The Sisters of St. Joseph (www.ssjfl.org) were founded in 1650 by a Jesuit priest, Father Jean Pierre Medialle in Le Puy, France. In 1866, the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in St. Augustine, Florida, following the aftermath of the Civil War. The need for the presence of these dedicated Sisters was made known by then Bishop of Savannah (Georgia) and Vicar of Florida, Augustin Verot. The Sisters of St. Joseph are present today in six of the seven Dioceses in Florida.

The Sisters of St. Joseph in St. Augustine, Florida, have been a part of my life since 1985. Having married and moved to North Florida, our only child, our daughter Seana was starting 1st grade at Epiphany School in Lake City. It was Sister Francis Cabrini, the principal, who met her at the front doors of the school and welcomed her with an embrace. Thus began the journey of meeting and knowing so many more of the wonderful sisters who worked in the Diocese of St. Augustine.

The Sisters minister in a variety of ways throughout the State of Florida. They were founded to do any work in which a woman is capable. They serve in education, hospitals, retirement homes, religious education, counseling, art and architecture and so many more areas throughout 6 of the 7 dioceses of Florida. They all exhibit what our gospel reading stated this past weekend, gifted in so many ways, and yet part of the whole that makes the one body in Christ. Even their mission states their committed direction:

The union of ourselves and all people with God and with one another in and through Jesus Christ.

With that understanding, the Sisters have initiated a spiritually grounded program geared for and directed to the laity who desire to live and share in the “mission and charism” of the Sisters.

The following is an interview with Sister Ann Kuhn, General Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph on the Associate Program – - a program which is changing lives.

Q: Sister Ann, what was the catalyst that began the move to create the Associate program?

A. Having a close association with the laity in both spirituality and ministry was a part of our founder’s vision and is described in our primitive documents. During the late 1970’s and 80’s many Sisters of St. Joseph Congregations across the USA began to revitalize the Associate Program.

Q. Who was involved in the formation process?

A. Sister Marie Therese Evard and a group of our sisters began in earnest the process of creating the program. Sister Marie Therese was the overseer of the whole program with different Sisters promoting the new program across the State of Florida. The Sisters began the program slowly and today we have associates throughout the state promoting our charism of union and reconciliation. slowly and allowed the formation to fine tune and continue to day to improve and adjust.

Q. When did the formation process start?

A. There was a proposal made in 1982 to initiate the program. The first commitment ceremony was held in 1990. We call Associates to share our ministry with us…to live out the charism in their homes and places of work, to take their particular talents out in the mission of the Sisters. Sometimes Associates work side by side with the Sisters, sometimes Associates work independently but always in the spirit of the Sisters mission and charism.

Q. What were the cornerstones of the program?

A. The union of neighbor with neighbor and all with God and to share our spirit, charism and spirituality with our Associates.

Q. How is the program formatted?

A. Prayer, ministry, and sharing with the Sisters in their mission. The Associate Program is to persons choosing association with the Sisters in their spirituality, apostolic works, and charism but without commitment to the vowed life. Associates are encouraged to live a life rooted in Scripture; to move toward a profound love of God and neighbor; to center their life in the Eucharist; to reflect simplicity, gentleness and joy in daily living.

Q. What is the discernment/training process? How does one become an Associate?

A. If you are interested in learning about the Associate Program, you can request information and receive an application form from any Sister of St. Joseph or you can contact the main office in St. Augustine @ 800-290-6867 or by ssjfl@bellsouth.net.

You will then have to receive approval as a candidate by the Directress of the Associate Program. It is then that the Associate candidate moves into discerning prayer, seeking the will of God while participating in available community experiences. The discernment process does not take any longer than a year. After a period of candidacy and approval by the General Governance of the Congregation, the Associate candidate is invited to participate in a formal commitment ceremony and celebration at the Motherhouse. Every year the Associates renew their commitment at a Congregational celebration.

Q. What do the Associates do?

A. Our Associates live a prayerful life and desire for a union among people; they offer their gifts through works of mercy; they care for and are concerned for one another and for their neighbor; they enjoy opportunities for spiritual and personal enrichment through retreats, days of recollection and community celebrations, both locally and Congregationally.

Q. What don’t the Associates do?

A. Our Associates do not make public vows; they do not live as members of the Congregation; they do not have a voice in the governance of the Congregation; they do not have financial obligations to the Congregation and are themselves financially independent.

Q. Who do you offer the program to?

A. The Associate Program is open to any person who has our charism and desires to share in the spirit and values of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, in its goals and ideals, and in its response to the call of the Gospel.

Q. How have the associates been beneficial to your Congregation?

A. The Associates bless us with their prayers. They share life with us and spread the charism of union with the “dear neighbor and share in our lives as well as allowing us to share their God given talents in the mission of our Congregation.

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THE MISSION OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH:

The life and works of the Congregation are directed to a single end:

The union of ourselves and all people with God and with one another

in and through Jesus Christ.

This purpose requires of the Sisters of St. Joseph docility to the Holy Spirit, profound humility and a zeal which is characterized by gentleness, peace and joy. The mission of the Congregation flows from the purpose for which it exists: to live and work that all people may be united with God and with one another. This mission is rooted in the mission of Christ, the same mission which continually unfolds in His Church:

“That all may be one, as You, Father, are in me, and I in you: I pray that they may be one in us…” (John 17:21)

To bring about this union, the Sisters “search out and undertake whatever works may best show forth the glory of God, encouraging and assisting those who desire to follow Christ more closely and working to alleviate the conditions which cause poverty, suffering and oppression.”

(Core Constitution)

The Sisters of St. Joseph are truly a blessed and remarkable Congregation of women who have brought the love of Christ to countless many over the course of the centuries here in Florida.

I would like to end with a quote from Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of the House of Representatives. This was a quote featured on a recent newsletter from the Sisters of St. Joseph:

“as we continue to celebrate Mother’s Day and the women who have enriched our lives, I would like to recognize a group of women who may not receive cards or flowers but act as mothers of the world.” She went on to say, “Catholic sisters continue to provide shelter, food, and basic human needs to the economically or socially disadvantaged and advocate relentlessly for the fair and equal treatment of all persons. Managing organizations long before such positions were even open to women, the bold passion of Catholic sisters established hospitals, orphanages, and charitable institutions. They were among the first to stand with the underprivileged, to educate or work among the poor and under served, established the nation’s largest private school system, and founded more than 110 colleges and universities.”

Such has been the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida; these Sisters have an unparalleled devotion and commitment to God’s people in the State of Florida.

Contact Sister Ann Kuhn, General Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph at: annabeth842@bellsouth.net

Visit the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida website: www.ssjfl.org

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