2016 Carondelet Magazine

ST JOSEPH’S PLACE OPENS
Schenectady, N.Y. – Following our
congregational directive “to unify,
reconcile and act prophetically,”
Sisters Ann Christi Brink, CSJ and
Linda Neil, CSJ responded to an
invitation from a local pastor to
begin a place of “presence and
hospitality” in Hamilton Hill, the
city’s “grittiest” neighborhood. St.
Joseph’s Place opened its doors
in the fall of 2014, a fulfillment of
Fr. Michael Hogan’s dream of a
drop-in center modeled after “the
kitchen table” that is suggestive of
the little kitchen in LePuy, France,
where our founders gathered the
first Sisters of St. Joseph.
As the year progressed, the two
sisters were joined by Sister
Peggy Hoerburger, CSJ and
the trio continued full-swing
collaboration with Schenectady
Inner City Mission to offer what
the organization doesn’t always
have time to provide in its busy
schedule – a place of prayer and
momentary relief, of welcome,
News
FROM ACROSS THE CONGREGATION
healing and hope. In the words of
Sister Ann: “This mission chose us;
it displaced us. We were so serene
in our mostly middle-class lifestyle
and predictable roles. The new
ministry reminds us daily of Jesus’
call to be ‘with the sheep’ and Pope
Francis’ reminder that we need to
have the ‘smell of the sheep’ on
us. It is, indeed, a way to live with
passion in the present moment!”
APERTURA DEL HOGAR DE
SAN JOSE
Schenectady, N.Y. – Cumpliendo
con la directiva congregacional
de “unificar, reconciliar, y actuar
proféticamente,” Hermanas Ann
Christi Brink, CSJ y Linda Neil,
CSJ respondieron a la invitación
de un párroco para crear un lugar
de “presencia y hospitalidad” en
Hamilton Hill, la vecindad más
“dura” de la ciudad. El Hogar de
San José abrió sus puertas en el
otoño de 2014, cumpliendo con
el sueño de Padre Michael Hogan
para un centro cuyo modelo es “la
Sister Ann Christi Brink, CSJ, Fr. Dominic Isopo, Sister Linda Neil, CSJ,
and Beth Ann Washington at St. Joseph’s Place in Schenectady, NY.
Sister Kathy Stein, CSJ with former client/namesake, Kathy and her child.
mesa en la cocina” de la cocinita
en Le Puy, France, donde nuestras
fundadoras reunieron a las primeras
Hermanas de San José.
A lo largo del año, la Hermana
Peggy Hoerburger, CSJ se unió a las
dos hermanas y las tres continuaron
su colaboración con Schenectady
Inner City Mission para ofrecer
lo que la organización no tiene
tiempo para ofrecer – un lugar de
oración y alivio momentáneo, de
bienvenida, sanación y esperanza.
En las palabras de Hermana Ann:
“Esta misión nos escogió; nos
desplazó. Nos sentíamos tan serenas
en nuestro estilo de vida de clase
media y comodidad. Este nuevo
ministerio nos recuerda diariamente
el llamado de Jesús de estar ‘con
las ovejas’ y nos recuerda las
palabras del Papa Francisco que
necesitamos “oler como las ovejas”.
Es verdaderamente, una manera de
vivir con pasión el presente.”
THOMAS HOUSE SHELTER
CELEBRATES 30TH
ANNIVERSARY
Los Angeles, Calif. – Thirty years
ago, a few local parishioners
recognized that the homeless
population in the area was
expanding and decided to rent
a few apartments to offer a safe,
short-term place to stay, creating
Thomas House Shelter. Six years
later, in 1992, they asked Catholic
Charities for a staff member to
facilitate a support group. That
person was Sister Kathy Stein, CSJ.
Eventually, the board asked Sister
Kathy to become their full-time
executive director. They could
only cover half of her salary, so
she asked for financial support
from the Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondelet. “Our community is
called to meet the needs of the
dear neighbor. We walk with the
marginalized. Thomas House was
the perfect fit,” she says.
Through her leadership,Thomas
House is a comprehensive
continuum of care community
where families may stay up to
nine months and receive services
including case management,
counseling, parenting classes,
financial advice and after school
programs, among others.
Sister Kathy continues to promote
the mission as a volunteer. She
quoted a Maxim from Father
Medaille: “Advance good works
until they are almost finished; and
then, whenever possible let them
be completed by someone else
who will receive the honor.”
