SISTERS of ST. JOSEPH of ST. AUGUSTINE, FL Next Step Newsletter May, 2017 St. Joseph Academy 2017 Mission Week Each year in March St. Joseph Academy students prepare for a week of mission activities. This year seniors headed for Belize and the Dominican Republic to provide cleaning, painting and services that would be of help. On boarding the bus the last day, they took off their shoes to leave for those whom they served, and headed for the airport bare footed. Other students remained in the St. Augustine Diocese, ministering in 13 different locations where there were needs to be met. Included in their services were individual trailer homes, Catholic Charities, Spanish Trails, SSJ Motherhouse, Cathedral Parish School and the Arc of St. Johns. They repaired homes, fed and spent time with the frail and elderly, provided social interaction, packed bags of food and personal items, painted, and landscaped. They did whatever they were capable. Their week of ministry was followed by reflection: Looking for Lazarus. Some of the comments given by the students as they shared their experiences with the Bishop and Carolyn Tucker and Grace thes.sisters after Mass and lunch on March 20th included: It was humbling to help those in need. I was privileged to go above and beyond what seemed to be the greatest need. Support and help can bring unity in the community. Momentum and Movement for Mission March 26-28th, the Atlantic Region of the Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph sponsored a conference entitled Momentum and Movement for Mission for their lay staff. Patricia Poticny, Lourdes Convent Administrator, flew to Long Island, to join other lay staff of SSJ s throughout the Atlantic Coast Region. Together they explored the common roots and shared mission of unity of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Pat Poticny St. Joseph, diligent protector of Christ, pray for us!
A Morning of Prayer with St. Teresa of Calcutta S. Eileen, S. Ann, Denise and S. Carol Denise Pressley, Director of Religious Education at St. Anastasia Parish in St. Augustine Beach, invited Sisters Ann Raymond, Eileen Therese Fichtner and Carol Stovall to repeat a program they had done at the Motherhouse in December. Twenty participants attended the Morning of Prayer held on March 18th in their Parish Community Center. The morning included prayer, talks on the life and spirituality of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and concluded with a guided meditation entitled, I Thirst. Praying With Joseph Husband, Father, Carpenter Praying Divine Mercy Sister Loyce Sister Carol Sister Loyce On March 12th, Sister Carol Wells offered a morning of prayer held at the Motherhouse and focused on St. Joseph as husband, father and carpenter. The morning began with reflecting on a small piece of wood. Sister reminded us through song, reflection and prayer, that Joseph was the only father that Jesus would have known in his formative years. Joseph sought God in simplicity; found God in detachment; enjoyed God in obscurity. The morning concluded with the Litany to St. Joseph. On April 23rd, Divine Mercy Sunday, Sister Loyce Newton gave a conference at Corpus Christi Church, St. Augustine, on the Divine Mercy. The conference began with Benediction, after which Sister gave an overview of the life of St. Faustina, Jesus secretary of Divine Mercy to the entire world. Sister Loyce also shared some true life stories of Divine Mercy from her experiences as a certified chaplain at Mercy Hospital, Miami. Sister Joyce Newton accompanied her sister, and attended the conference along with 42 other persons from the parish. The conference demonstrated how the Divine Mercy is constantly working in our daily lives and in our world today. Joseph most faithful, pray for us!
2017 Development Directors Conference On April 3-6th, Jeanette Ghioto, Mission Advancement Director, hosted the Sisters of St. Joseph 2017 Development Directors Conference in St. Augustine. Ten Sisters and lay persons came from all over the country to participate in this annual event. The days were filled with enrichment and relaxation in this beautiful city of St. Augustine. Speakers included Michael Boylan, President and CEO of WJCT; Joe Copeland, President of Minute Man Press; Cliff Evans, OSF, MA, Planned Giving Officer; Catholic Foundation in St. Augustine Diocese., Nancy Powers, Executive Director of Powers Family Foundation; and Stanton Cadow, CFRE, ECRF, President, Cadow Development Consulting, LLC in Jacksonville. Sister Catherine Bitzer spoke about and provided a tour of the Diocesan and Sisters of St. Joseph Archives. The Directors enjoyed touring the Cathedral Basilica and the O Reilly House Museum. They were treated to a scenic cruise of St. Augustine, an exciting trolley tour and topped the last night off with dinner at Schooners Restaurant! Sharing the New Morning Star School Last March, Sister Elise Kennedy spoke at the Businessmen s Breakfast in Jacksonville. At the request of Bishop Estévez, she shared the construction progress of Morning Star High School. Sister also addressed the need for this new high school for special needs students and the impact it is having on parents. Celebrating Sisters Week in Tampa On March 5th, in an effort to celebrate Sisters Week, Sister Ann Daugherty, OSF, Director of the Franciscan Center in Tampa, requested a Sister of St. Joseph to share our missionary efforts from the earliest days of the state of Florida. Various communities of Sisters gathered together for Mass, prayer, relaxation, education and sharing. Some of the highlights shared by Sister Kathleen included the group of eight invited by Bishop Verot to minister to the newly-freed slaves after the Civil War, the Sisters imprisonment, and a few of the letters from the first Sisters registering their contact with the Americans they served. It was humbling to hear how the Sisters of St. Joseph opened and/or served more than 200 missions throughout the state, and served during the Yellow Fever epidemic. St. Joseph, hear us!
