CSJ Associate Orientation Program

CSJ Associate Orientation Program Unit 2—The Story of Association and Unit 8—Religious Life Today Reflections by Sr. Karen Wilhemly

Recap and Reconnect with January meeting (covered a lot of ground) Unit 1—story of the founding and further evolution of the congregation Units 4 and 6—charism and spirituality of the congregation

Today’s material—2 units (2 & 8) are intrinsically interconnected with each other and connected as well to Unit 1, the History. We cannot tell the story of Association without recalling some of the early history of the congregation nor without dealing with Religious Life as it has evolved within our contemporary society.

These units, then, form a triangle, a Trinitarian concept-- a good place to be because we know that Fr. Medaille dedicated the so-called Little Design to the holy, uncreated Trinity (Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier) and to the created Trinity of the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph)

With that as our introduction, let us pray (Use Consensus Statement--adapted)

Recently encountered two parables from Mark’s gospel-- use as themes: Mark 4: 26-29—seed buried in the ground, the planter, the nutrients, the harvest Mark: 30-32—the parable of the mustard seed (actually a favorite image of Fr. Med)

In regard to Association, the seed is Vatican II Nutrients are in the Federation Research; The planters are those who had the dream and said, as in the film, “Field of Dreams” “If you build it; they will come.” The harvest is the flourishing of Association in the various units of the congregation.

The seed of Association is in Vatican II (50 year anniversary in October) And. what was that seed that engendered this movement we now call Association?

Among the many teachings of Vat II are two profound calls of the Holy Spirit: 1. The first from the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, "Lumen Gentium", Chapter 4--on the laity. The principles are very familiar to us now: a) Every member of the Church, by virtue of his/her baptism, is called to holiness--"The universal call to holiness" That may not sound too earth-shaking to us now that we have lived into this -- but let’s remember that before Vat II, we Catholics thought of holiness hierarchically—like a pyramid with the Pope on top, Cardinals and bishops on the next rung, priests below them, even religious were considered “higher in holiness”—and, of course, on the bottom rung were the laity. So it was earth- shaking or Church-shaking when Vatican II, Lumen Gentium stated:

"If, therefore, everyone in the Church does not proceed by the same path, nevertheless, all are called to sanctity and have received an equal privilege of faith through God's justice." This was Church-changing and life-changing for those times.

2. A 2nd significant principle derives from the document on the Laity in which we hear the call to all--to share in the mission of the Church; each one to contribute his/her unique and diverse gifts to proclaim to the world the Good News of God's love.

To sum up, any one or any group who was really listening to Vatican II regarding the role of the laity in the renewed Church certainly would have been moved to new attitudes and new behaviors, which would result in new ways of relating and collaborating.

And this is what I believe many of you have experienced as you have interacted with clerics and religious who have taken Vatican II seriously. (Pause)

Vatican Council II put forth another document which went right to the heart of religious life—Perfectae Caritatis—on the renewal of Religious life. Religious congregations were called to renew themselves in accordance with the signs of the times: - by a deep study and reflection on Scripture, especially the gospel . . .and - study and reflection on the Spirit of their founders.

We, like all good communities/congregations, took those words to heart.

This is where we see what I call the nutrients that supply the moisture/the right conditions in the soil for the seed to grow and expand. That was the work of the Federation Research Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the U.S. and Canada.

Who/What is the Federation?--all congregations that trace their origins to the foundation in LePuy, France in 1650—what you learned about last month in Unit 1. (Refer group to websites at the end of the handout) Our congregation (Carondelet), being one of the main members of the Federation, participated in the intense study of the spirit and spirituality of our founders, Fr. Jean Pierre Medaille and the first six Sisters of St. Joseph. In an amazingly short time after the close of the Council, a Research Team was assembled--consisting of 10 Sisters, gifted with skills necessary to work with French history, language and culture. Their destination was LePuy and Lyon to work with the French Federation Sisters as well as several Jesuits who had begun extensive research on the life of Fr. Medaille and his ministry that resulted in the foundation of the Srs. Of St. Joseph.

