An Invitation to

as Sisters and AssociatesJ

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF PEACE

Acompañanos

Community Seeking Justice and

Peace

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF PEACE

We invite you to...Consider becoming a Sister

Contact Sister Susan Francois, CSJPCongregation Vocation Director

sfrancois@csjp.org201-608-5401

Visit our website: www.csjp.org

and our page: Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

oin usInformation about our

Associate Program is on our website.

Ministry in Haiti

We are the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (CSJP)— an international religious community of vowed women religious and women and men Associates. We were founded in 1884 in Nottingham, England, under the inspiration of the Spirit, by Margaret Anna Cusack, known as Mother Clare.

Our charism of peace challenges us to prophetic risk so that God’s reign might be more fully realized. Sisters and Associates collaborate with others working for justice and peace.

Community life sustains us in ministry. Likewise ministry enlivens and enriches our life in community. • Constitutions

Recognizing gospel peace as both gift and task, we believe that prayer is fundamental to our life. We rely on the love and fidelity of God to lead us into the way of peace.

We serve in the Western United States, Eastern United States, the United Kingdom, El Salvador and Haiti. Our ministries are many and varied: healthcare, education, spirituality, justice advocacy, women and families, and missions abroad.

Who We Are

The Formation Program to become a Sister is open to: • single Catholic women (if previously married, with a Church annulment); • with college or work experience; • who are 21 to 45 years of age; • who are called to intimacy with God through prayer and life in community; • who have the health and energy for community living and ministry; • and who wish to respond to the charism of peace through justice with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.

Other criteria may be considered.

sisters & associates in tHe U.K.

Steps in becoming a Sister

A woman discerning a call to religious life is on a journey through several stages:

1. INQUIRY & GETTING ACQUAINTED: The inquirer seeks to find a religious community where she identifies with the charism and spirit and where she feels she can live a happy, holy and healthy life. She gets acquainted with our religious community by visiting, joining us in prayer and attending our community events. APPLICATION FOR CANDIDACY: After mutual discernment with the Vocation Director, the woman makes formal application to become a candidate.2. CANDIDACY: The candidate lives in a community of Sisters, joining in prayer, Eucharist and daily life. She continues her work or participates in a volunteer ministry ; usually one year.4. NOVITIATE: The novitiate is a time of prayer, study and ministry experiences with those who are poor; After mutual discernment and acceptance, the novice celebrates profession of first vows: poverty, celibacy and obedience; novitiate is usually two years.5.TEMPORARY PROFESSION OF VOWS: The newly professed Sister begins full time ministry. Perpetual profession of vows takes place three to six years later.

We invite you to consider a call to become a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace. Our call to live the charism of peace through justice was the inspiration of our founder, Margaret Anna Cusack, known as Mother Clare. She was assisted by Mother Evangelista Gaffney and Bishop Bagshawe: • to promote social justice as a way to peace • to engage in the struggle for justice with marginalized people • to overcome all discrimination— racial, cultural, economic, sexual.

To contact the Vocation Director, see the information on the back page.

For more information go to our website:

www.csjp.org

Profession of Vows

oUr congregation LeadersHiP teaM

Come & Seewhere God might be calling you

sisters and associates at oUr congregation cHaPter 2014