Arlene Chaney and Jeanne Marie Ryan
Since 1980 we’ve been called by the lord to a variety of groups and activities by which we could support and/or directly serve others. In 1987 we became involved with a ministry of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and discovered we were already living the charism of the community. In 1998, we formally became Associates but always felt we had a call to something “more”. We discussed our desires with Associate leadership, but the community was still trying to accept Associates, and unprepared to think any further. When others later discerned this same calling, the time was right and we were part of the 1st Agrégée commitment in 2016. We feel we were actually called to be Agrégée in 1987, and the title has now just finally caught up to us.
Teresa Cieslikowski
My patron saint is Teresa of Avila. A well-known prayer of hers is:
Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.
As part of my Associate formation, we studied the Maxims of the Sisters of St. Joseph given to the congregation in the 1600s by Father Jean-Pierre Medaille, SJ. Maxim 73 states:
Live out your life with one desire only:
to be always what God wants you to be in nature, grace and glory for time and eternity.
These two statements have been an inspiration and prayer for me. I have been surrounded by the good Sisters since childhood. The blessings they have been to me are too numerous to count. The Holy Spirit has nudged me to promise a deeper life-long commitment to live out the mission and charism of the Sisters and to be of service to the dear neighbor.
Judi Janke
Being an Agrégée of the Sisters of St. Joseph has given me a greater understanding of our charism of love of God and dear neighbor without distinction. Living at St. Joseph Apartments and volunteering at Chosen gives me the opportunity to exercise the charism almost daily.
Charleen Kellerman
Living as an Agregee is living awareness. Living awareness of the connection of God in and through all things and acting out of and honoring that awareness. It can be quite humbling at times.
Cindy Polesnak
I felt called to something more, a deepening of a relationship with God, living a commitment to respond to God by living the charism of the Congregation.
Deb Seng
Being an Agrégée for the last several years has helped me live my best life. Having the prayers and support of the community through the pandemic and caring for my mother was truly a give from God. As we begin to live our “new normal” I know the Spirit will show us new ways to live the charism.
Michelle Tortorelli
Tammy Van Buren
I do not have the call to be a Sister of St Joseph, but I have the call to join their mission of loving and serving God and God‘s people. That’s why I am an Agregee. I love the Sisters very much and am honored to follow their example of love & service.
Betsy Wiest
Since I was a little girl, the Sisters of St. Joseph have been an integral part of my life. I initially became an Associate, but in my heart, I knew there had to be something more, something deeper, something that would more powerfully impact my life and my relationship with God and those around me. Becoming an Agrégée seemed like the next natural step in my spiritual journey. It deepened my relationship with God. It opened the door for me to love neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God, without distinction, in a way that has forever changed my life.
Would you like to talk to one of our Agregees? Send an email to agregees@ssjerie.org to inquire.
