matter of waiting for these gifts of hope and promise to come to us but that we are all called to be the “bearers of promise” – God’s promise.

How? We are to listen for and search out God’s dream for our life and like the Apostles, Simon, and Andrew in Scripture (MK. 1: 16-20)  to follow it without hesitation.  More widely, in the gift of creation, we observe God’s design in the glorious diversity and unity of the Universe and as part of that design, we each have a vital part to play. It is to discover and embrace our particular call from God, for God, with God. As Pope Francis puts it, “We are called to be bold and decisive in seeking God’s plan for our lives”, and in turn to share that in our giftedness in the world. God does have a plan for each of us.

“God has created me to do Him some definite service; God has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission … I have a part in a great work.”

— St. John Henry Newman

As St. John Henry Newman said: “God has created me to do Him some definite service; God has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission … I have a part in a great work.” Each of us, no matter who we are, in our personal vocation (marriage, partnership, committed single life, consecrated life, diocesan priesthood), and whatever our particular gifts and vulnerabilities each have a part to play in a great work. Our own context matters – especially now, we change the world where our feet are and we do that by embracing and living fully our own call.

To embrace our vocation, Pope Francis says, is first to welcome an encounter with God. Francis reminds us, God’s call “is not an intrusion of God in our freedom; it is not a ‘cage’ or a burden to be borne. On the contrary, it is the loving initiative whereby God encounters us and invites us to be part of a great undertaking.” From that encounter with God, an encounter of joy and discovery, not unlike an encounter “with the person we wanted to marry or when we first felt the attraction of life of consecration”, we experience the exhilaration that is the source of our encounter with and commitment to the other in love.

So we pray, on this 2021 World Day of Prayer for Vocations, to listen and discover our call, to hear its resonance anew in each day of our lives, to affirm and accompany one another as each of us contributes to the great work of God in our world today and as each of us finds the courage to risk becoming “bearers of promise” in these days so hungry for hope. 

Sister Mary Rowell, CSJ
President | National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors

Celebrating Vowed Life

In 1997, Pope St. John Paul II instituted “World Day of Consecrated Life” as a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life.  This feast on February 2nd is attached to Candlemas Day, on which candles are blessed symbolizing the light of Christ to all peoples.  The Pope wanted to emphasize the gift of consecrated persons to the world and urged them to be, “true experts of communion and to practice the spirituality of communion” (Vita consecrate, n.46). 

Today, in “Laudato si” Pope Francis invites us to be “architects of universal brotherhood, custodians of the common home: of the earth and every creature” (cf. Encyclical “Laudato si”). He elaborates in “Fratelli Tutti,” “Be brothers and sisters towards all, regardless of faith, culture and tradition” (FT n. 100).  In other words, be ministers to the dear neighbor without distinction as our founder, Fr. Medaille directed in 1650.

Of course, the groundwork for the ability to be what is urged in papal encyclicals begins in the life of every individual religious congregation.  In a 2017 video, “Why We Love Our Vocation,” newer members were asked why they love their vocation. Their answers resonated with my own experience. For example, “It’s freedom to be in love with God and available for God’s people.” “It’s an opportunity to show a different way of being in the world.” “You pour your life into God and God pours life back into you.”  “It’s living with people who have similar values and support each other.”  An enthusiastic young seminarian declared, “Consecrated life is an adventure” and a dancing young Sister enthused, “It’s living in the joy of the Gospel.”

“standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me.”

As for myself, reflecting on my 54 years in consecrated life, I have been blessed in every way, “standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me.”  I am a part of the valiant women who strive to grow deeper into God every day.  Our overflow of God’s steadfast love pours into the world in service to God’s people.  Living in community can try my patience but it expands my mind and heart.  Loving support surrounds me.  If push comes to shove, I can reach out to any Sister and receive unconditional love.  If I am healthy, I’m encouraged to develop my talents in service to the dear neighbor.   If I am ill, I’m surrounded by healing care.

Father Hardy, Sister Jean, Sister Yvonne and Mary Jo at Sister Jean’s 50th Jubilee

I love how we support each other in happiness and sorrow. At jubilees, we can blow off the chapel roof with joyful song and celebration. In death, we are accompanied with prayer and solemnity.

Consecrated life is an amazing global network of generous vowed women and men leaving their nets and following Christ to minister to others in the joy of the Gospel.  Be assured that in the lyrics of Earth Mama, each of us can say, “I will stand a little taller, I will work a little longer and my shoulders will be there to hold the ones who follow me.”

