St Josephs Spirit

Prepared by Mary Cresp RSJ

The Sisters of St Joseph

Founded by Julian Edmund Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop 1866.

Sisters of St Joseph Founded Le Puy, France, 1650

It was while I was in Auvergne that I formed the idea of the Sisters of St Joseph.
I found that in many parts of France, a convent system prevailed which was of great assistance to the Church in every way. The daughters of farmers and humble people were the sources from which the convents were recruited. They were not highly educated, nor probably very refined, but they lived a life of great edification, and supplied most of the wants which religious communities could fulfil. They lived in great poverty and simplicity, and there was no fine ladyism about them.
J. T. Woods, Memoirs.

Chapter Decision, 2001

To explore connections and networks with other Josephite Congregations throughout the world. Research was required for this.

World Context
We Christians have no road map for humanity. We have no more idea than anyone else what will happen to humanity in the next hundred or thousand years. So, with the disappearance of confidence in progress, we have to recover a genuinely Christian hope. If we may do so, then humanity will discover in us something for which it longs and which is ours to give.
Timothy Radcliffe OP

Our hope
The unity (communion) of all peoples with God and each other

To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
(1 Cor 12:7)

Charism

(Greek gift)

a gift of the Spirit given to persons and taken up by a group to carry out the mission of Jesus, serving with a special spirit which tells us something special about God.

Charism flows out of how the person understands God

What is the particular experience of God of our founders?

God is compassionate love. (The Hebrew word Compassion comes

from the same word as womb)

Gods compassion is shown through us to others.

The Sisters in the Providence should consider themselves the servants of the poor, and therefore treat the inmates with the most affectionate consideration. They must bear with much, and be mild and patient. No deserving poor person should be refused food and shelter, for the Sisters are only the administrators of a bounty which is Gods, who expects that everything should be done for His poor. (Book of Instructions, Of Charitable Undertakings) (Sisters) are to .. (make) their children happy by the way in which they show in practice that the service of the Lord is sweet. Let them remember that children will be attracted to Jesus by a bright smiling exterior, but would be repelled by too much gloom, or spoiled by boisterous hilarity. (First Rule, 1867).

How will those who share the Josephite spirit act?

What face of God will they try to show?

Julian Tenison Woods

Born in London on 15th November, 1832

Julian in France
In 1853 goes to France and tramps the countryside of Auvergne before entering the Marist Novitiate in Lyons meets small groups of working class religious women (Sisters of St Joseph of Le Puy) who minister with the poor, giving them religious instruction and teaching them basic skills so that they can support themselves.

New Horizons
1854 Julian returns to England and his family (because of ill health) Travels to Hobart Town at the suggestion of Bishop Wilson with a view to teaching and doing final studies for ordination He goes to Adelaide to join his brother 1855 Meets Bishop Murphy (Adelaide)

Ordination
1856 Julian places himself under the guidance of the Jesuits at Sevenhill to prepare for ordination as a priest in the Adelaide diocese January 1857 He is ordained and moves to Penola

Julian sees need for Sisters of St Joseph

(Recalling Sisters in France)

I had been accustomed to regard a

France

nun as one on whom a great deal of money had to be spent, and who must be raised above the labouring classes, both in means and in education. I felt instinctively that a nun to be one with the poor, and a servant of the poor, should belong to the humbler classes, especially as the immense wants of the Church in that direction could only be effectively and abundantly recruited from that class. But when I saw how the want was supplied in France, I made up my mind that I would use all my efforts to extend these institutions

to my own country, though I never dreamt of trying myself to establish a thing of the kind at that time, as naturally, it seemed utterly out of my power. J. T. Woods, Memoirs.

Australia

Why are charisms given by the Spirit?

1650

An Age of Turmoil
Reformation,
Wars of Religion,

Famine,

Social changes.

Religion and Politics mixed

Civic powers to Church Church needed civic permissions Power clashes

Women Religious

1650

Rome all women Religious to live enclosed in monasteries. Dowry required. No lower classes. Apostolic work joined to Monastery.

If needed for good of diocese, women could live as Apostolic Sisters if they did not look like nuns.
(not classed as nuns)

Some Bishops used civic powers to recognise them as consecrated

Father Jean-Pierre Mdaille SJ

Sisters of St Joseph

Lived in small, unnoticeable groups, serving God in the neighbour. Got lay women to work with them.

Work practical. Do whatever is in the power of

to do!

women

Sisters of St Joseph

in France

Dressed as widows Survived without strong male leadership (Fr Medaille

removed)

Push to become monastic

(rather than Apostolic).

Ministries gradually focussed on education, health care

History before Revolution (1790s) lost.

The Revolution
Six Sisters executed.

(1790s)

Many others imprisoned. Properties destroyed, confiscated. Sisters impoverished, homeless, returned to families.

Some carried on ministries as best they could.

After Revolution

(1807)

Sisters of St Joseph officially refounded 1807 (Mother St John

Fontbonne).

Religious (monastic) dress Hierarchical structure

(according to conditions laid down by Napoleon).

Apostolic Sisters now the accepted way of being Religious.

Mother St John Fontbonne

Branches of Le Puy Sisters of St Joseph Throughout World

Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart Throughout the World

Sisters of St Joseph from Le Puy and from Australia

Very similar:
God is found in ordinary life. Gods compassionate (or great) love is shown. ordinary, roll-your-sleeves-up approach, hospitality, practicality, being with the other, simplicity, humility, no fan-fare, serving God in the neighbour.

Not the only ones

but this is who we are!

Do you identify with Josephite? Is this your charism?

ordinary, roll-your-sleeves-up approach, hospitality, practicality, being with the other, simplicity, humility, no fan-fare, serving God in the neighbour.

Our aim - To signify hope

If our life in Christ means anything to you if love can persuade at all or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind.
Philippians 2:1-2.

Our goal