A Sister of St. Joseph's Blog

Sisters of St. Joseph: The Literacy Connection annual celebration

2014-06-11T09:24:00.000-04:00

Our June 11, 2014 issue of Soundings Update is now on our website

This issue focuses on The Literacy Connection's annual celebration of Gratitude and Accomplishment. As Sister Pat Andrews, CSJ, said of adult learners of The Literacy Connection in her reflections during the celebration:
"We recognize and congratulate you – your efforts and desire to speak English, to become more involved in your communities, and, for many, to become United States citizens. You are a gift to us! Your sacrifices, motivation, concern for family, and your abundant JOY are an example for us."

I also want to call your attention to the upcoming events at our Motherhouse. Know you are most welcome to join us...

June 15, Sun., 11:00am — Sunday Liturgy At Motherhouse with the Catholic Daughters of America – All welcome
June 18, Wed., 5:30pm – Motherhouse Liturgy
June 19, Thurs., 7:00pm —Taizé Prayer — Motherhouse
June 18, Wed., 5:30pm – Motherhouse Liturgy
June 22, Sun., 10:00am– Motherhouse Liturgy
June 26, Thurs., 5:30pm – Motherhouse Liturgy

CSJ Associates, The Women's Table, Evening w Priests & Brothers & more...

2014-05-13T17:30:00.000-04:00

This week's edition of Soundings Update is now available on our website at:

http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/soundings-update/soundings/

In this issue:

Associate Commitment-Recommitment 2014
The Women's Table Celebrates Five Years
Rosemary Brennan, CSJ, elected as Chair of LCWR Region I
Evening with Priests and Religious Brothers
Jackson-Walnut Park Schools Celebrate Sisters of St. Joseph 140th
Dates to Remember

If you have not already done so, take a few minutes to visit these areas of our website and The Women's Table website and watch the videos/slide shows

An Internet hint: Wherever you go on our website you can always find your way "home" by clicking the flame icon in the upper left corner.

The video of the children at Jackson-Walnut Park Schools in Newton telling the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph is worth an Academy Award...don't miss it -- it's my personal favorite!

http://www.csjboston.org/who-we-are/celebrating-140-years/140th-opening-liturgy-and-more/

It's the third video down on the current list and can only be accessed at this link. It's not on our YouTube channel.

Finally: Our celebration of the Evening with Priests and Religious Brothers is included in this week's post on Cardinal Sean's blog at: http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/

You will need to scroll down toward the end of the blog entry for the segment about us.

The Women's Table of the Sisters of St. Joseph

2014-05-04T20:31:00.000-04:00

The Women’s Table:

promoting connections, compassion, outreach, unity, and community

Five short years ago, The Women’s Table was brought to birth by William Cafferky, the Founding Sponsor whose critical question prompted Marilyn McGoldrick, CSJ, to dream into the future. Many Sisters of St. Joseph had influenced his life as well as the lives of his three daughters and he wanted to give back. Bill asked, “If you could develop a program that would empower women what would you do?” After much discussion, research, and prayer on the part of many people, The Women’s Table was born.

Click here to Read more and link to a slide presentation of the evening

Soundings Update & CSSJ Federation Gathering the Daughters 2014

2014-04-30T09:05:00.003-04:00

http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/soundings-update/soundings/
Check out our latest issue of Soundings Update.

Read about a Good Friday interfaith procession of the cross and the CSSJ Federation Gathering the Daughters 2014.
While you're there, check our website for liturgies and other events at which all are welcome.

If you don't think human trafficking happens in your zip code, think again.

2014-04-14T13:53:00.000-04:00

S.O.A.P. (Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution)

If you don't think human trafficking happens in your zip code, think again.

….an outreach program sponsored by the Boston Unit of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Brighton, MA: On Saturday, April 12, the Boston Unit of the LCWR Anti-Trafficking Coalition hosted a S.O.A.P OutreachCampaign led by its founder, Theresa Flores. This SOAP Outreach was a hands-on, action orientated initiative aimed to broaden awareness of hotel/motel managers and owners of the reality of human trafficking in the Boston Area.

How did the SOAP Outreach Campaign get started? On her worst night, being auctioned off to nearly two dozen men in a dingy, dirty, inner city motel; Ms. Flores recalled the only item that would have reached out to her, a bar of soap with which to clean up. With that in mind, she created SOAP-Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution. Since its founding, SOAP, an Ohio based group, has partnered with the non-profit, Be FREE Dayton to distribute thousands of bars of soap labeled with a red band that gives the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (888.3737.888) and key identifying questions to high-risk motels.

