Congregation News
April 20, 2013
Jubilee Day in the Eastern Region -
Celebrating with Grateful Hearts!
The drums, cymbals, and trumpet from Aaron Copland’s Fanfare of the Common Man proclaimed the arrival of the jubilarians from the eastern region to the chapel at St. Michael Villa, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
The ten woman have a combined total of 525 years in ministry as Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace and have served in a variety of locations from New Jersey to Rwanda. Some of their ministries are: HIV/AIDS nurse, teacher, principal, Congregation Leader, member of the Province Council, and nursing home administrator.
April 3, 2013
Sheena George Enters the Novitiate
In gratitude and joy the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace invite you to join in welcoming Sheena George as novice! These were the words on the invitation to the ceremony which was held on April 3 at St. Michael Villa Chapel in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Sheena selected the songs and readings for the ceremony – Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord, the responsorial psalm, embodied the theme of the liturgy.
March 17, 2013
Covenanting Day in the Eastern Region
Many Sisters, Associates, pre-Associates and family members gathered on the chapel on the hill in Englewood Cliffs to celebrate the first covenanting of six Associates, the two-year renewal of three, the five-year renewal of three and the Lasting Covenant of four!
February 17, 2013
CSJPs Attend Rally on Climate Change
On a cold and windy February day, over 45,000 people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC, for the biggest climate change rally in US history. The CSJPs were there living out the congregation’s “Care of the Earth and Climate Change” commitment to “collaborate with others.
February 9, 2013
Annual Associate Day in the UK Region
On Saturday, 9th February, CSJP Sisters and Associates were welcomed by the Rearsby Community for the UK Annual Associate Day.
The speaker for the morning was Associate Sue Sanderson, who gave a superb and wide-ranging report on aspects of the current Drone Warfare carried out by the UK and the US against targets in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.
February 2, 2103
Paint Your Peace
On Saturday February 2nd from 9 - 3 PM our sisters and associates took the opportunity to go inside, nourish our inner self and connect with our creative expression in community at a “Paint Your Peace” Retreat lead by Linda Dumoff .
January 28, 2013
Come and See Gathering in Seattle
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace invite young women (20-40) who are interested in meeting Catholic Sisters and finding out about religious life and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace to attend a Come and See Gathering at one of our Community houses in Seattle on March 23, 2013.
January 28, 2013
CSJPs Support Faiths Calling-Interfaith Call-In To Prevent Gun Violence
Ensure that the voice of faithful Americans rings throughout the halls of Congress. On February 4th, call your Senators and Representative and insist that they act to prevent gun violence. Be sure to tell them you are a member of the faith community demanding action now. It's time to turn our shared grief into collective action. Visit the Faiths calling Website to learn more.
Link to Faiths Calling Website
January 2013
CSJP Sister Featured on US Bishop's Vocation Week Blog
Sister Susan Francois, CSJP's vocation story was shared on the U.S. Bishop's Conference blog as part of National Vocation Awareness Week in 2013: "Here was a group of women with the same spirit and desire to seek God’s gift of peace through justice that I had in my own heart."
October, 2012
Sisters and Associates Meet to Reflect and Plan for the Future
Associates and Sisters in all three regions (United Kingdom, Western United States, Eastern United States) of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace met this Fall to, in the words of Sr. Margaret Byrne, CSJP Congregation Leader "to call us all into reflection on where we are now, more than half way between the last Chapter and the next, what’s been happening in the Congregation, what’s ongoing now and what we hope for the future...But we’re not just looking forward, what’s even more important is to live in the here and now, so our Assembly will have that as a focus, too."
October 5 and 20, 2012
Three Women Continue on Their Journey to Become Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
On October 5, the CSJP's celebrated the reception of Juliana Ngozi Iwuagwa and Katrina Alton as Novices at a liturgy in Rearsby, England. On October 20, we welcomed Sheena George as a Candidate at a ceremony in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Both ceremonies were celebrated with great joy!
Read more about the UK ceremony...
Read more about the NJ ceremony...
Learn more about becoming a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace..
August 23, 2012
Archbishop J. Peter Sartain Blesses New Gaffney Hall
Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Associates, staff and friends at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue, Washington on Thursday, August 23rd for Liturgy and a Blessing of the New Gaffney Hall. Representatives of the various professional firms who helped with the new building, such as architects, engineers, and contractors, were also present for the blessing. There was an atmosphere of joy and a spirit of gratitude and blessing as we gathered to pray, bless and celebrate the completion of the project.
July 14, 2012
Jubilee Celebration in the United Kingdom Region!
Five women, whose total time ministering as Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace is 295 years, celebrated with family, friends, and Associates and Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.
June 23, 2012
Western Region Jubilee - Rejoice with Gladness!
Seven Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace celebrated their collective 395 years of love and service in religious life at Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue, Washington on June 23, 2012 in the presence of community, family and friends. Each region celebrates on a different day.
June 2, 2012
Archives Blessing
June 2, an absolutely magnificent day weather wise (a wonderful deviation from rain which had been forecast the morning), provided the backdrop for the Archives Blessing at Gaffney Hall, St. Michael Villa, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Sisters and Associates gathered to celebrate Founder's Day by participating in the blessing of our new archives.
May 9, 2012
Sisters Join Vigil to Save Korean Island of Jeju
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace joined more than 60 other advocates to stand vigil outside the Korean Embassy in London to urge that construction of a naval base for U.S. ballistic missles on the island of Jeju be stopped. Jeju Island, iis one of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature." also has more UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites than any other single location and is designated as a Global Biosphere Reserve.
Eastern Region Celebrates Jubilees with Grateful Hearts
The chapel at St. Michael Villa in Engelwood Cliffs, NJ was filled to capacity with families, friends, Associates and Sisters gathered to celebrate with this year's Jubilarians. This year fourteen Sisters celebrated a total of 810 years of ministry as Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace! Each region celebrates on a different day.
Spring, 2012
Carnival in Milot
Sister Maureen Boggins, CSJP writes describing the spirit of the Haitian people.
April 13, 2012
Sister Chero Professes Perpetual Vows
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace welcomed Sister Hellen Cherotich (Chero) Chuma into full membership on April 13, 2012.
Living Peace
Read the Spring 2012 issue of Living Peace, a biannual publication of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. In this issue of Living Peace we explore The Art of Peace—how the medium of art inspires the desire for peace and also how the practice of peace inspires art.
February - March, 2012
Spring Assemblies
Sister Teresa Maya, CCVI, a Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word, engaged us with her presentation CSJP Interculturality A Call. The topic was not only a timely one but also educational, enriching and challenging.
Spring, 2012
UN Update - Sustainable Development
In June, government leaders, NGOs, UN agencies and leaders from various branches of society will return to Rio de Janeiro for the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development referred to as Rio+20.
March 31, 2012
Ceremony of Welcome for Two New Candidates for Vowed Committment
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace welcomed two new candidates for vowed commitment, Juliana Ngozi Iwuagwu and Katrina Alton, at a ceremony of welcome held on March 31, 2012 at the CSJP Regional Centre in Rearsby, Leicestershire, UK.
February - March, 2012
Associate Covenanting
The CSJP Community in the three regions of the Congregation welcomed nine new Associates, thirty Associates renewed their covenant and two Associates made their lasting covenant.
Associates are women and men who live our spirit and mission in their different ways of life. Associates commit themselves to join with the CSJP mission of peace through justice by promoting peace in family life, in the church, and in society.
Read about the Western US region...
Read about the United Kingdom region...
Read about the Eastern US region...
February, 2012
Annual Associate Retreat
The Sisters and Associates in the Eastern region and the UK gathered in Rearsby, England and Englewood Cliffs, NJ on February 4 and 11 respectively for their annual retreat day. Both regions were blessed by the input of guest speakers: Jane Ellis in the Eastern US and Bryan Spence in the UK.
Read More about the gathering in the UK...
Read More about the gathering in the East...
January 6, 2012
Haiti Updates
Much has been happening in Haiti since our last update (June, 2011). Sisters Ann Crawley, CSJP and Maureen Boggins, CSJP began their ministry in Haiti in 2009 as a special project to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Their presence in Haiti has been a gift to the people as they struggle to recover from the effects of the horrific earthquake which occurred January 12, 2010. As we read Sister Ann’s most recent letter, we realize that both Sisters feel their gift is reciprocal - they have received much more from the Haitian people.
November 11, 2011
Sister Susan Professes Perpetual Vows
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace welcomed Sister Susan Rose Francois into full membership on November 11, 2011. Sister Susan professed final vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience during a Eucharistic Liturgy held in the Chapel at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue, Washington.
November 1, 2010
Living Peace
Read the Autumn 2011 issue of Living Peace, a biannual publication of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. The theme of this issue is Care of Creation and Climate Change. We explore the Congregation’s commitment to care of creation and climate change through personal choices and through the green decisions taking place in our ministries.
