- October 14, 2022 Association
An Update on CSJ Association from Mary Armbrust, CSJA, Director of Association
The last few months have been laced with opportunities to experience and facilitate connections within the Community of St. Joseph. One such opportunity was interviewing candidates as they discern making a commitment to becoming an associate. When asked what drew them to consider association and what was the most meaningful aspect of their formation, every person responded that it was the people they encountered. They felt that they found an inclusive community that was deeply committed to loving God and the dear neighbor without distinction. One candidate shared, “This group is what church should be. It gives me hope!”
Coming together as community matters. It is what I came in search of in 2015, and it is what profoundly continues to inform how I live each day—joyfully accountable to the call of the charism with my CSJ companions on the journey. In partnership and collaboration with our Associate Leadership Board and our Province Leadership Team Liaison Sister Fran Maher, I'm happy to share with you how we are working to sustain and grow a dynamic Community of St. Joseph by offering opportunities for making meaningful connections.
Connecting Through Initial Formation
Two strategies were built into the new online option for initial formation, “Journey to Association.” First, candidates have opportunities to experience the broader province community through the online sessions. Not only are the candidates from different regions, the sister and associate presenters for each session come from across our province. Second, after completing the online sessions, each candidate is invited to join a monthly in-person or online group. Our inaugural group of six candidates completed the online sessions in April and began meeting monthly with small communities in May. Three candidates joined in-person groups in Wisconsin. Two St. Louis candidates and one from California joined a newly formed online group with two of our sisters from Nazareth. These experiences give candidates an opportunity to connect for community, spirituality and justice with associates and sisters in a small group setting before deciding to make a commitment.
The feedback from the monthly groups and the candidates was a mutual sense of being blessed by these new relationships. All six will make their commitment in October. I thank God for all who are part of this initiative.
Connecting Through Monthly Online Sharing of the Heart Groups
The pandemic pushed us to embrace online meetings as a means of staying connected. It opened the door for us to meet well beyond our own hometowns, regions, provinces and congregations. Many of us took part in online Sharing of the Heart groups that were offered by the congregation during Lent and Advent. Some of those groups continue to meet monthly.
Many of our small community monthly meetings moved to Zoom, while others have remained in a holding pattern and would love to start meeting again. As we discussed the relationship between sisters and associates during our months of chapter time, many sisters shared that they would like to be in a monthly group but have not had the opportunity to do so.
In response to these expressed needs, we have developed an opportunity for any associate or sister to join in an online monthly Sharing of the Heart group. We are also intentionally reaching out with this invitation to associates who are not currently in a monthly small community and to groups that may have become quite small. If you are not currently in a monthly group, please consider joining one—you and your group will surely be mutually enriched by connecting to community. (Visit csjsl.org to express your interest in joining a group.)
Connecting with Community Through Prayer
Thank you to all of our associates, sisters, partners in ministry and prayer partners. It is only through your prayers and support that association continues to evolve and grow. Know that you are in my prayers, too.