Mount St. Mary University Makes Pilgrimage

Representatives from the Mount St. Mary University faculty and staff were "unstoppable" in their energy and enthusiasm during their annual pilgrimage to south-central France. Led by President Ann McElaney-Johnson, the 20 pilgrims learned about the history and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph as they walked in the footsteps of the founding sisters in Le Puy. Patrick (far left), together with Centre staff member, Eluiza (far right), served as guides for the walking tours of the pilgrimage. 

President Ann McElaney-Johnson

The group arrived in Annecy, France (near Geneva) on Friday, June 22 and made their way by bus to Le Puy on Saturday where they were greeted by Centre International staff and hosted to a tour of the Cathédrale de Notre Dame, la Place du Martouret, and l'Elise du Collège. In the evening, they all came to the Centre for a meal of veal, carrots, haricots verts, Auvergne blue cheese, and ice cream. As a special after-dinner drink, they tasted the local liqueur, Verveine. 

Shannon Green, Director of the CSJ Institute

On Sunday, after Mass at a local parish, the group returned to the Centre for a talk about the Congregation's history by Shannon Green, Director of the CSJ Institute at "The Mount." 




On Monday, the group visited The Kitchen and the Living History Centre--with some free time to shop for lace, lentils, and chocolates.

They also walked a few miles of the Camino de St. Jacques de Compostelle.

The pilgrims took time to reflect on their experiences and to share how each of them applied what they had learned about the early sisters to their work and ministry at the university.

On Tuesday, the group took to the road to see key places where Mother St. John Fontbonne: Bas en Basset (her birthplace), Monistrol (her first mission), St. Didion (where she was imprisoned during the French Revolution), St. Etienne (where she gathered the Black Daughters after the Revolution), and Lyon (where she led the Congregation beginning 1808).

As a special feature to the day-long road trip, the pilgrims had a picnic lunch in Monistrol at the convent of the sisters who live there. Everyone pitched in to set-up the lunch of pork slices, saucisson, baguette, cheese, salad, chips, cookies, soda and water. The picnic was arranged through La Coquille Saint Jacques deli store, which is located on Rue de St. Jacques that leads out of Le Puy and to the Camino.

Mount Saint Mary's University is a private, independent, Catholic liberal arts college, primarily for women, in Los Angeles, California. It was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1925. The University offers graduate, undergraduate, and associate's programs.