Blogs

The International Centre celebrated 20 years of service to the hundreds of people each year who make pilgrimages to the city where the first six sisters and Fr. Médaille founded the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1650. Many members of the team that created the Centre were present as well as those who today support the Centre and its programs and pilgrimages. The First Team of sisters who prepared the building were also on hand for the celebration.

A group of sisters, associates, and friends of the St. Augustine Congregation (Florida--USA) held a two-week pilgrimage in France. Before coming to Le Puy they visited Lourdes, Paris, Toulouse, and Lisieux. The 20-member group was led by Sr. Rita Baum, who has been the coordinator of the St. Augustine associates. Sr. Rita is a former staff member of the International Centre. The pilgrims visited the Kitchen and other historical sites of the Sisters of St. Joseph. They not only got to know the city of Le Puy, but to witness and participate in the annual King of the Birds Renaissance Festival. The St. Augustine Congregation is the only congregation in the United States whose roots are directly from Le Puy-en-Velay.

“The Lace Is Not Yet Finished” program) attracted a diversity of sisters and lay people from different countries (Denmark, India, Japan, USA). Here they are at the gravesite of Mother St. John Fontbonne as part of their day-long visit to Lyon. They also visited historical sites in Le Puy, sometimes climbing the hill to the old city two or three times a day. They certainly were a hearty group!

We were taken aback when Sr. Marie Heckman of the Institute St. Joseph called us to reserve two weeks in August for young African and French sisters who were preparing for their final vows. They would also bring their own cook! How could we refuse such an offer! The two weeks included a week-long retreat with visits to SSJ historical sites. Everyone was very serious and faith-filled. The sisters came from France, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. Fr. Aristide, a Jesuit priest from Benin, accompanied the sisters.

It would be a day of celebration. Initially, a traditional Fourth of July celebration with hot dogs, potato salad, beans, and corn-on-the-cob. These French sisters from the Institute of St. Joseph (Le Puy) were good sports to try out these foods and join in the celebration.

A picture gallery portrays this group's awesome pilgrimage of March 30 - April 2, 2024.

Annecy is a beautiful and vibrant place, but its religious history makes it so much more incredible, especially for the Sisters of St. Joseph. It is the town where Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal emerged to establish a new movement in the Church where religious women could leave the cloister, devote themselves to helping the poor, and still live a rich, spiritual life. Unfortunately, the early 17th century Church was not yet ready for its nuns to take to the streets and provide service to others, so this movement was forestalled. Nevertheless, a new concept had been conceived, and it would eventually impact other women who wanted to serve people in a more active yet prayerful way.

We had promised the sisters of the St. Maurice community (near the Kitchen) that we would have them over to the Centre for Thanksgiving dinner -- until Covid got in the way. This year we finally fulfilled our promise. France does not have a national holiday like Thanksgiving so the sisters learned the story of the Pilgrims and the Native People who got together for a three-day feast in 1621. Since the emphasis today is on the offerings and help of the Native People, our prayer of thanks recognized the Earth, sun, moon, stars, and the Great Spirit who is constantly looking out for all of us.

One day after their arrival, the 15 pilgrims from the Congregation of St. Joseph "hit the streets" of Le Puy to walk in the footsteps of the six founding sisters. It was only the first of many walks through the city. This blog also includes a unique dance performed by a few members of the group at the top of the volcano.