JJAMM (Joseph, Julian and Mary MacKillop) 2023
And that’s a wrap on JJAMM 2023! What a fun, empowering, and faith-filled ride it was. Our Josephite student leaders journeyed across Australia and New Zealand to join forces in their collective pursuit for justice in the name of the Josephite tradition. It was a privilege to watch these gifted and insightful young leaders reinvigorate […]
Feast of Saint Joseph 2023
Greetings on the feast of Saint Joseph. Currently, the Church worldwide is engaging in the Continental Phase for the Synod on Synodality. As Patron of the Universal Church, we might pause to reflect on the spirit of Synodality in the life of St Joseph. The word ‘synodality’ means ‘walking together’. Through the Gospel stories, we […]
Feast of St Joseph 2022
Joseph, a Man who Engaged with his Neighbours Over these past few weeks, we have seen and experienced the gift of being a neighbour as Ukrainian families flee into neighbouring countries. Joseph, Mary and the child Jesus knew this experience when they were forced to go to Egypt fleeing the wrath of Herod. In Australia […]
The End of the Year of St Joseph
What a wonderful collection of reflections we have had on Saint Joseph to mark the 150th year of St Joseph being declared Patron of the Universal Church. Launched on 8 December 2020, this special year concludes on 8 December 2021. A highlight of this year for us as the Sisters of Saint Joseph, was to […]
A Josephite Companion’s Reflection on Father’s Day
For the Josephite Companion Movement, 2021 has been a year of new beginnings: a new name and structure, and new ways to “Gather Together”. We have surmounted many obstacles and climbed many hills. We have had meetings and prayer sessions via email, video, phone, Zoom and, in some lucky cases, in person. All this has […]
Book Review: Journeying with Joseph
The title of the book, Journeying with Joseph, offers a broad canvas on which the authors explore and honor Joseph, whom Christians know as the foster father of Jesus. The idea of the work evolved from the creative mind of its editor, Mary Cresp rsj, and from Josephite history impregnated as it is with the […]
New Publication—Journeying With Joseph: Josephite Essays for the Year of St Joseph
In response to the proclamation by Pope Francis of 2021 as the Year of Saint Joseph, the Sisters of Saint Joseph have published a new book of essays: Journeying with Joseph: Josephite Essays for the Year of Saint Joseph. The collection, edited by Sr Mary Cresp and published by ATF Press, explores the many facets […]
St Joseph: An Encounter
An encounter is an unexpected meeting. Thus there is always a surprise element in an encounter. Sometimes hearing the same story over and over we can miss the element of surprise and take for granted that there is nothing new in what we are hearing. When we listen to the Scripture passages referring to St […]
Feast of Saint Joseph 2021
Sr Monica’s video message. Feast of Saint Joseph (19 March) Be creatively courageous like Joseph.Pope Francis, Patris Corde, No. 5 On 8 December 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church. Pope Pius IX was the Pope with whom Mary MacKillop met in Rome in 1873. On 8 […]
St Joseph – Fr Julian’s Example and Guide
In his last circular to the Sisters of Saint Joseph two years before his death, Fr Julian Tenison Woods affectionately reminded the sisters about what was essential for their Josephite lives. Julian exhorts the sisters to follow the example of their patron, St Joseph. We are to try to teach [others] by the example of […]
Reflection on Mary MacKillop
In his Apostolic Letter With a Father’s Heart (Patris Corde) Pope Francis has proclaimed this year as the Year of St Joseph. In writing, Francis describes St Joseph “as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father, a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in […]
A Communion of Companions
Mary and the men on the founding Monogram: A communion of companions. In May this year, Sr Marie Foale wrote on the founding Josephite Rule written by Fr Julian Tenison Woods in October 1867 (First steps towards the Foundation of the Order). This Rule, lived by Mother Mary and her early companions, was signed by […]