October - November, 2011
On From the Crossing Place: Fall Assemblies
Associates and Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace gathered in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Bellevue, Washington and Rearsby, England for our Fall Assemblies. The material for these meetings came from the listening sessions which took place in the three regions during this past year.
October 20, 2011
Care of Creation/Green Meeting
On October 12 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in our Eastern Region held a Care of Creation/Green Initiative meeting. All ministries in our region were encouraged to attend, chief executives, board members, administrators and key leaders in the Green initiatives.
October 12, 2011
Guild Retreat
On Thursday, October 20, 2011, some of our Sisters and the Guild Ladies went to Tenafly and had a Day of Reflection with Sister Marian Bandille, MFIC. "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is darkness, let me bring light..." and so in St. Francis' prayer for peace, suggestions are given for us to find peace.
October 8, 2011
BOUNDARIES - Response Team Education Session IV
The cool, overcast October morning failed to dampen the spirits or the interest of the more than 40 Sisters and Associates gathered at St. Michael’s Villa for this fourth program sponsored by the Response Team. Dr. Christine Hyde, a licensed social worker and sexologist, works with young people and adults on their sexual challenges, and also teaches medical students at UMDNJ. She states that healthy sexuality is her passion!
September 2011
Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the International Day of Peace
Sisters, Associates and friends gathered on Saturday, September 18, 2011 for prayer, contemplation and celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the International Day of Peace. Watch videos of the prayer and ritual and reflections by Sisters Carmel Little, Beth Taylor, Alexandra Kovats and Associate Annie Welch.
August 2011
Ceremony of Thanksgiving for Cedar Trees
On Friday, August 5, 2011, Sisters, Associates and representatives of the local Native American community gathered at St. Mary-on-the-lake in Bellevue, Washington for a Ceremony of Thanksgiving for the Cedar Trees that will be removed during upcoming construction projects. The Cedar trees, sacred to the native people of the Pacific Northwest, will be used to create totems, canoes, regalia, mats, hats, rattles, paddles and boxes.
July 30, 2011
Sisters, Associates, Attend a Barbeque at Villa Marie Claire Hospice
On Saturday, July 30, 2011, Sisters and Associates were special guests at a Barbeque, hosted by the Holy Name Medical Center Hospice program at the Villa Marie Claire in Saddle River, NJ.
June 16, 2011
Sisters, Associates, Employees and Many Others Gather to Celebrate the History of Our Publications
Sisters, Associates, employees, and many others gathered at St. Michael Villa, Englewood Cliffs NJ to remember and celebrate the commitment and history of our past publications.
June 11, 2011
Jubilee in Rearsby, England
There was much joy in the tranquil setting of the Sacred Heart Convent, Rearsby, Leicestershire on the morning of 11 June as the Jubilarians greeted Sisters, Associates and the Byrne family arriving to join in their celebration.
June 9, 2011
News from Haiti
(Excerpts from a letter from Sister Ann Crawley, CSJP who has been ministering in Haiti since October, 2009.)
Many are hungry and most people only have a meal every second day. The people living here in rural, mountainous areas are greatly affected as they depend solely on the earth to grow food to feed themselves and their families and unfortunately the torrential rains and hurricane has washed all the topsoil into the sea leaving the hot tropical sun to scorch the seed causing famine- like existence for the people of this land.
June 4, 2011
Jubilee Celebration in Bellevue, WA
Six Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace celebrated their collective 365 years of love and service in religious life at Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue, Washington on June 4, 2011 in the presence of community, family and friends.
May 31, 2011
Women Come and See about Vowed Life as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace
Congregation Vocation Director Sister Jo-Anne Miller, CSJP and regional vocation team members from New Jersey and the UK recently met with women interested in our community as part of our Come & See Days. There are now four women actively interested in getting acquainted and discerning a call to religious life as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace.
May 12, 2011
Haiti Update
Sr. Maureen Boggins, CSJP has been ministering in Haiti for over 1 1/2 years now. She describes how the people celebrated Holy Week and Easter.
April 30, 2011
Jubilee Celebration!
Sisters, Associates, family members, and friends gathered in the chapel at St. Michael Villa, Englewood Cliffs, NJ to celebrate the lives of 11 Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace whose total years in ministry as a Sister is 550 years!
April 10, 2011
Celebration of New Associates, Renewal of Associate Covenant and Two Lasting Covenants
At the close of our Western Spring Assembly, we gathered in the Chapel at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue Washington on Sunday, April 10, 2011 for our Celebration of Associate Covenant. We welcomed one new Associate, celebrated the reweal of covenant of seven associates, and affirmed the lasting covenants of two Associates.