During the Boston area SOAP Outreach, over 70 participants wrapped thousands of bars of soap, prepared them for distribution, and traveled to approximately 40 area hotels. While participants packaged the soap, Theresa offered suggestions on how to approach hotel managers and shared her story as a survivor of human trafficking. 100,000 American youth are being trafficked right now. The average age of entry into prostitution in the US is 12-14 years of age. Theresa emphasized that there is no such thing as teen prostitution. If you are under 18, you are a trafficking victim. As the second leading crime worldwide and in US, human trafficking is an epidemic.

In visiting hotels, small groups spoke with hotel managers about human trafficking, offered posters with pictures of young girls in this area who are being trafficked right now, and asked that they make the soap available in their hotel. As participants returned from visiting the hotels, most reported that they were greeted with a combination of respect, concern, a desire to do more, and some disbelief that this actually happens right here. Before and after each SOAP Outreach, Flores compares calls made to the National Trafficking Hotline to report incidents of human trafficking. Usually there is an increase in reported incidents -- an indication that this initiative is making a difference.

SOAP Outreach offers those concerned about human trafficking an opportunity to do something concrete in the ongoing battle to end this crime against human dignity. SOAP is made possible completely through the generosity of supporters. Across the country, SOAP Outreach Campaigns are being offered by schools, churches, and other. For more information about SOAP or to learn how to host a SOAP Outreach Campaign visit: www.traffickfree.com.

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Anti-Trafficking Coalition of the Boston Unit of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious [LCWR]. Members of LCWR are Catholic women religious who are leaders of their orders in the United States. The conference has approximately 1500 members, who represent about 85 percent of the 57,000 women religious in the United States. The conference develops leadership, promotes collaboration within church and society, and serves as a voice for systemic change. Visit their website www.lcwr.org. The Boston Unit of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious includes sixteen Congregations representing over a thousand women religious in the greater Boston area.

###

SOAP is an Outreach that aims to distribute thousands of bars of soap with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number and key identifying questions FREE to local motels. Volunteers talk to motel owners and managers and provide them with a quick overview of what is happening to young girls in their hotels. Learn more about SOAP founder, Theresa Flores, and her plight to stop human trafficking by sharing her slave story in the book, The Slave Across the Street. Her human trafficking organization, Traffickfree is focused on building awareness through the S.O.A.P. outreach, speaking at colleges, churches, and more.

Sisters of St. Joseph: In Our Own Words

2014-04-03T08:05:00.002-04:00

Got 3 minutes? View our latest video "Sisters of St. Joseph: In Our Own Words" which premiered on March 27, 2014 at our first annual Living the Dream Dinner. http://www.csjboston.org/who-we-are/celebrating-140-years/celebrating-140-years-video-series/

Got another 3 minutes? Our latest edition of Soundings Update is now available on our website.

Living the Dream: celebrating the Sisters of St. Joseph 140 years of Service in Boston and Beyond

2014-03-31T13:37:00.003-04:00

Living the Dream:

celebrating the Sisters of St. Joseph

140 years of Service

in Boston and Beyond

Brighton, MA: In celebration of the Sisters of St. Joseph 140 years of service and presence in Boston, over 350 friends, former students, and supporters attended the first annual Living the Dream dinner held on March 27, 2014, at the Seaport Hotel. For 140 years, the Sisters of St. Joseph have educated countless students. In the year 2014, they continue with enthusiasm and dedication to respond to the needs of the “dear neighbor” within the Archdiocese of Boston and beyond.

During this event, Margaret and Paul Chisholm were the honored recipients of the Dear Neighbor Award. Service to all God's people is part and parcel of Margie's and Paul's lives. Their service to others extends beyond their local parish of St. Raphael, West Medford. Outreach to the people of God is an integral part of their lives as they share in the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph through continued service of the dear neighbor without distinction. The award was presented by Sister Rosemary Brennan, President of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and Sister Adela Rodriguez, the artist who created the award. Earlier in the evening Mike Sheehan, CEO of the Boston Globe and MC for the evening, introduced Sister Adela along with Sisters Rita McCormack, Catherine Ginty, and Pat Andrews who were featured in a newly created video titled Sisters of St. Joseph: In Our Own Words. [click the title to link to the video]

Pauline Fillman, The guest speaker for the evening, touched the hearts of all as she reflected on the various ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph that have reached out to her and her family saying, “Words cannot express how grateful I am to you Sisters of St. Joseph for your belief, faith, and tenacity, even during times of adversity, in carrying out your mission – caring for the dear neighbor. You have offered a helping hand to others and myself through housing and education.”

