“The Spirit calls us to live out our consecration in community and with the strength that comes from our life together, to turn beyond ourselves to serve a world in need.“
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Constitution
Our life together in prayer and in community impels us to reach out to the dear neighbor, whoever they may be, whatever the need they might have.
These may be broad parameters, but from the beginning of our “little design,” our founder Fr. John Pierre Medaille had big ideas when he described the ministry of the sisters in the following way:
“They shall practice all the spiritual and corporal works of mercy of which women are capable and that will most benefit the dear neighbor.”
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Constitution
Of course, we know that women are capable of almost anything!
Our Ministries
Today the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet fulfill our mission of serving the dear neighbor in wide-ranging ministries, including but not limited to:
Advocacy: Calling for a more just, peaceful and compassionate world for humanity and a more balanced and sustainable lifestyle for the Earth directly and through letters, visits to authorities, marches and vigils
Social services: Directly serving people who are poor, hungry, without homes, suffering from addiction, in prison; supporting migrants and asylum seekers, women and children, children in foster care, those with disabilities and more
Education: Working in elementary, high schools and universities as teachers, campus ministers, administrators and staff; tutoring in English as a second language, citizenship classes and after-school programs; working as librarians, mentors and consultants See a list of our sponsored educational institutions
Healthcare: Practicing nursing, pastoral care, psychological accompaniment and counseling, ethics, massage therapy, healing touch and Reiki, art therapy, medical technology; volunteering with the Red Cross and Ronald McDonald House; serving in administration, mission integration, staff support, family care
Pastoral ministry: Serving parishes, dioceses, youth, older adults; providing religious education and faith formation; working as parish life coordinators, liturgists, volunteers
Spiritual care: Providing spiritual direction; directing retreats and retreat houses; serving as chaplains in hospitals, nursing homes and hospice facilities
Law: Serving as attorneys, canon lawyers, mediation facilitators, notary publics and legal support for migrants and refugees
Archives: Providing historian and docent services; managing our archives
Leadership: Providing expertise as speakers, consultants and facilitators
Interpretation and translation
Congregational service: Working in congregational and province leadership and administration; working with newer sisters and associates
Volunteer service in all of the above
Prayer and presence
About us
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters. We, and those who share our charism and mission, are motivated in all things by our profound love of God and our dear neighbors. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. Since our first sisters gathered in 1650, our members have been called to “do all things of which women are capable.” The first sisters of our congregation arrived in St. Louis, Missouri in 1836, and we now have additional locations in St. Paul, Albany, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Japan and Peru. Today, we commit to respond boldly to injustice and dare to be prophetic.
Contact
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Congregational Offices
10777 Sunset Office Drive, Ste. 10 St. Louis, MO 63127
