- December 9, 2021 Community
By Sister Mary Flick
Throughout their history, the Sisters of St. Joseph have embraced their foundational call to do “all of which woman is capable” in furthering the reign of God. That has often put them on the frontier, both literally and figuratively.
This year, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, has taken the lead in empowering the laity to assume their responsibility for leadership in Catholic education, creating one of the first ministerial public juridical persons (MPJP) for education in the United States. A MPJP is a canonical term for a group of persons who, together, further the mission of the church. The ministerial public juridic person is a model similar to the one that has been used in Catholic health care for many years.
The Sisters of St. Joseph received approval from the Vatican for St. Joseph Educational Ministries (SJEM). This MPJP will assume the sponsorship role for the province’s five educational institutions, ensuring that they continue to embrace their Catholic identity and the CSJ values that have been evident in the schools since their foundation.
The five educational institutions founded by the St. Louis province are: St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, St. Louis and Indianapolis (1837); St. Joseph’s Academy, St. Louis (1840); St. Teresa’s Academy, Kansas City (1866); Avila University, Kansas City (1916); and Fontbonne University, St. Louis (1923).
When the sisters founded each school, they shared their CSJ way of doing Catholic education in the classrooms and in administration. Today, much has changed in Catholic education, yet, much remains the same. “Our educational ministries continue to provide a much needed service to the church and society,” says Sister Marie Joan Harris, a member of SJEM. “The MPJP is a way to ensure the future of these ministries through collaboration with our lay partners.”
“As the Sisters of St. Joseph look to the future, we are in a position now to collaborate with our lay partners to develop and implement a sponsorship model together,” she says.
Twelve laity and sisters are serving as the first slate of members for SJEM. They are: Associates Dave Armstrong, Nan Bone, Santa Cuddihee, Susan Lenihan and Barbara McCormick; Cheryl Broekelmann, David Kerr and Marcia Niedringhaus; and Sisters Amy Hereford, Marie Joan Harris, Barbara Moore and Rita Marie Schmitz. They were commissioned at a March prayer service held in Holy Family Chapel at the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Motherhouse in St. Louis.
In the spirit of Vatican II, SJEM’s lay members will respond in a new way to their baptismal call as part of the educational ministry of the church. “It gives us the opportunity to live out our baptismal promise, to use the spiritual gifts we were given,” says Cheryl Broekelmann, SJEM member and executive director of iHear and St. Louis operations for St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf.
Members will be responsible for seeing that Catholic theological tradition, Catholic social teaching and the CSJ heritage are present in the decisions and issues that the schools face. They also will encourage implementation of mission-driven activities on the campuses and take a leading role in dialogue with church leaders. To prepare for this responsibility, members are participating in ongoing formation to foster their understanding of the Catholic faith and the CSJ charism as well as their unique role as ministers.
Transition to and implementation of SJEM is an ongoing process. The formation process for members has been underway for more than a year. The full transition of sponsorship to SJEM is anticipated in spring 2022.
“SJEM ensures that each of our educational ministries continue into the future as Catholic and infused with the heritage of the Sisters of St. Joseph, serving God and the dear neighbor without distinction.” says Sister Marie Joan.
Learn more about St. Joseph Educational Ministries at www.csjsl.org/sjem.