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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.

This week we are invited to pray for the 23 Sisters of St. Joseph and 12 Associates ministering in the Ivory Coast. The Sisters are from the Congregations of Aosta, Institut des Souers de Saint Joseph, and Lyon.

This week we are invited to pray for the 400 Sisters of St. Joseph, and 336 Associates in Italy. They are from the following communities: Aosta: https://www.suoresangiuseppeaosta.it/?l=it Chambèry: https://csjchambery.org/pt/inicial Cuneo: http://www.suoresangiuseppecuneo.it/ Pinerolo: http://www.suoresangiuseppepinerolo.it/ San Giuseppe: http://www.istitutosuoredisangiuseppe.it/ Although you not be able to apply a translator app to these web sites, please enjoy the photos and hold all our Sisters and Associates in prayer. Click on title for links to all pages

Through Shalom Place - via zoom - click on title for link for more information

This week we are invited to pray for the 22 Sisters of St. Joseph from the congregations of Annecy, Chambéry and Lyon, who are living and ministering in Ireland.

Happy Father's Day to all dads. S. Marie and S. Jeanne wore ties to honour all fathers.

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

What is happening in this photo? Who? what? When? Where? Why?

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.

Reflections from various sisters about how they answered various calls to grow, with the help of other sisters.

We, the Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada, commit to urging the local bishops in the dioceses in which we live and work, to join with all Canadian bishops to request that Pope Francis visit Canada and offer a formal apology to the Indigenous peoples of this land, as has been requested by many Indigenous groups. Will you join us? Full letter attached.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a statement regarding the remains discovered in British Columbia (click on title - available in French and English) Also, a statement was issued by St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB (link also available)

This week we are invited to pray for the 21 Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Vallier who are ministering in Haiti. We pray for the people of Haiti. Read about a project we have supported along with other North American Sisters of St. Joseph, helping to educate girls. We also appreciate that our own Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto had a long-standing mission in Haiti.

This week we are invited to pray for the 3 Sisters of St. Joseph from the Lyon Congregation who minster in Ghana. From the web site: VISION • To make education accessible to all without discrimination towards the integral human development • Through secondary education, provide a safe environment to enable the youth to discover their hidden talents and make them productive citizens to their country. MISSION • To empower the youth and promote fuller life by providing integral education at all relevant levels. • Formation of youth, imparting the Gospel values by adopting holistic approach.

New program on Finding Friends with Francis