Next Step News

SISTERS of ST. JOSEPH of ST. AUGUSTINE, FL

February, 2015

A Personal Celebration As part of my personal celebration of the Year of Consecrated Life, I wrote a letter to the Sisters of Divine Providence (Pittsburgh), thanking them for the good Sisters who taught me while I attended St. Sylvester’s School between 1948-56. I mentioned five Sisters by name, for I truly believe that each of them helped to plant the seeds of my vocation to the consecrated life. You can imagine my surprise when I received a telephone call two weeks later from Sister Emma Jean, CDP, my first grade teacher!

During the course of our conversation, I learned that she was 18 years old when she taught me in Pittsburgh, her first mission; at age 84 she is teaching German at Sacred Heart High School (Kingston, Mass.) and is

planning to chaperone a trip to Europe this summer.

Sister Emma Jean was delighted to learn of my ministries over the past 55 years. She helped to plant the seed, my parents and others nurtured it, and the Lord graciously called me to “Come Follow” him. — Sister Ann Raymond Wood, SSJ

Consecrated Life — Let’s Talk About It! Sister Kathleen Carr, assistant principal and religion teacher at St. James School in Miami, has been invited to speak about religious life to the theology class at St. Thomas University on February 9th. Then on February 19th, Sister will go to St. Thomas University once again for informal sharing time with several college students. She will be joined by two other Sisters of St. Joseph from Philadelphia.

Sister Kathleen has been educating the St. James School staff about this Year of Consecrated Life. She will be speaking to all grade levels in the school, emphasizing the Year of Consecrated Life and the vocational call to religious life.

As a time of many graces, Sister reminds us, “There will be more to come as this year progresses!”

At the end of your good works, give all the glory to our dear Savior, who by his death has

truly become the inspiration of your life and of your good works. Maxim 57

When you work for the neighbor do it with a very unselfish love which

expects no reward for its services, and aim at nothing other than helping the

neighbor and being at the same time pleasing to God. Maxim 55

The telephone rings on a Monday afternoon. “Hello, Sister, we have two clients for Tuesday afternoon. Are you available?” My Tuesday afternoons are usually kept free for St. Vincent de Paul Home Visitation Program. “Yes, I’m available. What time do we meet?”

Sister Bernard Joseph Palmer has been assisting with St. Vincent de Paul Home Visitations for several months. Charlie, the President of St. Augustine Council of St. Vincent de Paul Society, gave a talk after Mass last year. When he explained how the Society assisted the poor to overcome their poverty, Sister felt an interior call to help. Sister wanted to visit the poor in their homes and discover how the Society could help people out of their poverty. Thus began her venture with the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Sister reflects, “It is a humbling experience to go into the homes of people in need. They usually only ask for one area of assistance. During visits and exchange with the clients, their many needs become much more apparent. Some will need clothes for the baby, or furniture. Often assistance is with the rent, electricity, water or similar bills. The goal is to assist people to become self-supporting.”

St. Vincent de Paul Society seeks to deepen the spirituality of its members. The virtues of humility, simplicity, faith, love and acceptance are very similar to the virtues of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Sister Bernard Joseph is continually grateful for the opportunity to work for “the dear neighbor” and to reflect Maxim 55 more fully in her life.

Are you familiar with TOOLS (Teams of Our Lady)? This is a movement of “Married Spirituality” bringing together Christian couples desiring to grow closer in love and holiness. The movement began in France in 1947 and has spread to over 10,000 teams worldwide. Each team is comprised of a group of married couples and a spiritual advisor who meet monthly to share, pray and discuss living a Christian marriage and life.

As a response to the call of this Year of Consecrated Life, Sister Rita Baum has accepted the invitation from Father Esposito to minister in the role of chaplain with a Team from Santa Maria del Mar Parish in Flagler Beach. As spiritual advisor, Sister provides support in prayer and as an objective observer on marriage.

TEAM Ministry with Sister Rita Baum

The Dear Neighbor

S. Rita (center) with Team

The SSJ Associates in Williston and Tallahassee have begun meeting again with the accompaniment of Sister Nicole Cayer (in Williston) and Sister Margaret Jeanne Keller (in Tallahassee). Sister Charlotte, presently ministering in Tallahassee, attended the meeting in Tallahassee. Sister Marlene, presently ministering in Gainesville, attended the meeting in Williston. Sister will eventually become the coordinator of the Williston group as she looks forward to growing in relationship with them once again.

At the recent meeting in Williston, some of the members described what Associate membership means to their lives: Dolores Clayton: “It supports me to continue being active in ministry.” Pat Parmerlee: “I had discerned about a religious vocation, but God called me to work in the world; being an Associate deepens my spirituality and supports me in my ministry (healthcare, social services).” Frances Quesada: “I felt a need to be closer to the Sisters; Sister Nicole has been a good example, influencing me and helping me spiritually.” Sylvia Penny: “I carry such memories from school at Gesu in Miami, and being an Associate helps me to maintain that spirituality and to stay in touch with my love for the SSJ’s.”

The Associates in both Williston and Tallahassee look forward to the Day of Commitment and Renewal of Commitments in St. Augustine on May 2nd. Interested in learning more? please contact Sister Barbara or Sister Rita (904-824-1752).

Sisters Margaret Jeanne, Rita, Nicole, Charlotte, Marlene

Sisters Share in Art Festival On January 30th, Sisters Diane Couture, Kathleen Power, Josephine Marie and Carol Wells headed to St. Paul’s Catholic School, Jacksonville Beach, at the invitation to actively participate in their annual Art Festival. The theme was the 450th Anniversary of St. Augustine. Guest artists, reenactors, thematic art projects, Spanish foods, decorations, and T-shirts filled the school! The children were fascinated as they watched Sister Carol demonstrate pottery

making on the kick-wheel, Sister Diane demonstrate the making of stained glass,

and Sister Kathleen demonstrate French bobbin lace making.

