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Watershed Event 2021 October 15 - 9 am - click on title for link

Saturday November 6, 2021 will be the 85th Anniversary of our Sault Ste. Marie Congregation. Our generous God has graced us with countless and overflowing blessings over the years! Name as many convents and ministries as you can, including their location, which were assumed by our 121 founding Sisters from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough at the time of the 1936 separation.

This week we are invited to pray for the 11 Sisters of St. Joseph ministering in Sri Lanka, 10 Associate companions and for the people of that country. The Sisters belong to the Congregation: Institut des Souers de Saint Joseph, and Congregations of Annecy and Lyon. In 2008, the Indian Province extended an invitation to the laity to live the charism of the Congregation by forming SJL Associate. Also responding to the needs of the time, in 2011 The Indian Province began to take new paths by moving out to newer mission stations in Sri Lanka. After the bifurcation, the Indian Province christened itself as St. Joseph Province and now has 29 communities spread out in India and Sri Lanka. Specifically, in Sri Lanka, the Sisters are present in the communities of Manalkadu, Nochchikulam and Vankalai and are engaged with compassion and creativity in various apostolate and services including education, preventive and curative health, a pastoral and family apostolate for the formation of the Faith, and formation and collaboration with associates. Additional details and photographs can be found at: https://www.stjosephlyon.org/where-we-are/st-joseph-inde/?lang=en In the news: while daily count of COVID is decreasing, Sri Lanka is still experiencing a high number of daily infections. Please hold them in prayer. United in prayer, the Global Joseph Family, 7850 Sisters, 5700 Associates, 34 Agrégées in 45 countries, listening to the heart of the world.

See the latest update on our Blue Community Page

This week we are invited to pray for the Sisters of St. Joseph ministering in West Africa, and especially for the Novices in Senegal and for the people of that country. The General or Regional councils of the various congregations of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon have been working together since 1980 in the region. Between 1989 and 1999, the Sisters served in Youtou in the Casamance, Senegal. Then, in 1999, the West African Region was established. Presently, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon are serving in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast. In 2011, the St. of St. Joseph of Lyon (https://www.stjosephlyon.org/), the Institute, and the congregation of Annecy (http://srsofstjosephofannecy.org/index.php/en/where-we-are) worked out a plan for a common novitiate which began in Senegal with four Novices (in October 2011). Please hold these Novices and the Sisters ministering in West Africa in your prayers. Background: Senegal has a population of around 16 million and is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Primarily a rural economy, almost one half of the population live below the poverty level of $50/year (2018). Please hold the people of Senegal in prayer.

This photo was taken in one of the “aldeas” (villages) in the diocese of Zacapa, Guatemala circa 1962 - 63. Mother St. Edward (Norean McColgan) and Mother Assistant Joan (Viola Rochon) both on the left and Sister Emelia (Shirley Caicco) on the right are introducing Mother Francis Xavier (Hamilton, second from right) to their mission which they opened in 1962 in Gualan in the Zacapa Diocese. The Sisters, seen riding on donkeys, were greeted by the villagers. The Hamilton Sisters opened their mission in Teculutan, Zacapa the following year.

Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land Statements in English and French

It is with sadness that The Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie announce the death of Sister Marion MacDonell (Sister M. Alexander) on September 20, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Motherhouse, North Bay, Ontario.

This week we are invited to pray for the 6 Sisters of St. Joseph ministering in Romania and for the people of that country. The Sisters belong to the Cuneo and Aosta congregations in Italy. August 25, 2021 Sister Cristina Ilies wrote on the Cuneo website about the kindergarten where they serve as a presence animating human and Christina values. “Let us rejoice and breathe with them a climate of faith, love, gratitude and benevolence for all that God works in this very small reality. I believe that the world needs God. So I consider it fundamental to educate the children we approach to the faith, so that they can build their world with him.” For photos: http://www.suoresangiuseppecuneo.it/index.php/quadri-di-vita/dalle-missioni/1750-educare-i-bambini-alla-fede Pope Francis visited Romania in 2019. For photos from the Aosta community: https://www.suoresangiuseppeaosta.it/sezione.php?s=195&l=it In the news: Romania is experiencing a huge rise in Covid cases. Please hold them in prayer.

This week we are invited to pray for the 9 sisters of St. Joseph of the Brentwood Congregation, who minister in Puerto /Rico. We pray also for the people of that country. For the history of Academia Maria Reina see: http://mariareina.com/history/ To enjoy videos of hope and delight see: http://mariareina.com/videos/

Read the September 14, 2021 update by clicking on our title and follow the link to our Blue Community Page

What is happening in this photo? Where? Who? When? What? Stay tuned in early October for the answer.

October 22 and 23 Facilitator: Sister Lea Joanisse

This week we are invited to pray for the 2 Sisters of St. Joseph from the Chambéry Congregation ministering in Papua New Guinea, and for the people of that country. Issue: Climate change A Conservation International study covered 10 Pacific SIDS in particular, who currently rely on their tuna populations and who may face empty seas and revenue streams in the near future. These are: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tokelau and Tuvalu.

Mark your Calendars October 22 and 23 Facilitator: Lea Joanisse csj

It is with deep sadness that The Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie announce the death of Sister Margaret Cushman on August 13, 2021. Click on title to read obituary

The Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada is seeking an executive director. Click on title for link to Federation page for job description, etc. Deadline for applications of Monday, August 16, 2021.

This week we are invited to pray for the 31 Sisters of St. Joseph living and ministering in Japan. They are from the Congregation of St. Joseph and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

On June 30, the Board Chair of St. Joseph's Hospital Elliot Lake, Elaine Johnston, presented Sister Trina Bottos with a 15-year service pin for her commitment as a CHSO (Catholic Health Sponsors of Ontario) representative. Jeremy Stevenson, CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital wrote "Thank you Sister Trina for your service with us! You have been an anchor for our organization."

Sisters Shirley Caicco (Emilia), Jean Castonguay (Helen) and Kathleen Roy (Suzanne) were the first of eleven CSJSSM missionaries sent to the small village of Gualan, about 165 km east of Guatemala City in the diocese of Zacapa in Guatemala. The economy is based on farming and fishing. They were the first of our foreign missionaries who had to learn a new language, Spanish. They were invited by the Franciscan Bishop Costantino Cristiano Luna OFM, bishop of Zacapa from 1955 – 1980 and a Council Father at Vatican II. He was recognized for his care of the poor and suffering. The mission had been opened earlier by Bishop Alexander Carter and Fathers Conway McKee and James Cashubec were already working in the parish. The initial work of the Sisters, after studying language and culture at a Maryknoll School was teaching and parish work. Sister Shirley Caicco saw the need to organize a workers co-operative so she returned to Canada to study at the Coady International Institute at Antigonish, NS and returned to Gualan to set up a cooperative (still active today) among the farmers. In her seven years there (November 1961 – 1969) working in community development and social leadership, Sister Shirley formed the Credit Co-operative, developed health and hygiene programs, set up a mid-wife program, founded the community library and developed youth leadership projects. The latter included basic reading, writing and math skill as well as sacramental preparation. Eleven Sisters were subsequently missioned to Gualan over the sixteen years (1962 – 1978) we had committed to serve the people of the diocese. The photo was taken November 11, 1962 at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption at a ceremony presided over by Monsignor T.J. Crowley since Bishop Carter was at the opening session of Vatican Council II.