Associate Spotlight: Stella D’Angelo

By Samantha Miller

Stella D’Angelo first learned about the Sisters of St. Joseph when applying for a job in 2021. In 2026, they are more intertwined in her life than she could have ever imagined.

“Through my daily life and work alongside them, I discovered a charism I had been living long before I even knew it had a name: a call to deep union with God and with our dear neighbor,” shared D’Angelo, who works as an Administrative Assistant for the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Having not been raised Catholic, D’Angelo was first intimidated at the idea of working with Sisters.

“What I discovered instead were deeply inspiring and extraordinary women who taught me so much through their words, their actions, and the way they live their faith,” she said.

Becoming an Associate

Now, not only is she an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph, but she is also preparing to be baptized this Easter.

“Some people find it surprising that I became an Associate before officially becoming Catholic, but for me, the call of the charism came first,” the 33-year-old said. “It was the lived experience of love, justice, and deep connection with God and neighbor that led me to the faith, not the other way around.

D’Angelo’s decision to become an Associate was an easy one.

“Becoming an Associate felt like a natural ‘yes’ to something already growing in my heart: a desire to belong, to learn, and to walk this path in community,” said D’Angelo, who officially joined the Associate team in April 2024. “I am grateful to be part of the Joseph family and to continue learning how to live this charism more fully each day.

What It All Means to Her

So what does being an Associate mean to D’Angelo?

“To be an Associate means choosing to intentionally live the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph in everyday life,” the Oceanside, NY, resident said. “It is a commitment to seek deeper union with God and to respond to the needs of our dear neighbor through prayer, service, and action.

“As an Associate, I remain fully rooted in my vocation as a laywoman, wife, and mother, while walking in spiritual kinship with the Sisters,” D’Angelo continued. “It is not about doing more, but about living more consciously. Allowing faith to shape how I work, serve, advocate, and build relationships.”

D’Angelo’s favorite thing about being an Associate is the sense of belonging it brought her.

“There is something deeply grounding about walking alongside others who share the same commitment to union with God and love of our Dear Neighbor, while each of us lives that call in our own unique way,” she said.

D’Angelo shared that she is especially grateful for the wisdom, generosity, and strength of the Sisters and fellow Associates.

“Being among people who continually challenge me to grow helps me live my faith more fully in my everyday life,” she said. “It is a gift to know that I am not walking this path alone, but as part of a community rooted in love, justice, and hope.”

Living the Mission of the Sisters in Your Everyday Life

D’Angelo feels that the first step to live out the mission of the Sisters is presence — a skill she learned by working with the Sisters.

“Presence means truly seeing and listening to the people around us,” she said. “Living the mission doesn’t require extraordinary actions; it starts with choosing love, compassion, and justice in ordinary moments.

“By treating each person we encounter as our dear neighbor, we create spaces of connection rather than division,” D’Angelo continued. “The mission comes alive when we allow our daily choices to be guided by a desire for deeper union with God and with one another.”

Interested in learning more about becoming an Associate? Click here or contact Colleen O’Brien at
631.273.1187 x105 or obrien@csjbrentwood.org.

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This article is part of a series celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Stay tuned for more in this series.