News - September 2025 RSS Feed

By the power of the Holy Spirit, the hearts of a small group of women in Le Puy-en-Velay in 1650 were enflamed by God's call to reach out to people suffering from devastating poverty, pervasive violence, and stifling oppression. These women found their home in the Gospel and in the teachings of the itinerant Jesuit, Jean Pierre Médaille. Likewise, a small group of women—from Canada, India, Japan, and USA—came to Le Puy to get in touch with and claim once again the transformative power of this charism by exploring the streets of Le Puy-en-Velay and visiting and praying in the Kitchen, the Cathedral of Notre Dame du Puy, the Chapel of St. Michel d'Aiguilhe, the Eglise du Collège, and the Tree of the Martyrs. They spent a day concentrating on Mother St. John Fontbonne by visiting her birthplace in Bas-en-Basset, the Heritage Room where she set up the post-Revolutionary congregation in Lyon, and at her graveside. They also attended Mass at the Cathedral and had some fun attending the annual Renaissance Festival despite the rainy day. One day, Sr. Chizuru (Japan) and Associate Diane (St Louis, USA) went to the top of the hill behind the Centre and captured some beautiful photos of a Le Puy sunrise. Sr. Jane Delisle, CSJ is a Sister of St. Joseph from Orange, CA (USA). Jane has come to Le Puy-en-Velay many times to present this program. She has also conducted many pilgrimages with sisters and staff from the Orange Health Systems. The participants included Sr. Pat Carter, Diane Everitt, Sr. Motcham, Sr. Mary Jo Radey, Sr. SahayaMary, and Sr. Chizuru Yamada.

Diversity was certainly evident during the first week in September as 22 participants gathered at the Centre for the annual Mission Alive! Program. Participants were from Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Denmark, UK-Japan, and the USA. Formerly called Mission Effectiveness, the program offers a pilgrimage for lay partners in mission and provides an immersion experience into the original spirit and global dimension of the charism and spiritual tradition of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The week-long experience offered a series of presentations, interactive participation, prayer, and visits to historic sites in Le Puy-en-Velay. A day trip to Lyon was also included. Sr. Dolores Clerico is a Philadelphia Sister of Saint Joseph (USA) with ministry experience in the academic, parish, diocesan, and congregational arenas. She is a frequent speaker, workshop presenter, and retreat facilitator for sisters, associates, and partners in mission throughout the United States and annually at the International Centre. Sr. Simone Saugues (Institute-France) served as the English-French translator while Sr. Joana Mendes (Rochester- Brazil SSJ) served as English- Portuguese translator. The Centre was bursting at the seams to accommodate all the participants. We especially want to thank Sr. Marie- Paule Rascle at the St. Maurice convent for housing six of the Brazilian participants.

Eighteen pilgrims who have served the Orange Congregation (California, USA) for 30 years or more were treated to a visit to the foundations of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Le Puy September 3-9. They also visited Mother St. John Fontbonne’s birthplace in Bas-en-Basset and the Origin & Evolution Centre in Lyon. Sisters Mary Beth Ingham and Jane DeLisle led the group who were excited, inspired, and feeling blessed for the opportunity to participate on this pilgrimage.