Pauline’s story is repeated over and over in thousands of lives touched by the work of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Today, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston provide support for countless individuals in need throughout the Boston area and well beyond. Many sisters, associates, and lay partners volunteer as literacy and citizenship tutors, advocates for survivors of human trafficking, and companions to the aged and infirm. Others provide counseling and spiritual companionship for those who desire to deepen their relationship with God. A few of these ministries include St. Joseph Retreat Center, The Literacy Connection, Casserly House, and The Women’s Table.

This event was co-chaired by John E. Drew and Francis Dillon who coordinated an enthusiastic committee of volunteers. Due to their hard work and the generosity of many friends and supporters, this event raised $625,000 to support the retired sisters and enable the ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph to grow as they continue to respond to the needs of the “dear neighbor.” Learn more about the Sisters of St. Joseph and their ministries at www.csjboston.org .

Sisters of St. Joseph: March 25-Anniversary of Arrival in St. Louis

2014-03-25T07:16:00.000-04:00

Sisters of St. Joseph arrive in St. Louis, MO
Log Cabin where first sisters lived, prayed,
and taught.

Happy March 25. On this day in 1836 our first Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in St. Louis after a long journey from France. On our website, you can download a prayer that recalls that event and looks to our future at: http://www.csjboston.org/pray-with-us/prayer-in-the-cssj-spirit/

These women, who made it possible for Sisters of Saint Joseph to grow and flourish in America, were zealous women.

St. Joseph's Day: A special feast for all Sisters of St. Joseph!

2014-03-19T08:27:00.000-04:00

Each year I received a number of requests for this prayer. So here it is again. But this year, please note the information about the image of Joseph below the prayer.
Happy St. Joseph's Day to all!

Prayer to Saint Joseph

God of Great Love, Your Son, Jesus, was nurtured by St. Joseph.

May we look to Joseph as our model of justice, gentleness, and humility.

May we, with Joseph, nurture the life of Christ in our lives and in the lives of others

uniting all people and all creation with God and with one another.

May Joseph’s life inspire us to be a hopeful, healing presence within our world.

Amen.

Joanne Gallagher, CSJ

Joseph Painting: by Eliseo Rodriguez, uncle of Adela Rodriguez, CSJ. . As a pupil of “Los Cinco Pintores”, who founded the famed artist colony in Santa Fe, Eliseo Rodriguez is often know as the “sexto pintor.” He is best known for reviving the Hispanic art tradition of straw applique. This painting came from Christo Rey Convent, Santa Fe, NM and is now on display as part of a three-part panel in St. Joseph Hall, Framingham, MA.

The Promise of Francis: Casserly House & Sisters of St. Joseph, featured in Globe Magazine

2014-02-23T14:39:00.000-05:00

We are happy to share that Nancy Braceland, CSJ, and Casserly House http://www.casserlyhouse.org/ are featured an article by Neil Swidey in this Sunday's Boston Globe Magazine.

Three people are featured: Fr. Walter Cuenin, Mark Mullaney, president of Voice of the Faithful, and Nancy. Nancy's and Casserly House appear in the last segment of the article.

The Promise of Francis: The new pope has gotten worldwide attention with a dramatically different message.

Here's an excerpt from the portion of article about Nancy and Casserly House:

SISTER NANCY BRACELAND leads me down her street and onto a winding path through a low-income apartment complex. A member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, she runs the congregation’s Casserly House, a three-decker in Roslindale. The wood-carved sign by the front door reads “Rooted in Boston. Open to the World.” Sister Nancy lives upstairs with two other nuns who have jobs elsewhere to help pay for the house. Working with volunteers and her fellow nuns, Sister Nancy ministers to the needs of the community. In the mornings, they run ESL and citizenship classes for adult immigrants out of Casserly’s first floor; in the afternoons, homework tutoring sessions for neighborhood kids. The Sisters of St. Joseph opened Casserly House in 2000, and by now Sister Nancy has become one of the most recognizable faces in the neighborhood.

There's a lot more...so follow the link above and read on!

Visit the Sisters of St. Joseph Website for our latest news!

2014-02-20T09:53:00.000-05:00

You are invited to read our latest issue of Soundings Update at:

http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/soundings-update/soundings/
IN THIS ISSUE:
Furthering Our CSJ Mission in New Mexico
— by Mary Ellen O’Connell, CSJ

Announcing Volunteers in Mission 2014

Accompaniment and Solidarity: Observers at El Salvador’s Elections— by Judy Swett, CSJA

Please note: the Date for Taize Prayer is March 13 [not 20 as listed on page 2] all are welcome!

