Mt. St. Mary's University Faculty Staff and Friends on Pilgrimage in Le Puy

 

The group from the Mount outside the Centre International 

and in front of the two puys of Le Puy

 

 

 

 

Ann talks about the six founding sisters in the Kitchen. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Sisters Celia DuRea, Mary Catherine Siminski, and Carol Quinlivan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit to the Centre International

 

Visit to the Bas House

 

Roots and Wings program '26

 

 

 

 

Enacting the founding sisters in the Kitchen

Looking at the early documents of the "Little Design"

 

 

 

 

Early morning walk to the Pilgrim Mass at the Cathedral 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evening Plays on the Founding Sisters

Morning Warm-Ups

Class

Evening Prayer

 

St. Michel

 La Vierge

 

Tree of Martyrs where two sisters were guillotined during the French Revolution 

 

 Trompe l'Oeil in Le Puy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Last night -- Candles

Sister Deanne's Reflection

Today, our hearts overflow with gratitude as we arrive -- slightly dusty, decidedly sunburned, and spiritually supercharged -- at the close of this beautiful, grace-filled, cobblestone-testing journey. Sr. Michelle and Sr. Raymonda -- you didn't just hand us a map and wave goodbye. You walked with us, prayed with us, and somehow made hills, cobbled streets, and scorching heat feel like... a gift. Your sessions were not merely informative -- they were transformative. You inspired us to be women of fire and stone, with eyes open, ears attentive, spirits alert, and sleeves firmly rolled up. We came as seekers. We leave as women on fire (Please pray we don't set anything else alight.) 

A very special word of gratitude to Sr. Jacqueline -- our magnificent bridge-builder and real-time human translator extraordinaire. While the rest of us sat nodding a beat too late, Sr. Jacqueline was already three sentences ahead, gracefully carrying every word from one heart to another. Without you, some of us might still be sitting there, smiling and nodding, with absolutely no idea what was said. Thank you Sr. Jacqueline. Truly.

We know this Centre's motto: Embrace the past, nurture the present, create the future. Sr. Eluiza and Olga -- you did not merely nurture the present, you fed it, housed it, and sent it off thoroughly well-nourished. Our plates were not just full -- they were overflowing. And when you stepped out from the kitchen to join us on the road, explaining the significance of each place, you fed us understanding, too. (We may need slightly larger habits when we return home. That is entirely your fault, and we are not complaining.)

 To all the pilgrims -- you brought colour, warmth, and laughter to every single day. We did not merely travel across lands -- we walked into each other's hearts. And we intend to stay there. 

May we carry forward the strength of our roots, the passion of our charism, and the fire of God's love along. 

 

 

Regis College sings in Le Puy

 

Choral students and alumni from Regis College performed a mini-concert for the elderly Sisters of St. Joseph and laypeople of the Maison St. Joseph nursing home in the chapel in Le Puy during their May 11-14 pilgrimage to Le Puy.

The choir also sang in the chapel of St. Michel after climbing 268 steps up a 279-foot mount.

Dr. Heather Josselyn-Cranson (top right), associate professor of humanities, led the group.

 

Here are some short clips of their singing:

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/fhRwn69KS_8?feature=share

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/WvgZqPaYIKo

 

 https://youtube.com/shorts/4Sg84Cs5cf4

 

Regis College was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston (USA) in 1927. Regis is a co-educational, non-profit college in Weston, Massachusetts, 12 miles west of Boston that offers undergraduate and graduate academic programs in the arts and sciences, business and communication, nursing, and health sciences.

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Simone Retires from the International Centre

 

 

 

Board President Deirdre Griffin recognizes Sister Simone's service to the Centre at the Board meeting in March. Sister Simone has been the French-English translator for the Centre since its beginning in 2003. She assisted various teams at the Centre in French language and culture, and for several years gave tours of the Kitchen with her unique wit and authenticity. She could always be counted on to lend a hand at the Centre. Sister Simone will continue working with the Centre in the foreseeable future by translating texts from English to French, and of course, she will continue being a friend of staff members.  

 

 

 

Sister Simone's favorite sweet treat is chocolate. Board members indulged in French chocolate pastries in her honor. 

 

 

 

 

Sister Barbara Bozak, facilitator for the Board, shares a moment with Sister Simone.

 

Sister Mary Jo Radley (Canadian Federation) and Sister Celine Kalathoor (Chambéry Congregation) 

 

Sister Deirdre and Sister Colette Soro (Lyon Congregation).

 

 

Sister Yvonne Rasoarimalala (Italian Federation, Aoste) and Sister Marie-Paule Rascle (Secretary, Institute). 

Staff members Olga and Sister Eluiza will dearly miss Sister Simone's more active presence at the Centre.