Associates Minister to the Dear Neighbor On April 2nd, Associates Tom and Elaine Baumgartner hosted the Gainesville Associate Gathering at their home. The purpose: put together Good Neighbor bags for the poor and needy. Sisters Rita Baum and Marlene Payette enjoyed participating in this meaningful endeavor. Several Associates keep a few Dear Neighbor Bags in their cars in order to distribute them whenever and wherever the need arises. T h e G a i n e s v i l l e Associates presented 40 bags to Sister Jane on the Associate Commitment Day, April 29th. The bags will be distributed to the poor and homeless in the St. Augustine. The Sister of St. Joseph Associate Program On March 9th, Sisters Elise Kennedy and Rea Wurmnest were invited to speak at the San Juan del Rio Ladies Auxiliary general membership meeting. Their topic, The Sisters of St. Joseph Associate Program encouraged them to also invite Mrs. Carol Baumer, SSJ Associate. They opened with a prayer service dedicated to St. Joseph, shared the mission and charism of the Congregation, and talked about the Associate Program. Carol Baumer shared her personal story about San Juan del Rio Ladies Auxiliary with Sisters Elise, Rea and Carol Baumer, SSJ Associate what it means to her to be an Associate member and how she connects with the charism of the Sisters. Joseph, quiet and attentive, bless me with a discerning heart this day.
SSJ Associate Commitment Day On April 29th, almost 60 Associates from St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Williston, Central Florida and West Palm Beach came together to celebrate the commitment of 7 candidates to become Associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The new Associate partners include Nellie Collis (Williston), Patricia Fowler (Gainesville), Virginia Jens (West Palm Beach), Sheila Miaoulis (Williston), Beatrice Newsome (Gainesville), Rebecca Perez (St. Augustine) and Ann Ping (St. Augustine). Sister Florence Bryan, the main speaker for the morning, shared her reflections on two Jesuits, Pierre Chardin and Jean Pierre Medaille and their focus on the Eucharist as central to our lives. In the afternoon three members of the Coalition of Immokalee Sister Florence Farmworkers (CIW) spoke to the Associates and Sisters about the history of the CIW and the Fair Food Agreement. The day concluded with the Associate Commitment Ceremony held during the Mass of St. Joseph celebrated by Father Tim Lindenfelser, pastor of St. Anastasia Parish in St. Augustine Beach, and Associate partner with the Sisters. Judy Sharpe (sponsor) lights candle for Ann Ping (new Associate partner) Pat Fowler signs the Book of Associates New Associates (with candles) and their sponsors Sister Barbara with members of the CIW The Sisters and Associates throughout the state are grateful to Sisters Rita Baum and Barbara Cekosh as well as Cynthia Sharpe and the St. Augustine Associates for all the preparations in which they participated so this day could become a reality! Joseph, most prudent, most strong, most obedient, pray for us!
Sister Mary Agatha Cleare Sister Agatha was the third of four children born to Annie and Howard Cleare. She grew up in the beauty and adventure of a 3 mile by 1/2 mile Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Beaches of pink sand and inviting ocean waters were perfect fishing, swimming and boating spots for Mary and her siblings. Mary, as she was baptized, had the opportunity to attend Catholic school where she was taught by Sisters. The call to religious life began to stir in her. Inspiring summer visits from her two aunts, both Sisters of St. Joseph, strengthened her resolve to seek admission into the Congregation. In 1949, at age 19, Mary entered the Sisters of St. Joseph. Sister ministered to the children of God primarily as teacher and principal for 68 years. On March 23rd, at Our Lady of Lourdes Convent, Sister peacefully entered eternal life. Who knows, her heavenly Father may also radiate the beauty she knew in the Bahamas! Archives Alive! SSJ s Sent to Study at Catholic University Bishop Michael J. Curley was farsighted in promoting the education of the Sisters beyond what they could attain in their own Teacher training Institute in St. Augustine. In June of 1915, Bishop Curley sent and subsidized six Sisters to study for educational degrees at the Catholic University in Washington, DC. The Sisters who attended that first year were Sisters Mary Agatha Sweeting, Theresa Joseph Brown, Mary Alberta Stark, Mary Sylvester Carey, Rose de Lima Donoghue and Sister Margaret Mary Hanlon. In October of that same year, St. Joseph Academy in St. Augustine and St. Catherine Academy (later called Gesu) in Miami affiliated with the Catholic University of America. St. Joseph, spouse of the Mother of God and chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us!