March - April, 2011
CSJP's Participate in Spring Assemblies
During March and April, the three regions of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace participated in their Spring Assemblies. The theme was To Enhance the Beauty of the Whole: A CSJP Spirituality of the Care of Creation. Our presenter was Fr. Terrence Moran, CSJP-Associate.
March 20, 2011
Eastern Region of the United States Welcomes Three New Associates, Celebrates Two Lasting Covenants, and Ten Continuing Covenants
Three well known persons to the congregation joined the CSJP family on Sunday the 20th of March at St. Michael’s Chapel. Patricia Holliday, Father William Morris, and Sandra Pieroni, made their first Covenant at a liturgy celebrated by Fr. Dominic Fuccille CSJP-A.
February 12, 2011
Two Associates Make Their First Covenant in Rearsby, England
On February 12, Sisters and Associates gathered in Rearsby, England as two new Associates, Margaret Smidowicz and Mary Essex, made their first commitment and six Associates renewed their commitment.
February 18, 2011
Update from Sr. Ann Crawley on Haiti
Sister Ann Crawley, csjp sends updates on the current conditions in Haiti as of the first two months of 2011... I have been kept very busy the past few months with our many patients suffering the dreadful effects of cholera. Thank God it is on the decline now and we have fewer patients these days.
December 31, 2010
Walking the Labyrinth for Peace
Sisters, Associates and friends gathered at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue, Washington on the afternoon of New Year's Eve to walk the labyrinth for peace in the world. The Peace Labyrinth at St. Mary-on-the-Lake is modeled upon the labyrinth found at Chartres Cathedral in France.
December 11, 2010
Associates and Sisters Celebrate
The Sisters and Associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace from the eastern area of the United States gathered on December 11 at St. Peter’s auditorium in Englewood Cliffs, NJ for their yearly celebration of Advent, Christmas, and events of the past year!
December 7, 2010
Haiti Update
Sister Ann Crawley, CSJP has been in Haiti since the Fall of 2009. She writes and updates us on the continuing terrible conditions which the people have to face.
November 27, 2010
Advent Reflection Day
Associates and Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace gathered on the last Saturday in November in Hyson Green, Nottingham, England for a day of reflection. The day was prepared and led by Rev. Mary Essex, one of the Pre-Associates who is due to make First Covenant in February.
November 13, 2010
Nine Associates Renew Covenant
Nine Associates of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph ofPeace renewed their covenants during a Eucharist liturgy in the Chapel at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue, Washington on Saturday, November 13, 2010. Renewing their covenant on Saturday were Kathy Allard, Linda Anderson, Carolyn Blasdel, Lisa Brown, Susan Fox, Connie Fraser, Tess Haigh, Leona Muller, and Connie Nicholson.
November 1, 2010
Living Peace
Read the Autumn 2010 issue of Living Peace, a biannual publication of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. The theme of this issue is A Spirituality of Peace through Justice. Who are the Sisters of
St. Joseph of Peace, and what do they do? What is the
foundation on which the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace,
their friends and associates, have built their lives? Or, to
put it another way, from what source do we draw our confidence
and strength?
October, 2010
Sisters and Associates Participate in Fall Assembly Days
Sisters and Associates living in the three areas of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, the western United States, the eastern United States, and the United Kingdom, came together on three different weekends in October to strengthen our commitment to peace and nonviolence. We were blessed, enriched, and challenged by the presentation of Gina Hens-Piazza.
October 2, 2010
Sister Sukyi Professes First Vows
Sister Sukyi Hur, CSJP professed her first vows as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace during a Eucharistic Liturgy at St. Mary-on-the-lake in Bellevue, Washington on October 2nd.
September 26, 2010
Sister Brigid Celebrates ONE CENTURY of Life
Sister Brigid Martin, CSJP celebrated her 100th Birthday in Rearsby, England on September 26. Brigid's family and many of the Sisters enjoyed a birthday lunch and continued the festivities during tea when Brigid cut her birthday cake.
September 19, 2010
International Day of Peace Multi-Tradition Celebration
Sisters, Associates and friends gathered with representatives of various traditions at the Peace and Spirituality Center in Bellevue, Washington on September 19, 2010 in anticipation of the International Day of Peace. The United Nations International Day of Peace - marked every year on September 21 - is a global holiday when individuals, communities, nations and governments highlight efforts to end conflict and promote peace.
September 11, 2010
On Pilgrimage.....
On a blustery September morning eighteen pilgrims, Sisters and Associates of St. Joseph of Peace left Rearsby in an antiquated mini-bus to visit Coventry Cathedral and Leamington Spa Cemetery, the last resting place of our foundress Margaret Anna Cusack. Both places reflecting in differing ways the Congregation’s charism of peace and justice.
September 9, 2010
A Heart-Warming Haitian Story
Sister Ann Crawly, CSJP, has been missioned in Haiti for almost one year now. She writes in a recent letter, "I have just received the snap of my lovely boy Jamesly our first baby of the earthquake. Our little hero of about eighteen months, was found in the rubble with spinal, head and eye injuries. He fell from the arms of his stepmother when she was killed in the earthquake and his birth mother died when he was born."
July 5, 2010
Haiti Update
Dr. John Lovejoy, an orthopedic surgeon from Jacksonville, Florida arrived in Haiti four days after the earthquake and has been working with others on the team to provide earthquake victims with prosthetic arms and legs. Using as their motto, "The difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little time" these people have enabled many children, women, and men to receive their new limbs.
July 5, 2010
A Modern Day Pilgrimage
Sister Sukyi Hur, CSJP, a second year novice, recently spent three months in the United Kingdom as part of her formation program. One day, accompanied by Sisters Joan Ward, CSJP and Alexine Anderson CSJP, Sukyi embarked on a pilgrimage to the grave of Margaret Anna Cusack, Foundress of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.
July 4, 2010
CSJPs Declare Independence from Slavery on 4th of July
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace joined with other women religious in Seattle, Washington on July 4th to declare independence from slavery on behalf of victims of human trafficking. “As we celebrate our freedom this Independence Day,” said Sister Susan Francois, CSJP, “millions of women, men and children are in slavery like conditions. Slavery is illegal in every country, yet it is thriving not only in places like Southeast Asia, but here in Seattle and King County. We must declare our intent to Stop the Demand for slavery.”
July 2, 2010
Bringing Clean Water to El Salvador
One of the pediatricians on a health care mission to El Salvador noticed that in family after family the baby at breast was round and rosy, but the children who were no longer nursing were thin, pale and listless. She diagnosed likely cases of parasites or water-born bacteria. Sister Susan Dewitt, CSJP decided to investigate water filtration systems and with the help of donors is bringing clean water to communities in El Salvador. Sister Susan reports that a recent test showed that while the tap water had 110 coliform bacteria per 100 mililiters, the filter had none!
June 2010
Grimsby Students Support Haiti
Students in Grimsby, England presented a cheque for £481 to Sister Margaret Redmond of the Cleethorpes congregation of Sisters of St Joseph of Peace for the CSJP ministry in Haiti.
June 19, 2010
Six Jubilarians Celebrate 380 Years of Religious Life
Six Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace gathered in Rearsby, England to celebrate their Jubilees. The Jubilarians planned their own day of celebration to reflect their sense of gratitude to parents, family, Sisters, Associates and the many friends who over the years have offered them support, as well as for the joy they experience from being called to Religious Life as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace.
June 5, 2010
Eight Jubilarians Celebrate Founders Day and 475 Years of Religious Life
Eight Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace gathered at Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue, Washington on Founders Day, June 5, 2010 to celebrate their collective 475 years of love and service in religious life in the presence of community, family and friends.
May 19, 2010
Haiti Update from Congregation Leadership
It's quite some time since we sent out a message on Haiti; meanwhile, there have been some few articles in the newspapers and on TV but for the most part Haiti has disappeared from the international horizon. The people of Haiti, however, get on with trying to rebuild their lives and we can take some consolation from the support that continues to flow to Haiti from our Sisters, Associates and many friends.
April 17, 2010
Nine Jubilarians Celebrate 470 Years of Ministry
Celebrating With Grateful Hearts was the theme of the day as friends, families, and vowed and associate Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace gathered in the chapel at St. Michael Villa on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Jubilees will take place in the other regions later in the Spring.
March 2010
Spring Assemblies, Jubilee Blessings, Associates Covenanting
Sisters and Associates gathered in Elberon, New Jersey, Bellevue, Washington and Rearsby,England for our Spring Assemblies. We were joined by Sister Charlene Diorka, from the National Religious Vocations Conference for prayer and conversation around vocations. Springtime is also a season for Jubilee celebrations and Associate covenanting around the Congregation.
February 24, 2010
An Email from a CRUDEM Doctor
A very touching message from CRUDEM Doctor Kelly and 3 very moving videos showing what it is like in Haiti. If you look very closely, you will see Sister Maureen Boggins, CSJP in the video.