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The Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie are committed to clean water. We join with others and support a Blue Community. There is nothing more important than clean water. We need it for drinking, sanitation and household uses. Communities need water for economic, social, cultural and spiritual purposes. Yet water services and water resources are under growing pressure. Communities everywhere – including in Canada – are experiencing extreme weather, including record levels of drought, intense rain and flooding. At the same time, privatization, the bottling of water, and industrial projects are threatening our water services and sources. A growing global movement is taking action to protect water as a commons and a public trust. A commons is a cultural and natural resource – like air or water – that is vital to our survival and must be accessible to all members of a community. These resources are not owned privately, but are held collectively to be shared, carefully managed and enjoyed by all. A “Blue Community” adopts a water commons framework and treats water as a common good that is shared by everyone and the responsibility of all. Because water is essential for human life, it must be governed by principles that allow for reasonable use, equal distribution and responsible treatment in order to preserve water for nature and future generations.

Meet James Lazarou (95 years of age) and Sister Betty Mitchell (90 years of age). Working together they create beautiful blankets with James knitting strips and Sister Betty putting them together. The blankets have been donated to charity including the homeless aided through St. John's Church, Transition House and they are now also selling the blankets to raise money for the Gathering Place and the Food Bank. The blankets come in a variety of sizes. Yarn donations would be greatly appreciated. You can contact James at 705-494-7654. Click on the title to see James and Betty with one of their projects

World Oceans Day takes place every 8 June. It has been celebrated unofficially since its original proposal in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It has been recognized officially since 2009. World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans. The Federation Ecology Committee of The Sisters of St. Joseph prepared some prayers for our use. See the link below.

Men and women, ages 18-39, are invited on Friday, August 24 - Sunday, August 26, 2018, to join The Sisters of St. Joseph on a pilgrimage to North Bay, Ontario. Through interactive activities, prayer and fellowship, we'll delve deeper into our living faith. For more information and to register visit the Faith Connections website at: http://www.faithconnections.ca/event/2017/4736-living-faith-pilgrimage-to-north-bay. Also see poster below.

TO ALL PN, RN, RPN, PSW, etc.... Blessings to all wonderful caregivers during this special week. To those who practiced, to those who are still practicing, and to all those studying for this special ministry, we thank you.

We have begun our Chapter Days. Our chapter meeting room has a special design which is part of our theme of Widen the Space of your Tent. Please keep us in your prayers as we move through these days which end on Saturday, April 21.

A wonderful evening as Dr. Mark Scott shared his insights into the Ideas of Love in the Gospel of John. Our next event will take place on May 30, 2018 in Sudbury and Irene Nizzero, retired psychology professor will speak about Flourishing and Faith.

Read the article by Bill Steer in North Bay Community Voices - click to read more...

Spring - the season of new life....new possibilities. Spring was celebrated at St. Joseph's Motherhouse on March 20, 2018. Click on the title above to read about the beauty of this new season.

I have a bevy of Sisters in my life. Not the steal your sweaters, cut off all your barbie’s hair, never answer texts on time type (although I do have one of those who I also love to pieces), but ones of a religious order. I spent each Sunday for the first 14 years of my life with the Sisters of St. Joseph, taking for granted how they would enlighten my view of the world. As a child I became accustomed to seeing these women in roles of power and influence. Witnessing for myself the magic created when women come together and work towards not only a common goal, but the greater good. The success of their community relies on their respect for one another, their empathy and inimitable work ethic, which I would grow to accept as the status quo. In my adulthood I find myself dispelling myths and misconceptions about the lives these women lead. There is much more to them than the beautiful hymns they sing. Click on title to read the full reflection.

OBITUARY Sister Miriam Downey (Margaret Downey) August 16th, 1931 – February 11th, 2018 It is with sadness that the Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie announce the death of Sister Miriam Downey on February 11, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Motherhouse, North Bay, Ontario.

North Bay Food Bank - Sister Deenie Farenzena was awarded the Dick Dinnes Volunteer Appreciation Award for 2017 at our AGM last week. (posted on Facebook by North Bay Food Bank)

A celebration in their honour was held on the grounds of the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse in North Bay, Monday. People from all backgrounds and walks of life gathered to discuss the need for change.

Sisters of St. Joseph to finance nearly 4 million dollars in renovations at its Motherhouse to fill seniors housing gap

Canadian Canoe Pilgrimage participants travel down the Wye River near Midland as they start their month-long journey to Montreal Friday afternoon. (Andrew Philips/Special to Postmedia Network)

While Sr. Priscilla Solomon doesn’t mind the pat on the back, the real bonus of being named the 2017 Pax Christi Teacher of Peace is the chance to talk about reconciliation. “I’m quite honoured and pleased,” said the 75-year-old Sister of St. Joseph. “(It provides) the opportunity to say a few words about what I see as reconciliation between indigenous people and settlers.”

More than 30 people, comprised of Indigenous, Jesuit, English and French Canadian paddlers, will embark on a month-long, 850-kilometre canoe trip July 21 in response to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Following a traditional First Nations canoe trade route, the Canadian Canoe Pilgrimage (CCP) will begin at Midland, Ontario up Georgian Bay, travel across the French River, Lake Nipissing, the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers, and end near Montreal.

Today, the Algoma Conservatory of Music in Sault Ste. Marie dedicated a piano classroom to Sister Immaculata. Below is a photo of a photo of her, along with the sign and view into the piano room. The celebration was attended by many of Sister Immaculate's family and friends, including several of the local Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie.