October Prayer Intention: A Church Open to Everyone
October 7, 2022
Each month, Pope Francis asks for our prayers for a specific intention. For the month of October, the prayer intention is for a Church open to everyone.
May the church be a community of solidarity, fraternity and welcome,
always living in an atmosphere of synodality.
Any prayer we pray, invites us to do what the words say. How challenging is this prayer of Pope Francis for his intentions for the month of October!
A Laudato Si’ Action Plan for the Josephite Community
The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, in collaboration with the Sisters of St Joseph Lochinvar, are delighted to launch their Explore~Embrace~Embody Laudato Si’ Action Plan for the Josephite Community on the anniversary of the death of their co-founder, Fr Julian Tenison Woods (7 October).
Explore~Embrace~Embody is a Josephite Action Plan for the next seven years and reflects the body of Catholic Social Teaching presented in Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’. The Action Plan embraces all Josephite women and men associated with the Congregations and includes Sisters, affiliates, Boards, staff, companions and those involved in Josephite ministries.
Josephite Mission and History Centre – An Oasis of Peace
September 23, 2022
This is the view frequently expressed by visitors to the Josephite Mission and History Centre in Hobart, Tasmania.
Here we acknowledge and celebrate the past to gain inspiration for the present and vitality for the future.
Many people speak of an atmosphere of serenity permeating the building and of feeling surrounded by peace. It has been suggested that this may well be the cumulative effect of the lives and prayers of the many Sisters of Saint Joseph for whom this was home for over a century.
Diamond Jubilee Celebration 2022
Sisters celebrating their Diamond Jubilees were delighted to come together as they entered the Chapel at Mary MacKillop Place for their Mass of Thanksgiving,
The marking of their Jubilees had, as had others, been postponed due to the pandemic. Finally on 15 September 2022, the Sisters were able to celebrate their commitment of 60 years as Sisters of Saint Joseph with fellow Sisters, family and friends.
Anniversary of Father Founder Julian Tenison Woods
This death anniversary (7 October) of Father Founder, Julian Tenison Woods, comes at a time of worldwide concern for our environment and all people, especially the most impoverished. ln this crisis we look to Father Woods, a natural scientist ahead of his time in recognising the interconnection of all creatures.
His scientific peers wrote after his death of his attainments, energy and thoroughness. They also invariably wrote of him, the man, and his way of relating to others.
Migrant and Refugee Sunday 2022
September 21, 2022
This year, we celebrate Migrant and Refugee Sunday on 25 September. The theme this year is Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees. As Josephites, this is a critical issue for us, and for our prayer and ministries.
As we know, Pope Francis has proclaimed Joseph as the patron saint of refugees, and in the Year of Joseph in 2021, we worked as Josephites with many migrant and refugee groups across Australia. This work involved reflecting on the plight of refugees, praying with them, and advocating with Government to improve their lives and ensure a welcome for them in our country.
Golden Jubilee Celebration 2022
September 19, 2022
The Sisters of Saint Joseph gathered on 3 September to honour 16 Golden Jubilarians at Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel at North Sydney. The Sisters arrived from Timor-Leste, Peru, Halls Creek in the Kimberley, Perth, Adelaide, Penola, Melbourne, Launceston, Brisbane and Sydney.
The Sisters had made their first profession 50 years ago at Baulkham Hills, Sydney, Goulburn and Hobart. Following the fusion of the Federation Sisters with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, the expanded group came together to renew their vows before a congregation of Sisters of Saint Joseph, family and friends including former Sisters.
Peace
September 8, 2022
We annually commemorate the International Day of Peace on 21 September. For this day, Sr Emilie shares a checklist by St Paul for people of peace, the peace of Christ.
In his letter, St James (4:12) asks the question: “Who are you to give a verdict on your neighbour?” James must have encountered people like us who are not yet sufficiently evolved in our humanity. We keep scorecards by which we ascertain whether this person or that person may join our club, so to speak. It is a scorecard of inclusions and exclusions, of divisions and conflict, of territories and invasions.