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We are one. The emotions were palpable at this year’s meeting of the Global Coordinating Group — the gathering of Sister of St. Joseph Federation Directors and International Congregation leaders. Butterflies were a part of the décor and there was no doubt that we found our wings and flew high this year. The U.S. was represented by Sisters Patty Johnson and Mary Elizabeth Nelsen (Orange).

A lot has happened at the International Center in the last year. We want to provide you with a few of the highlights.

Mount St. Mary University has bought the childhood home of Mother St. John Fontbonne, a very significant sister in the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph. It is in Bas-en-Basset, France, not too far from the International Center in Le Puy. In the past, visitors would just stand outside the house. Now the International Center has a key and is able to add this to tours for those who are staying at the International Center.

The journey from Writings of Jean-Pierre Médaille, S.J., 1610-1669 to Words for Life has been a wonderful exploration. The inspiration to write this four-volume series on the spirituality of this Jesuit missionary priest of 17th Century France ‘just arrived’ last year as the culmination of years of reflection, research, and living each day the essence of his teachings. I believe another kairos moment has arrived!

What does it mean to be an Associate? How do individual congregations welcome new Associates? How do we find support when things don’t go well? These are some of the questions that Federation Associate leaders reflected on together over the course of a four month online series.

This is a time of major transition at the Leadership Council. Sr. Maryellen Kane (Brentwood), the U.S. Federation’s new executive director, attended her first meeting. Although plagued with a cold, she quickly warmed to the Council and they to her. Two new members — Sr. Mary McFadden (Philadelphia) and Barbara Roberts (Carondelet-St. Louis staff) — joined the Leadership Council. Both bring fundraising expertise which will be very helpful to the evolution of the U.S. Federation.

We have received some wonderful news concerning Father Jean-Pierre Médaille. This morning, I received word from Father François Boëdec, S.J., Provincial of the Society of Jesus of Western Europe. He has written to Father Pascual Cebollada, S.J., the Postulator for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization in Rome giving him the ‘green light’ to advance Father Médaille’s cause. Thanks to Sister Marta Pesce, C.S.J. (Italian Federation) and others, the preliminary preparations have already been completed.

It is time for me to bid farewell to my position as the Executive Director of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. It has been a wonderful 8.5 years. Having been elected to the Carondelet congregational leadership team, my last day at the Federation was December 31. I cannot begin to tell you how deeply this work has impacted me. I am enriched by the many meaningful relationships I have formed. We have accomplished so much together.

On January 1, 2020, Sr. Maryellen Kane assumed the role of executive director of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Get to know more about Sr. Maryellen who has worked with the United Farm Workers (the union originally started by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta) and co-founded houses of hospitality that have spread throughout New York City and the surrounding area.

I recently confessed this to Sister Dolores Clerico SSJ, Director of the Ministry of Spirituality and a spiritual director. Certainly, as a child, I was taught prayers that I dutifully recited at school and in Church. Never did I think about what those words meant, not really.

Our planet is the most amazing place for life and human race. With the emergence of the concept of state and kingdom, the human communities barricaded itself with political and geographical boundaries. Thus, they saw each other as threat; hitherto one human family.