LA OBRA “THOMAS HOUSE“
CELEBRA SU TRIGESIMO
ANIVERSARIO
Los Angeles, Calif. – Hace treinta
años, algunos parroquianos
reconocieron que la población sin
vivienda en su área había crecido
y decidieron alquilar algunos
departamentos para ofrecer un
lugar seguro y de corto plazo.
Así crearon la obra Thomas
House. Luego, en 1992, pidieron
a CARITAS buscar a una persona
para facilitar un grupo de apoyo.
Dicha persona fue Hermana Kathy
Stein, CSJ.
Eventualmente, la junta directiva
le pidio a Hermana Kathy tomar
el cargo de Directora Ejecutiva.
Solo podían pagar la mitad de
su sueldo por lo que ella pidió
apoyo económico de las Hermanas
de San José de Carondelet.
“Nuestra comunidad está llamada
a responder a las necesidades del
querido prójimo. Caminamos con
los que se encuentran al margen
de la sociedad. Thomas House fue
el lugar perfecto”, nos dice.
Gracias a su liderazgo,Thomas
House ofrece varios servicios de
cuidado donde las familias se
pueden alojar por nueve meses
y recibir servicios incluyendo
consejería, clases para padres
de familia, consejo financiero y
programas de tutoría para escolares.
La Hermana Kathy continúa
promoviendo la misión como
voluntaria. Citó una Máxima del
Padre Medaille que dice: “Avanza
las buenas obras hasta casi su
término; y luego cuando sea
posible permite que otros los
terminen y reciban el honor.”
ST. LOUIS PROVINCE EXPANDS
GULU MINISTRY PROJECT
Gulu, Uganda – Since 2008, St.
Louis sisters and associates have
served and supported the Acholi
people of Gulu, Uganda, in the
areas of healthcare, education,
catechetical training and trauma
therapy. Now they are adding water
purification to the list.
In 2014, Associate Carolyn Henry,
CSJA, an analytical chemist, went
to Gulu for 12 weeks to test the
community well water. At the same
time, the province developed
a relationship with Water with
Blessings, an organization that
provides water purification kits and
education to women in developing
countries. Through this providential
partnership, the initiative was born.
Carolyn’s work revealed that onethird
of the water tested was not
Sister Patricia Murphy, CSJ helps a mother with buckets for the Water with
Blessings filtration system. Each woman in the program commits to share
clean water with three other families.
safe for drinking. Authorities were
informed but took no action. She
brought a number of filtration kits,
but more would be needed.
At the 2015 province assembly,
sisters and associates donated
$2,500 to purchase 45 portable
filtration systems, as well as a
plethora of homemade crocheted
“filter socks” to protect these lifegiving
units.
In the fall of 2015, Gulu “veteran”
Sister Pat Murphy, CSJ and
“newbie” Sister Patty Clune,
CSJ became official Water with
Blessings educators so they could
implement the program.
“These filters purify water so that
families no longer have to worry
about the diseases that come
from impure drinking water,”
says Sister Patty.
This program has made a
difference quickly and continues
to grow. Sister Jo Ann Geary,
CSJ nurse practitioner at the area
health and maternity clinics, notes
a decrease in typhoid and other
water-related diseases. Water with
Blessings donated 90 additional
filters at the end of 2015.
The Sisters of St. Joseph remain
committed to empowering
the women of Gulu to create a
healthier community – one mother,
one filter at a time.
ABOUT THE SISTERS
OF ST. JOSEPH OF
CARONDELET
The Congregation of the
Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondelet is comprised
of four provinces: St. Louis,
St. Paul, Albany and Los
Angeles; and the vice
provinces of Hawai`i and
Peru. Hawai`i is in the
process of joining the
Los Angeles province.
Our sisters work always
toward profound love of
God and love of neighbor
without distinction.
SOBRE LAS HERMANAS
DE SAN JOSÉ DE
CARONDELET
La Congregación de las
Hermanas de San José de
Carondelet consta de cuatro
provincias: San Luis, San
Pablo, Albany y Los Angeles;
y las vice provincias de Hawai`i
y el Perú. Hawai`i está en el
proceso de unificarse con la
provincia de Los Angeles.
Nuestras hermanas siempre
tienden hacia un profundo
amor a Dios y amor al prójimo
sin distinción.
The “Water Women” at their first training session, which was both and
education and a celebration.
3 CARONDELET A PUBLICATION BY THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET 4