Twenty-five teenage girls ages 14-18 from San Diego, California (USA) came to Le Puy April 7-10 with five chaperones to learn more about the origins of the Sisters of St. Joseph. They timed their visit to the Easter Triduum, which gave them a more intense experience of Church during its most important holy days. Dr. Brandy Sato, the principal, accompanied the group with co- planner, Ryan Martin-Spencer, director of mission integration.

Sr. Catherine Barange, general superior of the Lyon Congregation in France, was honored for her 20 years of service to the International Centre at the Board's March 28-30 semi-annual meeting. At this year's Chapter, she will step down from her position in the Congregation after 10 years as superior. Catherine has been an administrator for the congregation for decades as a provincial and in several other roles. Click here to see more photos on the blog.

The International Centre hosted 7 sisters from Africa and India for the second year of the Roots & Wings program. Sr. Judy Donovan (Lyon-Maine) and Sr. Gloria Philip (Argentina) were the presenters during the March 13-19 program. Click here for a scrapbook of photos of the week-long program

The annual pilgrimage of the Congregation of St. Joseph took place October 5-10 in Le Puy was led by Sister Carol Crepeau. As a part of the pilgrimage, the group spent a day in La Chaise Dieu, site of the Benedictine abbey founded in 1043 by Robert de Turlande (left) and reconstructed in the 14th century by Pope Clement VI. Some members went on a tour of the abbey, which included a visit to the Medieval tapestries that used to hang in the chapel but are now preserved in one of the halls of the abbey. After leaving Le Puy, the group visited Lyon, Annecy, and Taizé before they headed back to the USA on October 15.

This year's Mission Effectiveness program was a hybrid zoom and in-person experience Sept 21-Oct 1. Sister Dolores Clerico (Philadelphia-USA) zoomed in from the USA with the 18 participants from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Wales, and the USA. Sister Phyllis DiFuccia (Erie-USA) coordinated the program on-site in Le Puy while Sister Marlena Roeger (Rochester-USA) served as Portuguese-English translator. It was the first year that people from Denmark and Wales participated. The program provided a meaningful and profound experience for everyone as the participants committed themselves to adopt and live-out the charism.

“The Lace Is Not Yet Finished” program met for a week in August with Sister Jane DeLisle, (Orange-USA) as presenter. Sisters from Brazil and the USA attended the program. Unfortunately, five Indian sisters scheduled to attend had complications with their visas that prevented them from coming. Many thanks to our translator, Sister Marlena Roeger (Rochester-USA) who has lived in Brazil for the past 43 years.

The sisters from Orange, California, re-started their CSJ Heritage Pilgrimage since the Covid pandemic. Four sisters from Formation and their director, Sr. Kit Gray participated in the pilgrimage, which was led by Sr. Mary Beth Ingham (superior general) and Sr Jane Delisle. During the two-week pilgrimage, the sisters took buses and trains to visit Annecy, Bas-en-Basset, Monistrol, Carcacassonne, and Le Puy.

Faculty and staff of Mt. St. Mary's University spent June 5-8 in Le Puy as part of their annual pilgrimage to explore and be inspired by the history and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph. University President Ann McElaney-Johnson accompanied the group while Shannon Green, director of the CSJ Institute presented a history of the Sisters of St. Joseph to orient the group to the various sites they would see. This pilgrimage was sponsored by the MSMU Office of the President.

Fifteen young women from Mt St Mary's University in Los Angeles visited France May 26-29. Each day the young women focused on a particular theme in the history and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph and visited significant places in Le Puy. They also shared their reflections about what inspired them or connected them to the founding sisters and talked about their own experiences of community. This pilgrimage was sponsored by the CSJ Institute at MSMU.

The 10-day program (May 3-13) began officially with a French meal. Sisters also gathered around the table to meet each other. They came from India, Burkina Faso, Congo, Vietnam/Norway. Languages were in English and French while staff spoke in a combination of French, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

On April 20 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia (USA) made their annual pilgrimage in Le Puy and Lyon, France. They were the first group to come to the International Centre after 2 years of the Covid pandemic.

After four years on the Board, Sister Loretta Manzara said good-bye to Le Puy, at least for a while, as she assumes a new role on the Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada. Board members held a reception for Sr. Loretta before the last meal of their three-day meetings held April 6-8. She was given a gift of homemade lace made by Martine, a local lacemaker.