“Hearts open, minds awake, change us now for Heaven’s sake.
Leave us not alone in hatred’s wake.
Show us how to love, show us how to love.
Show us how, show us how to love…”
This beautiful song of prayer filled the Motherhouse Chapel with warmth and hope in September as Sisters Catherine Higgins, Christy Hill, Mary Parks, and Jean Uzupis prepared for their installation as the Congregation’s new Leadership Team.
Sister Sarah Crotty, who guided the ceremony, welcomed Sisters, Associates, Auxiliary members, staff, partners in mission, family, and friends into this sacred moment of affirmation and blessing – not only of the four Sisters elected to serve in June 2023 – but also the spirit of the Chapter and the direction of the Congregation over these next five years. Chapter, she explained, is “a marker in the life of the community, one where we commit ourselves once again to our vocation as Sisters of St. Joseph… that all may be one.”
Turning to face the challenges in our world and seeking always the ever-greater union of neighbor with neighbor and all in God, Sisters embraced the call to Radiate Love at the 2023 Chapter through “listening, vulnerability and forgiveness for the sake of the common good.”
Looking toward a grace-filled future with boldness and courage, the Congregation strengthened and reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the injustices of racism and the root causes of hatred and discrimination directed at marginalized persons, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and women, and to discovering new ways of sharing our legacy with a world so in need of love.
We continue to pray for God’s grace in co-creating new ways for our mission of serving God and the dear neighbor without distinction and our charism of unity and reconciliation to live beyond us through others.
We recognize that no matter how we respond to the critical needs of these times – through ministry, advocacy, or prayer, we do so with the grace of God’s great love. And we do so together, united in heart and hope with you, our dear friends and neighbors.