Next Step News

SISTERS of ST. JOSEPH of ST. AUGUSTINE, FL

August, 2016

Several months ago the Sisters of St. Joseph leased a h o u s e i n R i ve r s i d e , Jacksonville, that would serve as our house of formation for women in initial formation. On July 14th F a t h e r G e o r g e Vaniyepurackal, pastor of St. Paul’s Church, offered the first Mass at the house of formation where the Blessed Sacrament now resides!

The formation community includes Sister Florence Bryan, Directress of Initial Formation; Sister Elise Kennedy, Sister Rea Wurmnest and Sister Grace Ford, novice. Sisters Elise and Rea will continue in their present ministries at Morning Star School and St. Pius School, respectively. The goal of the Sisters in the formation community, by their the lived example, is to support the spiritual, communal and ministerial growth and maturation of the novice as she delves deeply into the meaning and living out of the vows and charism as a Sister of St. Joseph through study, spiritual direction and practice. Their new St. Joseph Convent is one of welcome and hospitality to the “dear neighbors.” The Sisters look forward to providing times of prayer and reflection, inviting others to join them. The Sisters are excited about this new year ahead! Their new address is: St. Joseph Convent, 2741 St. Johns Avenue, Jacksonville 32205.

Sisters Rea, Florence, Elise and Grace

New St. Joseph Convent, Formation Community

Mission Formation Matters in Healthcare Several months ago, Michael Garrido, V ice Pres iden t o f Mis s ion Integration, planned for the executive leadership team at Mercy and Sister Emmanuel Hospitals (Miami) and Plantation Hospital (Ft. Lauderdale) to become engaged in a Catholic Leadership Formation Program called “Mission Day By Day,” a three-year program in Ministry Formation for Catholic Healthcare Leaders.

The leadership program includes three goals:

INDIVIDUAL TRANSFORMATION: deepen knowledge of the mission, values, theological underpinnings and spirituality of Catholic healthcare in order to integrate these principles and practices with organizational strategy, operations, communications, governance, and leadership. COMMUNAL GROUNDING: build supportive relationships among participants in session cohorts and throughout the organization. STRATEGIC OUTCOMES: assist the organization in both sustaining a mission-driven culture and increasing engagement. After the sale, and when the Sisters no longer had a presence at Mercy Hospital, Michael Garrido was hired to carry on the critical role of making sure the Catholic identity and the mission and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph would continue in this unique hospital environment, now owned by Hospital Corporation of America. His leadership role as Vice-President of Mission Integration continues to impact the three hospitals where the religious and ethical directives of the Catholic Church are also implemented. The Catholic presence continues to be felt, especially at Mercy and Sister Emmanuel Hospitals where the Sisters ministered for more than 60 years.

Sister Elizabeth Marie Stoup, founder and first principal of Morning Star School in Orlando, dreamt of a place where those with special needs entering young adulthood would receive support, love, and a place to live, work and learn. Her idea bore fruit with the help of the late Bishop Norbert Dorsey, in what we now know as Bishop Grady Villa.

A new initiative has now been started to address the needs of the disabled community within the sacramental life of the Church. Kathryn Harding, an SSJ Associate, former principal and previous teacher of 42 years ago under the leadership of Sister Elizabeth Marie, has spent her professional career serving those with special needs. Kathy has been appointed to be the forerunner of this initiative. She will be helping parishes train catechists with the best resources and knowledge to serve those with disabilities to receive the Sacraments.

Everyone Can Be Involved With the Church

Kathy Harding

Have you ever ordered from Amazon? Often the best deals in purchasing can be found there! And even better, a small percentage of your purchase will be donated to the Sisters of St. Joseph just by your re-questing! No extra charges to your purchase. How to: 1st Go the our website: ssjfl.org 2nd click on “Join Our Mission” in the UPPER RIGHT CORNER; 3rd click on AMAZON smiles on the LEFT SIDE; You are on Amazon Smiles and ready to look for your great deals!

That’s all. Thanks for using AMAZON smiles for the Sisters of St. Joseph!

AMAZON Smile!

