- April 1, 2020 Association
On Feb. 27, Associates Debbie Skyles, Lisa Messmer and Cheryl Archibald from the Little Design Associate Community in St. Louis made their ongoing commitments in an intimate gathering at the Carondelet Motherhouse in Holy Family Chapel.
Below are excerpts from their commitment statements:
Debbie Skyles
It is three years since my initial commitment and I am still "all in" with the sisters of St. Joseph's beliefs and their causes.
I love that they have a holistic approach to living out God's love that feels challenging but exciting, as well. It is the sum of many that makes a whole.
The emails entitled Social Justice notes are insightful and show many ways to get involved in the community. My interests at this time are with the "Green Team." I would like to work towards making our planet a healthier and more beautiful place to live.
For the past two years I have walked with the Sisters of St. Joseph in the downtown Pride Parade. It has been an honor for me to walk with them showing our support and fair treatment for the LGBTQI community so that they may live out their own truth with confidence.
A commitment to Sisters of St. Joseph as an associate means to me a greater hope to living the greatest commandments Jesus gave us--to love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind. And the second is to love thy neighbor as thyself.
Lisa Messmer
As a former employee of Nazareth Living Center and a current CSJ employee, I have witnessed sisters and associates living the charism of moving always toward a profound love of God and love of neighbor without distinction by promoting unity and peace through love, charity, humility, gentleness and faith—in the care of each other and of employees.
I am especially inspired by the CSJ commitment to environmental sustainability, commitment to prayer, gospel living, and ministry, and confronting injustice on many fronts—immigration, healthcare, poverty, human trafficking, prison ministry, and poverty. Because of my association with the CSJs, I am made more aware of issues that impact the dignity of people and am given an opportunity to work towards improving the lives of others.
I will continue to work on deepening my relationship with God and the dear neighbor using the values and charism of the CSJs as my compass.
I will live my commitment to this community through personal and shared prayer, acceptance of others, works of charity, service and ministry and by always striving for reconciliation and right relationships with my spouse, children, family, friends, and neighbors. Together we are more.
Cheryl Archibald
At my initial commitment, I stated that after many years of being a Martha, I knew that in order for God to use me as God deems fits, I had to add Mary to my life. After three years of formation, dedication and sharing of the heart, I am still very much a ‘Martha’ with a lot more of ‘Mary’ sprinkled in my life. Over the last three years, I sit often at the feet of Jesus and more fully embrace the charism of loving God and the dear neighbor without distinction.
I know that my spirit is at home with the Sisters of St. Joseph. The motherhouse is my ‘Mother’s House.' And like church, it is not about a building but an intentional body of Christ, where I can come, rest, be invited, share my heart, network, be welcomed, pray, collaborate, have fun, eat, be supported, feel safe, meet someone new, praise and worship God, get involved, learn more, be loved, be part of a large family and the list goes on.
I am again humble and committed to a work in union with the Sisters of St. Joseph and our associates with my eyes open, ears listening, spirit attentive and sleeves rolled up.