Participants included 5 Indian sisters, 2 Argentinian sisters, 1 American sister and 1 American associate. Sr. Jane DeLisle (Orange-USA) served as presenter and Sr. Gloria Cruz (Brentwood-Puerto Rico) was the Spanish-English translator.
Although these participants have been in ministry for decades, Sister Jane reported that the quality of their sharing deepened with each day as they learned more about the charism, visited historical sites, ate together, took time for prayer and reflection, and shared the State of the Heart each evening.
The Kitchen
The program provided participants with an experience of the history and spirituality of the Sisters of St Joseph who were founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France in 1650. The Kitchen is the original home of the founding sisters. This prayer service recognizes the founders--and the sisters and associates of the past and future.
Martine's Lace Shop
The founding Sisters of St Joseph earned a living by making lace at night after a day's ministry. All participants of the International Centre's programs visit a working lace shop owned by Martine who makes her lace by hand. Many participants take this unique opportunity purchase handmade goods from the lace shop. Le Puy has been a lace-making center since 1407.The Sisters' Chapel (Institute of St. Joseph)
The chapel was reconstructed and equipped with iron rods to brace its walls. The chapel reopened in 2021 just in time to receive several items from the Living History Centre, whose building was condemned in fall 2022 due to structural damage.
Bas-en-Basset
This street is named after Mother St. John Fontbonne. Bas-en-Basset is her birthplace home.
Jeanne Fontbonne was born in Bas-en-Basset on March 31, 1759. After she entered the Sisters of St Joseph, she very quickly rose to the top to become a superior. During the French Revolution, religious communities were disbanded. Afterward, a bishop asked her to re-assemble the sisters into a community again. She became superior of the Lyon Congregation, which was founded in 1808. In 2019, Mother St John's birthplace was up for sale and Mt. St. Mary's University of Los Angeles purchased it. They now make it available to groups visiting the International Centre. The video below shows the interior and exterior of the home.
Monistrol
Mother St. John Fontbonne was the superior of the Monistrol mission at the time of the French Revolution. She and the sisters were pressed to take the Oath supporting the revolution in this church. They refused. This action led to Mother St. John's arrest and imprisonment. She escaped death by the guillotine because the Revolution ended one day before she was scheduled to die. Sr. Jane Delisle tells the story in the video below.
The group visited Lyon and saw the Origin & Evolution Centre of the Lyon Congregation, which included the bedroom of Mother St. John Fontbonne. The also went to the Basilica at Fourvière, a hilltop that overlooks the entire city of Lyon. Afterward, they went to the gravesite of Mother St. John. Unfortunately, we do not have any photos or videos of their time in these places.