Today’s troubles are tomorrow’s Wheat and Wine for we must make our lives a Mass. Fr. M. Raymond, CS

On August 2nd the administration and faculty of San Jose School (Jacksonville) came to the Motherhouse for a retreat prior to the opening of school (2016-17). Sister Jane Stoecker welcomed Brian Wheeler (principal) and 33 faculty/staff members and then introduced the speaker, Sister Ann Raymond Wood. Using prayer, hymns, Scripture stories and personal anecdotes, Sister guided the Jubilee Year “pilgrims” through her presentation: “The Call to Be a Merciful Presence in Your School.” After a delicious lunch for retreatants, Sisters and

Motherhouse staff (provided by San Jose School), the women and men visited the Archives, hosted by Sister Catherine Bitzer, and the O’Reilly House Museum, hosted by Sister Thomas Joseph McGoldrick and Sister Marilyn Dingman. Thanks to Jeanette Ghioto, the retreatants also won prizes, courtesy of the Mission Advancement Office.

But would you believe Sister Ann Raymond also gave them homework? A sheet of reflection questions delighted the principal so much, he told his faculty to be prepared for faith sharing at the next day’s faculty meeting!

Be a Merciful Presence in Your School

S. Ann Raymond speaks with San Jose Faculty

Brian Wheeler (principal), faculty and staff

On July 23rd, Sister Kathleen Power hosted a one-day “Come and See” for Catholic women at at Villa Flora Brown Hall Renewal Center. The day of discernment was attended by Deborah O’Re i l l y and Laura Montagan. Laura has r e c e n t l y m ove d t o Jacksonville Beach and has attended several of our

discernment days. Sister Rea Wurmnest shared on the process of discernment as well as the on-going discernment that we do on a daily basis. Sister Elise Kennedy spoke more personally on the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The day began with morning prayer and provided time throughout for further prayer and quiet discernment.

A quiet summer ministry finds Sister Alexis and Sister Beatrice knitting with a mission. Nurses from Haven Hospice visit and at the same time receive these handmade items from

our two Sisters. The hats and slippers, made with love and prayers, will be used for adult hospice patients in the St. Augustine community.

Sisters Alexis and Beatrice have used this creative gift to serve in many ways during their leisure time. Both Sisters live at Our Lady of Lourdes Convent in St. Augustine.

Knitting With a Mission!

“Come and See”

S. Josephine, S. Kathleen, S. Rea, Laura, Deborah, S. Elise

Advance good works until they are almost finished; and then,

whenever possible, let them be completed by someone else

who will receive the honor. Maxim 85

S. Sister Beatrice

Sister Alexis

The Journey to Joseph

Yes, it is God, the Father, who is revealed to Jesus by Joseph. Jesus’ birth and the daily, slow process of shaping his personality, his mannerisms, his thinking, his whole outlook on life are the reflection of Mary and Joseph; we must no longer tend to separate this married couple; in marriage they are one, and together they form Jesus.

Joseph’s role and revelation is related in a peculiar way with the revelation of God, the Father. Joseph’s name is hardly ever mentioned in the Gospels, and when it does appear, it does not seem to carry much significance. Yet, when the name of Joseph is mentioned, it truly is of utmost importance, which at the time, does not seem to carry such weight. Joseph is the son of David; David, who led the Israelites to victory to know God favored them; David, who ruled a united monarchy of all Israel and was forefather of all the kings of Judah! And Jesus will one day bear the title of Messiah.

Mary is mentioned only in light of her betrothal to Joseph. And Joseph is the husband of Mary. Imagine for a moment, how this married couple, the parents of Jesus, must have shared their love, their faithfulness to one another and to the Scriptures; how they might have raised Jesus to be the man he became. Jesus not only reflects God the Father, but is the reflection of Joseph, the carpenter, and Mary, a humble maiden born of Ann and Joachim.

By Sister Jane Stoecker

Legacy of Faith 1866-2016 Sister Marie Julie Roussel was born in St. Fleur,

France, and made profession in 1842. She came to Florida in 1866 and ministered in Savannah and St. Augustine. In 1867, Sister Julie and a novice were sent to establish a school for black children in Mandarin. Upon arriving, they were to live and work at the church. They immediately set up the school in the mission church. Later they found out they were to live with Mrs. Caroline Hartley, whose home was several miles from the church where the classrooms were set up.

They walked through the wooded terrain, the distance to and from the church, four times each day. On one occasion, due to inclement weather, the two Sisters were lost in the woods. When they arrived at Mrs. Hartley’s, they were exhausted and took ill. They were soon to return to St. Augustine before the end of 1867. However, the mission was reestablished permanently in 1870. Sister Julie was assigned to Fernandina where she nursed the dying during the yellow fever epidemic in Fernandina.

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