“The seed takes root and puts forth its blade--begins to show above the ground.” Once the scholarly papers and presentations of the Federation sprouted up among the congregations of St. Joseph, it became clear, among many other things, that:

There was a treasure in our past that had been part of our original foundation— Associates—Associées, Agrégées.

It became clear from Fr. Medaille's writings and from the primitive Constitution of 1691 that our founder strongly encouraged associates: The end of this little Congregation is to unite, in a body of religious and associates (agrégées)--- all dedicated to God in the world and most desirous of holiness, who may lack means for religious life or who are not called to it --- and to perfect those souls more and more in the holy service of God and through their zeal to provide for all spiritual and temporal needs of the dear/beloved neighbor.

Their zeal should extend even to the prevention of any offense against God as far as possible. Therefore, they will divide the city into various sections, and either by visiting the sick personally or through the associates of the Congregation they shall make every effort to learn what disorders prevail in each quarter so that they may remedy them either by their own efforts or by the intermediary of those who have some power over the persons engaged in these disorders. (Pause)

In addition to what has been written in these early documents, records in many of the small towns and cities in France where there were or still are communities of St. Joseph, reveal that, not only did the associates/aggrégées work with the Sisters, but sometimes they even lived together in community -- vowed and non-vowed -- all committed to the mission of unity and reconciliation. As the work of the Federation became known to us, we realized that we (CSJ’s/SSJ’s), like so many other women’s congregations, that were founded to be apostolic and to be out among the people, were, in fact, living a monastic life style that imposed restrictions on our relationships with the dear neighbor—in many ways, a semi-cloister that carried with it warnings that sound strange to us now--about being in the company of so-called “seculars”. (Though we were extremely apostolic, we lived with a strange set of monastic rules!)

“Suddenly the seed sprouts and begins to grow so that the planter is even taken by surprise.” In the case of “Association”, as we have seen, we can actually trace the steps of its emergence from the seed of Vatican II and the nurturing of the Federation research.

It remained for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and inspire seekers, harvesters, and gleaners of the mysterious harvest, so that (as in the parable) the land might produce of its own accord.

How did the seed burst into life within the congregation? Who/What inspired the harvest? Who built the field of dreams? Some events; impossible to name all.

Congregational Chapters—1969, 1972, 1975, 1978 (often a knock-down drag-out about many aspects of renewal.) Courage of leadership of that time in congregation & units.

1972—Future Secretariat--Pluralism and Diversity Study (different worldviews) 1974—Carondelet congregation—in St. Louis, Medaille communities (Sr. Mary John) 1975—Community Life/Membership issues—concept of association emerges--Chapter 1978—Each province “encouraged to make provision for lay associates who share the charism, but do not intend to make profession in the congregation.”

Many Harvests within the units of the congregation and the Federation

One harvest-- the story of Association in the Los Angeles province 1979 to 1984—The Seed is Sown  An Evolving Model (the 3 C’s) --Recognize and Celebrate the Relationships --Communicate about our charism and history (Retreat Days/meetings) --Develop a mode of Commitment that grows out of our lived experience  Two principles --Develop a program based on our EXPERIENCE, not theoretical/not copied --Let it evolve and eventually be formulated by the Sisters and Associates who have been involved in the process. Oct 79—Committee of 10 Sisters Solicit names from the Sisters Begin to communicate through CSJ West to the Sisters and to the list of names given us by the Sisters (potential Associates) through CSJ Friends Connection (Toni Nash)

April 80—First Gathering of Sisters Interested and Potential Associates at St. John’s Convent, Inglewood

1980-1984 The Planning Board (How to implement all the ideas)  4 Sisters; 4 Associates (mutuality of relationship)  Associates had a dual role --both “the interested” AND the ones who gave extra time and energy to plan, implement, and reflect on where we were going, what’s next etc --continued to publish CSJ Friends Connection  Reflection Days--either CC or St. Mary’s  (28 specific activities between Oct 79 to Apr 83; 8 Reflection Days alone.)

