St. Joseph Health Visits Le Puy

Forty-five members of the St. Joseph Health System of the Congregation of Orange, CA,made a pilgrimage to France to learn more about the origins and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph. They visited the Kitchen, the Living History Centre, the Tree of Martyrs, and the College de l'Église in Le Puy and were hosted to a wine and cheese party at the International Centre on April 28-29.  

The group also visited Lourdes and took part in the evening procession, which they found particularly moving. Later they went to Lyon to view the Living History Centre of the Lyon Congregation.

The group was led by Sister Jayne Helmlinger, General Superior of the Orange Congregation, and her colleague, Sr. Marian Schubert.
 

Wine and Cheese Party

               

Chambéry Sisters Make a Day-Long Pilgrimage

They came with lunch bags in their purses and containers of food in large sacks. Eighteen Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry had traveled four hours to reach Le Puy for a day-long pilgrimage to their foundations here. Some of them had traveled from much further: Brazil, India, and Mozambique.

Picnic Lunch
It was a gorgeous spring day and the sisters took advantage of eating their lunches outside while others chose to eat inside the Centre.

 


 

After lunch, the sisters went to the Kitchen where they learned a bit more about the lives of the founding sisters and took some time to pray with them.

They also visited the Living History Centre to learn more about the historical context of the Congregation and its evolution to today. 

The sisters walked through the heart of the city of Le Puy and stopped at the Tree of Martyrs where three Sisters of St. Joseph lost their lives at the guillotine during the French Revolution.

They also visited the Eglise du College where Father Medaille preached. They prayed some prepared prayers in the pews and at the altar and filled the church with song.

 The pulpit, located in the middle of the church, where Father Medaille once preached.














The sisters visited Martine's lace shop and witnessed how lace is made by hand.

Of course, the sisters had time for some ice cream. They stopped at a new shop in town, which is across the street from the lace shop.

 

     

 

International Centre Board Meets -- April 3-6

The International Centre Board met April 3-6 in Le Puy-en-Velay for its biannual meeting. The sisters addressed a number of issues including programs, budget, strategies, house repairs, communications, and staffing.

The sisters represent the federations of Canada, Italy, and the USA as well as the French congregations of Annecy, Chambéry, Institut, and Lyon. 

(left to right) Odile Gaillard, treasurer (Institut); Loretta Manzara, vice president (Canada); Claudia Frencia (Italy); Maria Goretti O'Connor (Annecy); Catherine Barange, secretary (Lyon); Ieda Tomazini, president (Chambéry); Patty Johnson (USA); Barbara Bozak, facilitator (Chambéry); and Simone Saugues, interpreter (Institut).

Catherine (Lyon-France), Barbara, facilitator (Chambéry-France), Ieda (Chambéry-France), and Maria Goretti (Annecy-France)

Claudia (Italy) and Simone, translator (Institut-France)

Patty (USA) and Catherine (Lyon-France)

Odile (Institut-France)

Loretta (Canada) and Patty (USA)

The sisters said good-bye to Maria Goretti with appetizers and a Moscador-Cassis toast. She has served on the Board for the past six years.

Ieda thanks Maria Goretti for her years of service on the Board.

Loretta presents Maria Goretti with a plant from the Board.