This week we are invited to pray for the Sisters of St. Joseph living and ministering in India. There are 1036 Sisters, and 203 Associates from the congregations of Annecy, Chambéry, and Lyon.

June 15, 1967 - Opening of the Sister Margaret Smith Clinic in Thunder Bay - click on title for link to our Archives page for photos and more details

This week we are invited to pray for the 3 Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon ministering in Honduras

During the French Revolution-Reign of Terror in 1793-94, five Sisters of St. Joseph are known to have been executed for their faith. They refused to make the oath of allegiance to a secularized constitution and protected priests who also remained faithful to their faith. On the night of Saturday June 14, 1794 Marie-Anne Garnier (Sister St. Julien) arrived at the peasant Best farm in Bruac a village of the Le Puy Diocese to hide with the ailing Father Francois Mourier whom she was caring for. Jeanne –Marie Aubert (Sister St. Alexis) arrived shortly afterwards with two chickens for the sick priest. The National Guard invaded the Best farm that night, arrested those present and took them to the prison at Craponne. The interrogation by the Criminal Tribunal of the Haute Loire on Tuesday June 17 was summary and sentenced to death six of those captured. Fr. Francois Mourier was guilty of refusing the required oath of Fidelity to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and yet staying in France and exercising a clandestine ministry in the area of his former parish. Sisters St. Julien and St. Alexis were guilty of sheltering a priest from justice. They were guillotined along with farmer Best, his wife and sister and another 76-year-old pastor on the evening of that same day. On August 5, 1794, The entire community of Sisters of St. Joseph at Vanosc met the same fate for sheltering a priest: Antoinette Vincent (Sister St. Croix), Marie-Anne Senovert (Sister madeleine) and Madeleine Dumolin (Sister Toussant). The painting includes three Sisters, so it likely represents the August 5 1794 executions.