****If time--[A Typical Reflection Day—I Cor 12 and The House Called Srs of St. Joseph of Carondelet (Joan Sauro-Albany) Where do we (the Associates) fit? Where is our dwelling? We are in all parts of the house associated with the members who live in the house. We live in houses outside and come in to provide labor, materials, and support We are TOGETHER building community among ourselves (Sisters & Associates) and always, with the People of God.]

The pin/ the logo represents the vision of the first Sisters and Associates:  Collaboration and Mutuality (joined hands)  Sharing the Mission of Unity and Reconciliation (French foundation-fleur de lis)  Mutual Support in: --prayer and faith life --friendship/communion --service/ministry to the dear neighbor (CSJ, parish, family, work, other) ****If time The Hope and Vision for CSJ Associates:  To serve on our Boards in ministry  To be seated at our Chapter table  Some sharing community with CSJ’s  Some in leadership positions in our province; responsible for our works By November 1983—a written program and meeting with the Provincial Council who gave formal approval to this new movement that had its origins with Fr. Medaille and the first Sisters in 17c France.

December 1983—wrote a script and developed a slide show to introduce the Associate program in all the regions of the province

Jan & Feb of 84—Tour of the Province with IPD Team. First Associates went to every location at their own expense.

Sept 1984—First formal Commitment Ceremony in CC chapel (7 charter members)

November 1984—First Commitment Ceremony outside L.A.—Pasco, WA (2)

January 1985—pins crafted and logo introduced

We are moving towards forty years from the beginnings of Association in our congregation.

The blade has appeared; we have witnessed many harvestings. Where do we go from here?

BREAK This is where I am going to emphasize Unit 8 (Religious Life Today) The 2nd Parable in Mark’s gospel (Mk 4:30-32)—the mustard seed (Text)

The symbol of the tree with many branches—the Federation tree designed by Srs. Margaret Quinn (Brentwood) and Sr. Marian Cowan (Carondelet, St. L.)--1985

A new tree-like design which includes all Federations and Congregations that trace their origins to Fr. Medaille by Sr. Kari Pohl (Baden, PA). She shows hearts, symbol of love, as the fruit of the wide-spreading tree. This one has the new Congregation of St. Joseph which has emerged from the communion of 7 congregations in the Heartland Another tree—Canadian, U.S., Italian and French Federations (see websites) These designs depict the Federations, the congregations. Where are Associates in all of this? As I viewed again the Federation websites and their narratives, most describe themselves as Sisters and Associates.

It has been almost forty years since Association emerged from the exhortations of Vatican II and the shared insights of the Federation research. (I use 1972)

Forty is a sacred number. It connotes “fullness”—and, in a certain way, abundance. Forty is thought of as an appropriate time for a new generation to arise.

There is no question in my mind that within these forty years the movement has become, as Fr. Medaille might say, “a little design in itself that has grown like a mustard seed” or the most recent image, made popular by Sr. Carol Ann O’ Marie’s book, “like a swarm of bees”.

We have seen that Associates were part of Fr. Medaille’s vision :to support the fledgling foundation in Le Puy :to minister with the first Sisters as together they performed all the works of mercy of which woman is capable and which will most benefit the dear neighbor :and, insofar as it would further the mission—to share community—vowed and non-vowed.

We know that Associates were not part of the congregation when we came to America in 1836, and, it is unlikely that they were part of Mother St. John’s experience either before or after the French Revolution. Indeed, before the 1970’s, Associates were definitely not part of the congregation that we knew. (We did have lay Sisters, who were vowed, wore a different kind of habit and lived in community.)

Yet from its first stirrings in the 1970’s, Associates have emerged to become a significant presence in our four provinces, in the vice-province of Hawaii, and in the Region of Chile. They are known as Associates in St. Louis, Albany, and Los Angeles; Consociates in St. Paul; Ohana (extended family) in Hawaii and Familia de San Jose in the Region of Chile. They are referenced by the acronym, ACOF.

The Directors meet annually in different locations with a member of the congregational team as liaison to them. Associates serve on our Boards and Committees. Associates are invited to our events--congregationally and in the units— they are participants in our Regional gatherings and in our clusters. Their numbers grow. Many support and minister with us in whatever way their lifestyles enable collaboration.

