St. Joseph’s Day Celebrations

*Featured Photo Credit: Heather Coste

By Samantha Miller

The CSJ community celebrated the Sisters of St. Joseph, their mission, and their namesake through a number of events on St. Joseph’s Day — Wednesday, March 19.

Sisters, Agrégées, Associates, and Partners in Mission on the Brentwood Campus gathered in the Sacred Heart Chapel at 11 a.m. to start the day off with a special Mass, recognizing the 375th anniversary of the Congregation. They all renewed their vows and commitment to the mission of the Sisters at the event.

“A wholehearted and warm welcome as we come together… to celebrate our beloved patron, St. Joseph, and our humble visionary founding in Le Puy, France, as Sisters of St. Joseph 375 years ago,” S. Tesa Fitzgerald, president of the Congregation, said.

“From the 17th century to our present day, the Sisters of St. Joseph have impacted our world by committing their lives in service to the dear neighbor with profound love — a love that embraces all without distinction,” she continued. “A love that reads the signs of the times, and in the spirit of the gospel, responds selflessly in ministry and service.”

A celebratory lunch in the Convent dining room followed Mass.

Photo Credit: Greg Shemitz

Additional CSJ St. Joseph’s Day Celebrations

Smaller festivities were held at many of the affiliated locations of the Sisters of St. Joseph in honor of St. Joseph’s Day.

All four CSJ-Sponsored Schools — Academia María Reina in Sun Juan, PR; Fontbonne Hall Academy in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, N.Y.; and The Mary Louis Academy in Queens, N.Y. — as well as St. Joseph’s University, New York (with campuses in Brooklyn, Patchogue, and online) honored their founding Sisters and the CSJ namesake with their own St. Joseph’s Day celebrations.