Just got my copy of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace Magazine, Living Peace. They have a page with quotes and pictures from the 5 pre-candidates for vowed membership (including me). So great to see us all together, especially the 2 on the East Coast I haven’t met yet.
There’s also a piece by Sr. Helen Haigh, CSJP Librarian & Archivist, about early vocation ministry. Basically, in 1922 Bishop Joseph Crimont from Alaska appealed that the Sisters start a foundation in Ketchikan (where they still are today). He promised to work for candidates to the Sisters through the Guilds of the Little Flower and through notices in their publication, The Lamp. Apparently a young lady in St Louis, Missouri named Lucille Barth read the notice and wrote to the Bishop for info. He referred her to the Mother Superior and in December 1922 Lucille travelled to Bellingham Washington and began her postulancy. Half way across the country! She later encouraged her sister Mary Magdalene to join her and they became "Sister Sisters." As the article by Sr. Helen says, "Imagine the strong calling, courage and sense of adventure that allowed her to take that leap of faith." Indeed!
How funny. And here I thought we were in a unique age where women (and men) were learning about vocations online and sending for information from far flung places. No, we’re just adapting to the tools of our own age but in the tradition of those who came before us. So when I saw the ad for the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace in Vision magazine and checked out their website and bookmarked it and then sent for information, I wasn’t original. Instead I was following in the footsteps of Sr. Lucille.
Sr. Helen ends her little gem of a piece (I am a sucker for history!) with this prayer: "Let us pray that in this age of worldwide communication, the Spirit will attract women [and men] as generous and adventurous as the Barth sisters to join with us." Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment