From their foundation in 1866, the Sisters of Saint Joseph have lived among the people, sharing their daily lives and responding to the needs of the time. This is led by a Josephite spirituality which is grounded in the lived experience of daily life.
Today the Sisters, and those who support the Congregation, conduct their work through four main areas:
- Church organisations
- Government and/or not-for-profit organisations
- Individual projects and
- Josephite Ministries or Sisters of Saint Joseph Incorporated Works:
These Works are an expression of the Sisters of Saint Joseph’s mission. They are a way of progressing and expanding the original charitable actions of the Congregation.
What it means to be Josephite
At its centre, being Josephite means being grounded in the Josephite charism inspired by one of Mary’s well-known quotes:
Never see a need without doing something about it.
Being Josephite means being in mission with a humble heart – with a belief that this is God’s work and we are participants in that mission. It means being grounded in the Josephite charism, in the lived experience of daily life. It springs forth from a sense of earthiness, connected to the beauty and messiness of life. It is about creating the space to awaken the mystic which flows into compassionate action.
For those of us who live the Gospel with a Josephite heart it means being grounded in the knowledge of who we are with our giftedness and weaknesses, with our feet on the ground and our sleeves rolled up.
People who live the Josephite Mission are increasingly supporting and enabling the works of the Sisters to continue and flourish by becoming a Josephite Affiliate or Companion, a Sisters of Saint Joseph Works Board Director, volunteering for Josephite works, or joining social justice and advocacy groups.
Ways of Responding
For more information on ways to respond and get involved visit the Ways of Responding and Responding to Need pages.