In this our sesquicentenary year of the arrival in New South Wales of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, we offer this meditation.

November is the month of All Saints and All Souls so, in our Josephite story, this is our special focus:

Let’s begin with a quote from Joyce Rupp:

Spiritual kinship is not necessarily based on personal ancestry, although it may include people from this lineage. Spiritual kinship consists of characteristics we resonate with that keep us united with the virtues of these ancestors. Kinship of the spirit affirms core beliefs and attitudes. It keeps us attuned to what we consider to be of greatest value and fortifies it. Spiritual kinship motivates us to have similar intrinsic qualities drawn forth from ourselves.

Return to the Root – Reflections on the Inner Life. Pub Sorin Books ©2021 Joyce Rupp p195

The Josephite charism is a ‘spiritual kinship’.

In this meditation let’s open our hearts and minds to three focal points.

1. Significant Steps in our Journey
   

   For example:

   150 years since the Perthville foundation
   140 years since the Goulburn foundation
   Expansion in New South Wales to four Provinces of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart
   Unification of the four Provinces
   Three Congregations fusing into one Region.

   What other significant steps have been formational for you?

2. Significant People on Whose Shoulders We Stand
   

   For example:

   Sisters in Leadership
   Generous benefactors
   Salt-of-the-earth Sisters, family, friends and partners in ministries
   
   Who are the people that have kept the spiritual kinship strong and supportive for you?
   

3. Significant Ministries that Have Kept the Charism Alive

   For example:

   Education – primary, secondary, tertiary
   Orphanages
   Hospitals
   Parish and Pastoral roles
   Social Justice Outreach – feeding, clothing, housing
   Aboriginal Partnerships
   Advocacy for the marginalised, forgotten, voiceless, victims of slavery, violence, discrimination
   Administration and management that keeps the wheels turning

   What other good works have brought life, love and healing for you?
   

Let us pray:

Psalm 80

You companion us through the wilderness,
Through the shadows created by fear.
You plant your Seed into each heart.
You cultivate the soil of our goodness.

Truly in You, we become like a tiny acorn,
holding the secret of a mighty oak.
You nourish us with the food of love,
with streams of Living Water.

Receive our gratitude, O Heart of all hearts!
Look upon us and see what Love can do;
Rejoice in the new birth that you create!

May those who have borne the fruit of love
Radiate your Spirit into the world!

Praise to you Living God,
Birthing, nourishing, sustaining.
Glory to you now and forever.  Amen.

Josephite Prayer Book, Vol 2, p. 293

Song:

All is Well

Briege O’Hare osc

When our life on earth is ended and the last day of the world,
We shall all be gathered in the presence of our God.
And in the things which now are hidden,
Which we cannot understand,
We will then see clearly God’s loving, guiding hand.

          Chorus:

None of us will say “If we had known these things,
There need not have been the pain”.
Instead, there will be joy at the amazing love
In everything ordained.  And we’ll cry,
“Lord, may you be blessed for all is well.
Lord, may you be blessed for all is well
Lord, may you be blessed for all is well.
All is well forever.”

For in spite of all our pain and the sorrow we endure,
God is truly with us and his love forever sure.
It is his will that we should know
We are always in his care – God holds us in such love
We never need despair. Chorus

© 2001 Hermitage productions Used with permission

Blessing: