2019 Congregational Acts of Chapter
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet work to bring loving unity to a divided world. Urgent needs call us, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, our associates, consociates, `ohana, amigas and familia de San José, along with our partners in mission, to bold conversation and prophetic action.
We educate, advocate and take action to promote social justice. Our work is rooted in the Gospel call to social justice and the struggle to be prophetic signs of unity in our world.
Striving to be beacons of hope, we commit to:
These three concerns especially guide our justice work:
As Sisters of St. Joseph, connectedness and relationship are at the heart of who we are. Foundational to our justice work is the belief that everything is interconnected and that creation is a sacred trust given to the whole Earth community. We recognize that all aspects of justice and survival intertwine with all creation—nature, humanity and organizations. We commit, individually and communally, to recognize how our decisions impact the Earth community; to raise our awareness and change behaviors; to act with urgency to protect Earth’s stability and integrity; and to celebrate her beauty wherever we are.
Everything is Connected
Everyone is Included
Foundational to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching is our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person. We are our siblings’ keepers; we are one human family. We are in solidarity with one another. In our Catholic Social Teaching, that means loving our neighbor “without distinction” has global dimensions. In our circle, everyone is included.
In these complex times, we commit ourselves to both deepen and broaden our understanding of the interlocking issues that impact both people and governments. While recognizing the complexity, we acknowledge the simple truth that the right to seek asylum is a human right, and migrants are our siblings worthy of being treated with dignity and respect.
Everyone is Sacred
We commit to use our collective voice to accompany others in speaking their truth.
Developing Diverse Voices is a free 10-session curriculum for nonprofit organizations to train their clients to speak and advocate for themselves.
When I was invited to write a reflection about ecological conversion, I immediately Sister Ida Robertine Berresheim came to mind. I distinctly remember a talk she gave in Los Angeles decades ago, where she opened my eyes to the reality that there is no “away” to which we throw things.
Sister Noriko Kuroki, CSJ went to Hiroshima, Japan, to participate in peace events on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing.
In 2023, Sister Lucia Yamada, CSJ had the opportunity to interview Noriko Ogura, who was born and raised in Hiroshima, Japan.
Bringing attention to the wonder, encouraging gratitude for the gift of creation is the first step in encouraging actions to preserve nature.
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.