Demonstrating for eight classes, a full day of school, reminded the Sisters that teaching is a sacrificing and dedicated ministry, for sure!

Renewing Associate Programs

Srs. Kathleen, Josephine Marie, Carol, Diane

S. Kathleen and children

Sister Margaret Killilea — Irish Missionary

Sister Margaret Killilea was born in County Galway, Ireland, on August 6, 1931. She was the ninth of ten children born to Michael Killilea and Honora (“Honnie”) Nolan. She had a twin sister, Bridget, who died at six months of age. Her Irish sibblings included Paddy, William, John, James, Kathleen, Maureen, Thomas and Noreen. They could have almost been a classroom of their own!

Mr. Killilea was a hard-working farmer, raising crops such as wheat, barley and potatoes. The farm also included sheep and cattle. Along with the farm, the family tended a beautiful vegetable garden as well. Caring for the farm was long and hard work done by hand or with the help of horses and mowing machines. The children helped in the fields when they were not in school. It was important to make sure that all the potatoes were dug out of the ground in October to avoid the frost. (North Florida farmers can understand the importance of digging at the right time. As a young girl, one of her jobs was to carry flasks of tea to her father and brothers while they worked.

Continued in March…..“School and the call to the Missions”

Ninth of Ten On the Farm...

Although Sister Margaret Mary Lyons joined the Motherhouse community several weeks ago, she was formally welcomed with the Sister of St. Joseph Hospitality on Sunday, February 1st, the vigil of the Presentation of the Lord. In prayer and ritual the Motherhouse community welcomed Sister and presented her to the Lord with hands extended in blessing. Sister Carol offered a lit candle to Sister Margaret Mary reminding her to be that light to others.

May the Lord Bless and Keep You...

Tend solely and lovingly to resemble the dear Savior perfectly and in all things. Let him live in you and you live utterly in him. Maxim 41

Sister Trinita McCarthy was born in Bantry, County Cork, Ireland; one of our courageous Irish missionary Sisters!

Sister Trinita had a great devotion to the Eucharist and the rosary. She kept a booklet in the chapel entitled “Eucharist: A Taste of God.” It looks well used, and she definitely received a taste of God each day as she approached the Eucharist.

Her reliance on prayer was exhibited when she was about to have surgery. The surgeon asked, “Sister, do you want to say a prayer?” To the surprise of everyone in the room, she answered, “No! Doctor, you say the prayer,” and he knelt down and prayed. Little did Sister realize how God used her to evangelize “the dear neighbor” at that moment.

One of her most endearing qualities was her willingness to forgive and forget any grievances. She always had a good word to say about others. Taped to the wall outside her door was the Gaelic phrase “Céad Míle Fáilte” —One Hundred Thousand Welcomes! Her smile and laughter always expressed that “St. Joseph welcoming and hospitality.” Sister died peacefully at home on January 10th with her Sisters around her.

“Céad Míle Fáilte!” Into God’s Eternal Love

Sister Noreen O’Connor and Sister Trinita...two very different personalities; both with the same mission. Sister Noreen (formerly known as Sister Francis de Sales) was born in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland. She always dreamed of going to the foreign missions. When an ad was posted in the Irish newspaper, inviting young women to serve the Lord in the missions of Florida, she traveled to Killarney for an interview with a Sister of St. Joseph. Within weeks she was on a ship destined for Florida and the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse where she would begin her postulancy.

Sister had a quiet and unassuming manner, but she was clearly focused on the Mission. She was called to bear on the world of

education the radical witness to the values of the Kingdom, proposed to everyone in expectation of the definite meeting with the Lord of history.

We are grateful for consecrated women like Sister Noreen, who sought holiness through her involvement in education, while at the same time proposing holiness as the goal of education. Sister achieved a perfection of charity through her teaching. This is one of the most precious gifts that a consecrated woman can offer to young people, instructing them in a way that is full of love, according to the wise counsel of St. John Bosco: “Young people should not only be loved, but should also know that they are loved.” Sister Trinita was probably influential on her Irish friend’s celebration of entrance into heaven the next day, January 11th.

Sister Trinita McCarthy

Sister Noreen O’Connor

February is a month full of Blessings! We have just celebrated the feast of the Presentation

of the Lord (February 2nd) , followed by the feast of St. Blaise (February 3rd) when we were invited to have our throats blessed. We will receive ashes on Ash Wednesday (February 18th) when we will be called into the spirit of Lent. Valentines Day (February 14th) reminds us that we are invited to wish goodness and holiness to all people.

The tradition of giving blessings goes all the way back to the Book of Genesis in scripture. The blessing was regarded as a mark of God’s pleasure and a sure way to receive God’s kindness, peace and protection. A blessing in God’s name invokes God’s divine help upon the one being blessed.

In virtue of our universal priesthood, a dignity we possess because of our baptism and confirmation, we have the honor, and in some cases the responsibility, to offer blessings. Parents blessing their children, family members blessing other family members is a right and a privilege. The elements of a blessing include 1) a meaningful touch, 2) a spoken message, 3) value on the person being blessed, 4) believing that the person will have a future full of God’s light and opportunity, and finally, 5) the person giving the blessing stands beside the blessing.

On the very first day of the new year, on the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, the first reading of the Liturgy for that day was God showering his blessing! You are invited to bless your children and loved ones frequently and faithfully...as God blesses us:

THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU! THE LORD LET HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU,

AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU! THE LORD LOOK UPON YOU KINDLY AND GIVE YOU

PEACE!

God’s Gracious Blessing!