Sisters of St. Joseph & The Joseph Family Movement & 140th Anniversary Video

2014-02-06T07:26:00.000-05:00

You are invited to view the second video of a year-long series which highlights The Literacy Connection and other ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. Follow the link below to our website where you can view it.

http://www.csjboston.org/who-we-are/celebrating-140-years/celebrating-140-years-video-series/

View other Boston CSJ videos on our YouTube channel also accessible through the social media links on each of our website pages.

Our latest edition of Soundings Update is also available on our website at:

http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/soundings-update/soundings/

In this issue:

The Joseph Family Movement -- a presentation with Pat Bergen, CSJ

Announcing the National Catholic Sisters Week: to ignite a movement around the lives and the contributions of Catholic sisters.

Sister of St. Joseph moderates interfaith panel on 50th anniversary of Vatican II

2014-01-17T07:31:00.000-05:00

One of our sisters, Mary Gowern, CSJ, lives in Louisville, KY, and was interviewed yesterday on local TV about an interfaith panel that she is moderating this weekend.
Watch the brief video at this link.
http://www.whas11.com/great-day-live/video/Sister-Mary-Gowern--240527701.html

If you happen to be in the Louisville area, you might want to participate!

Sisters of St. Joseph: Living the Dream Dinner

2014-01-10T10:46:00.000-05:00

Join us at the first annual

Living the Dream dinner

Celebrating 140 years of service by

The Sisters of Saint Joseph

of Boston

Proceeds from this event

will directly support

the retired and infirmed.

Save the Date: March 27, 2014

Dinner at the Seaport Hotel, Boston, 5:30-9:00 PM

Living the Dream Dinner

For more information, please contact Carol McKean at

781.925.3459 or livingthedream@csjboston.org

Learn more about the Sisters of Saint Joseph at

www.csjboston.org

Video Celebrating Sisters of St. Joseph 140 Years in Boston and Beyond

2014-01-08T07:34:00.000-05:00

We are happy to share the first video of our Boston CSJ 140th Anniversary with you. This was an idea [a dream!] of the CSJ 140th Communications/PR committee.

A screen shot of Celebrating 140 Years and Beyond 1

To bring this dream to life, our Assistant Director of Communications, has worked long and hard videoing, editing, and creating this first in the series. It can be found on our website on the "Who We Are" page at the link on the right:

Celebrating140 Years and beyond

We will keep you posted about upcoming videos as we continue to celebrate 140 years Sisters of St. Joseph ministry with and among the people of Boston.

Sisters of St. Joseph Announce Heritage Pilgrimage for October 2014

2014-01-04T09:50:00.000-05:00

True pilgrimage transforms...

On this day in 1836, the first four Sisters of St. Joseph departed from Lyon, France, for a long journey to the New World. One hundred and seventy eight years later we have about 4,000 sisters, about 2,800 associates, as well as a small group of agrégées, and thousands ministry partners in the United States alone. World-wide this number is more than double.

And so this seems as good a time as any to let you know about another journey planned for October 2014. Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston are sponsoring another CSSJ Heritage Pilgrimage open to Sisters of St. Joseph, associates, agrégées, and ministry partners in the United States and Canada.

Here are two links where you can learn more about how to participate in this pilgrimage. Please contact me if you are interested.

In the Read About section of our CSJ Boston Website: a downloadable brochure will be available shortly.

http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/press-releases/announcing-cssj-heritage-pilgrimage-1021-1101-2014-/

On website of our travel agent, Celestial Voyagers -- On this site you can download a brochure with all details.

http://celestialvoyagers.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=details&id=111:Sisters+of+St.+Joseph+Le+Puy+2014&Itemid=3

Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston - New Year 's Greetings

2013-12-31T10:24:00.000-05:00

Blessings to all in the New Year! As we enter into 2014, I would like to call your attention to the events listed on our CSJ Boston website.
These include:

Sunday and Weekday Liturgies for the next two months
Prayer Vigil for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
Associate Gatherings
Taize prayer for January and February

If you are in the area, please know you are most welcome to join us. There is always room in the circle!