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj

Sisters of St. Joseph, Community Photo, 1993

A Sister of St. Joseph … What Me?!

Why not you? Are you a single Roman Catholic woman seeking “more” in your life? Are you sensing a call that you can’t quite name? Have you ever considered religious life?

The Sisters of St. Joseph founded in Le Puy, France in 1650 arrived in Canada in 1851. Across the centuries these women of prayer have served God in their neighbour, living the Gospel in numerous ways always “listening” to the needs in an evolving Church and society. Today, we continue, “reading the signs of our times” in order to best serve where the world’s unmet needs arise. Today you will find Sisters of St. Joseph across the globe still serving the poor, the sick and most vulnerable with love and respect, still educating in a variety of settings, welcoming refugees, supporting seniors, teaching meditation and prayer to children, simply “listening” to people’s hearts and stories, providing spiritual accompaniment. We care for the environment in response to the call of the Church in our day. Sisters are active in interfaith and ecumenical prayer and dialogue. Sisters of St. Joseph initiate, lead and participate with others in vital social justice initiatives, such as addressing child poverty, protecting water sources for life, supporting life at every stage and in every way, reaching out to prevent human trafficking and caring for those caught in the trap, injustice and agony of modern slavery. Sisters of St. Joseph in their being, becoming and actions attempt to be the “real presence of Christ” in the contemporary world. We are all called to wholeness and holiness. Each of us has many gifts to bring. Perhaps your gifts are gifts that harmonize with the spirit, spirituality and mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Through the unifying love of Christ, Sisters of St. Joseph are animated by a life of prayer and a contemplative spirit in all times and places. We live with simplicity and compassion, nurture community, caring for God’s creation. We minister with active, inclusive love bringing healing and hope in God’s beautiful but broken world. We are “ordinary women, doing ordinary things for the extraordinary love of God”. Could this be you?

We invite you to take a look under the tab, “Becoming a Sister” on this website where there is new material inviting and guiding discernment of call and outlining the various stages of formation in the “making of a Sister of St. Joseph”.  Consider reading this part of our website .. You may be surprised by God or you may know a woman who may be interested. The invitation is to a life of love, a life of joy, a life of hope lived for God and others. A Sister of St. Joseph … what me? Why not?

Mary Rowell, CSJ
Vocation Director

Board Members Receive Civic Awards

At the Peterborough Civic Awards ceremony in June, two board members closely associated with our Sisters were honoured. Aspa Bouzinelos is a board member for Casa Maria Refugee Homes, a ministry of our congregation administrated by Sister Ruth Hennessey. She was chosen by the city for the 2015 Volunteer of the Year Award. Aspa was described by one nominee as a tireless worker for refugees. In 2015 during the Syrian crisis she worked with 40 different sponsorship groups, in addition to a full time job as a teacher for the Separate School Board. Her volunteer contributions continue to impact the lives of numerous families who seek refuge from war-torn areas or persecution in their own countries as she helps to move applications through the system. To quote another nominee: “We could not do our work without this person’s support.”

A Community Betterment Award was received by Stephen Kylie, chairman of the board of directors for the Mount Community Centre, the former motherhouse of the Peterborough Sisters.  In the citation that was read at his presentation, Steve was described as an inspired visionary who works to alleviate poverty. Through the Mount Community Centre he has brought to reality a grand idea to meet the needs of the poor in Peterborough. This huge project that he is spearheading, a heritage site known as The Mount Community Centre, will be preserved, restored and transformed by valuing the interconnections among the functions of the buildings, the land that surrounds it, and the people who experience this community asset.  He sets an example for the rest of the community to follow by emphasizing that community service is important, and inspires others to take on community service.

Joan Driscoll CSJ

Celebrating St. Joseph

March 19th marks the annual celebration of the feast of St. Joseph, our patron. It is a festive day especially dear to the hearts of Sisters of St. Joseph throughout the world. We are mindful of Joseph, that wise and caring carpenter of Nazareth who was the guardian and teacher of Jesus. During our lives, we strive to imitate the qualities of Joseph, the just man who lived a humble, ordinary family life with Jesus and Mary. 

In gratitude for our common call to live out the spirit of the gospel, we are mindful of our sisters in community who encourage and support us every day in sustaining our efforts to work in collaboration with others in transforming our broken world. 

We experience with joy our common call to live lives of self-emptying love as we seek to build relationships that make a difference in our global community. Although our sisters are scattered far and wide in ministry, we celebrate our oneness today and every day.