Sharing of the Heart
Coming together regularly for community, spirituality and justice.
Sharing of the Heart is a way of spiritually coming together that is unique to the Community of St. Joseph.
Our first spiritual foremothers began this practice in Le Puy, France. During the day, they would go out and "divide the city," identifying needs of the dear neighbor. In the evening, sitting near the fire in their little kitchen, they would share their experiences and prayefully discern, together, where the Spirit was leading them to serve.
Our work remains the same today. Sisters and associates go out into their little corners of the earth, then prayerfully share how God seems to be moving us as individuals and as a community.
Our charism calls us to unifying love. So many experience this within our Sharing of the Heart groups. Those who participate in a monthly group find deep and meaningful connections that support, inspire and compel the love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction.
Why Meet for Sharing of the Heart?
- To develop an understanding and appreciation of God’s action in ourselves and in the world.
- To acknowledge God’s gifts in me and in others.
- To connect interior movements with relationships and life/world.
- To place myself/ourselves as vulnerable to accept God’s invitations.
- To be aware of my/our real motives; to test my/our life, etc.).
- To collaborate with God in bringing myself and my life/world into existence and giving them definition (ourselves and our life, etc.)
- To stay focused; to stay honest; to stay awake!
Share Your Heart
Sharing of the Heart is offered to sisters and associates both in regional in-person groups and online. To share your heart with us, learn more about becoming a CSJ Associate and read one of our monthly resources to learn more about the experience.
Sharing of the Heart Online
Are you a sister or associate who:
- is currently not part of a monthly group?
- is part of a group that is no longer meeting?
- who prefers online meetings?
- part of a monthly group that is too small or too large?
Join us online monthly to share our experiences of living the charism! Contact Associate Director Mary Armbrust at [email protected] or 314-349-6155.