Prayer in the Spirit of the Sisters of St. Joseph

2013-12-16T07:38:00.001-05:00

I would like to call your attention to a relatively new feature on the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston website. The page is called "Prayer in the CSSJ Spirit." At the moment there are three prayers available for download:

Sisters of St. Joseph -- Beginnings in France

The first and third of these prayers were developed for our Corporation for Sponsored Ministries Boards of Trustees and are being made available to a wider audience through our website. The second is a prayer developed several years ago during one of the Bearers of the Tradition Institutes at Manna House of Prayer in Concordia, KS.

As we add to this page, you are welcome to download any of these prayers for your use. Every effort has been made to credit sources used in these prayers. We ask that, if you adapt them, you, too, credit the sources and let us know of edits by by contacting the Boston CSJ Communications Office.

Thank you!

Sisters of St. Joseph Remember the Churchwomen of El Salvador

2013-12-10T10:22:00.000-05:00

Our latest edition of Soundings Update is posted at:

http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/soundings-update/soundings/

Learn about our prayer service commemorating the Churchwomen who died in El Salvador in 1980. 33 years later, we gathered to remember and celebrate their lives and legacy and to support the ongoing work of SHARE El Salvador.

Don't miss page 2 for information on how to join with the Boston Anti-Trafficking Coalition for a prayer vigil on January 11, 2014, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Read more about this at:

http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/events/prayer-vigil-for-human-trafficking-awareness-day/

Massachuetts Immigration entrepreneurs

2013-11-20T15:40:00.003-05:00

Did you know...?

Sisters of St. Joseph: Remember the El Salvador Churchwomen

2013-11-14T13:48:00.000-05:00

Remembering the Churchwomen

of El Salvador

A prayer service

to remember

the United States Churchwomen

martyred in El Salvador

will take place

at 5:30 p.m.

Monday,

December 2, 2013,

at the Motherhouse Chapel

of the Sisters of St. Joseph,

637 Cambridge St.

Brighton, MA.

As women of the Church rooted in the Gospel whose mission is to deepen relationships with God and neighbor, the Sisters of St. Joseph invite you to join us as we pray for these women and the people of El Salvador whose struggle continues.

All are welcome.

Bring a friend.

Call 617.746.2102 for further information.

Soundings Update: November 13, 2013

2013-11-14T13:33:00.000-05:00

Our latest issue of Soundings Update is packed with interesting information. It's now available on our website at: http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/soundings-update/soundings/

Please check out the Dates to Remember on page 2 and think about joining us for some of these gatherings.

Sisters of St. Joseph fulfill World Series wager in style

2013-11-09T22:13:00.000-05:00

Sister Rosemary presents baseball
to Sister Patty

It should surprise no one that the World Series wager between the Boston and St. Louis Sisters of St. Joseph was fulfilled in style at the 2013 CSSJ Leadership Assembly. On Friday afternoon the entire group took a few minutes to witness the presentation of $101.00 promised by the St. Louis CSJ Provincial Leadership Team for Bakhita House. As a “consolation prize,” the Boston CSJ Leadership Team presented the St. Louis Sisters with a Red Sox pennant, a baseball signed by Larry Lucchino, and $101.00 toward their ministry in Uganda — all in the spirit of inclusive love!

Sisters of St. Joseph - Soundings Update 10/30/13

2013-11-01T07:23:00.001-04:00

Click here October 30, 2013, Soundings Update to view our latest online newsletter.

http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/soundings-update/soundings/

In this issue you can read about:

Sisters of St. Joseph & Allston/Brighton Business Leaders Fall Luncheon a longer article is available on our website at:

http://www.csjboston.org/news-and-events/press-releases/sisters-of-st-joseph-and-allstonbrighton-business-leaders-annual-fall-luncheon/

It appeared in last week's Allston-Brighton Tab and, just yesterday afternoon, was posted in it's online version at:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/allston/news/x2132747025/Sisters-of-St-Joseph-luncheon-a-success

Vatican II: and Unfinished Building Site
with Richard Gaillardetz
at CSJ Motherhouse 10/26/13

St. James, Haverhill, Maintains Connections

An immersion experience in the original spirit and global dimension of our CSSJ charism -- more to come in the next edition of The Bridge

Vatican II: An Unfinished Building Site – with Richard Gaillardetz

Dates to Remember: please note most of these dates are open to the public -- especially our Motherhouse liturgies. You can also find information about upcoming events on the News & Events page of our website.

Sisters of St. Joseph

2013-10-18T14:12:00.002-04:00

Here is a link to two short slide shows of events that happened this past week:

Sisters of St Joseph & Allston-Brighton Business Luncheon

Regis College Students Celebrate CSJ 140th Anniversary with Sisters of St. Joseph

enjoy...