You who are seeking to move towards commitment as CSJ Associates are being called by the Holy Spirit at an important juncture in our congregational history. We are definitely at a crossroads time, a moment that calls all of us to contemplate our future.

Sometimes in the past we heard fearful voices in our congregation calling for a drawback, complaining that Associates interrupted the flow of tradition in our congregation. Today, it seems, we experience the opposite—even voices that were slow to accept and not supportive, seem now to be at least open. Associates, Consociates, Ohana, and Familia de Jose have shown that they are a vital part of the units in which they live.

Whereas our first associates were searching for ways to be involved, to contribute, to participate in mission and ministry—in a word to be accepted—the presence of Associates among us today is not only expected, but their support and participation is anticipated.

It is no secret that the doors of religious congregations are not being knocked down by applicants wanting to enter. It is no secret, either, that the median age of religious (and priests too) continues to rise, that our younger members (fewer in number) serve on more committees at one time than most of us ever did in the past. And that the obvious needs of the least of our sisters and brothers, per usual, far outweigh the personnel to respond to them.

I believe this is not because persons of a suitable vocation age are less spiritual and less dedicated. In my limited experience, (personal opinion) I would say not so. (Elaborate on JV’s, BPR, students doing service, going on mission to developing countries.)

As Fr. Medaille and the first Sisters saw in the 17 century, the signs of our times, the realities we contemplate, call us to habitual discernment as we move forward— both Sisters and Associates. Indeed, it is the Holy Spirit who is creating something new--not for our own sake--for survival, but for the mission of unity and reconciliation—that all may be one—the gospel mandate of love of God and love of the dear neighbor. What that is/ what is emerging is still in seed, but beginning to show the blade above the ground.

Associates as well as members of the congregation have been invited to participate fully in the congregational CORE process to discern what will emerge/ what will evolve. For I do believe that we are at a moment of evolution not only in the history of our congregation, but of religious life which has evolved through many forms since its recognition in the early church.

As we reflect today on the forty year journey of Association (ACOF) in our congregation, we understand that it is just one path/one mode of relationship with the congregation and of furthering the CSJ charism and mission. However, our experience with this movement as it emerged from the seed of Vatican II and your experience and your insights as Associates can greatly contribute to the CORE process of discernment, which calls us to openness about ideas we haven’t yet tried, such as: Co-membership A more formalized Ministry Associates or Partners in Mission Temporary Commitment Associate tracks that specifically appeal to younger persons; Volunteer programs such as St. Joseph Workers Agrégées with a vow of stability, such as Concordia is offering.

These are just a few ideas. I’m sure you and others are aware of these possibilities and others as well. None are simple concepts. All would require assessment and some experience as to particulars such as Formation, what mode of Commitment, what resources and personnel would be required? What can we learn from our past experiences and from the experiences of others?

We who have been on this evolving journey of association are reminded that it is always God’s activity (the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of Love) that moves us forward from stage to stage. The Associates will move forward with the members into the emerging future. How will you, in communion with us, participate in the mystery of transformation?”

I will close with some hope-filled words that one of our French Sister researchers addressed to a gathering of the U.S. and Canadian Federation a few years ago. I’ve shortened and adapted the encouraging word of Sr. Benedicte de Vaublanc “In the course of three and a half centuries of history, the Congregation of St. Joseph, like other religious Institutes, has passed through periods of expansion, stability and struggle. Today the decrease in our numbers obliges us to relinquish some of our commitments without guilt and to live in hope. That is, to look clearly at our situation and at the world's situation, (our realities) in order to discern the paths God is opening before us.

We have a common treasure: our charism, dynamic enough for us to "refound" our Congregation of St. Joseph for our time. Father Medaille gave us the task of weaving bonds of unity among us and with those around us, to reveal to them the love of God. All the efforts we make in the direction of greater union are in line with our charism of communion. The essential thing is to be tireless seekers of God, open to God's call through events, desiring in all things and everywhere God’s greater honor and glory.

You have ideas; you have experience. What are your thoughts? What are your questions? What are your hopes, what are your dreams?