WELCOME

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH

of Northwestern Pennsylvania

Come to the Waters, is a history of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania written by Leonie Shanley, SSJ, and Mary Francis Becker, SSJ, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the Diocese of Erie in 2010. Click here to explore the book.

News

Meet SSJ Associate Paul Wilcosz

| July 1, 2020

Paul Wilcosz became an SSJ Associate in 2018 at the invitation of his friends, Associates Ted and Mary Wright. Sister Claudia Dombrowski served as his mentor. Paul first became acquainted with the Sisters of St. Joseph while his children attended Holy Rosary School in Erie. He was involved in all of their school and parish…

Racism is a Virus

| July 1, 2020

SSJ Mission Possible by Sr. Ann Marie Cappello, SSJ The U.S. Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph Statement on Racism and Commitment to Direct Action states that racism is a virus every bit as deadly as COVID-19, and which has infected our nation since its inception. Until we address it, people of color will continue…

Congratulations Erie DAWN!

| July 1, 2020

Congratulations to Erie DAWN on its 25th anniversary of ministry. Erie DAWN has provided services and housing for more than 1,000 women and children in the Erie community. We congratulate Director Maureen Dunn and her staff for a magnificent job of caring for and assisting women to become self-sufficient, independent, productive members of society through…

Maxims — A Modern Take

More than 360 years ago, Father Jean Pierre Médaille, SJ, composed the Maxims of the Little Institute, 100 short sayings to help the first Sisters of St. Joseph grow in virtue. We share them here, along with contemporary translations developed by Susan Wilcox, CSJ, Brentwood, and a group of her students.

MAXIM 12

ORIGINAL

Choose to bear all the evils of time rather than the least of eternity, all the evils of nature rather than the least deprivation of grace, since all kinds of reasons illumined by faith teach you to live according to this truth.

Original Maxim 12
as written by Fr. Médaille

MAXIM 26

ORIGINAL

Seek in everything God's contentment and not anything else, and the better to practice this, remember in the entire living out of your life, in desolation, in sick¬ness, etc., to desire God's greater contentment without giving a thought to your own interests.

Original Maxim 26
as written by Fr. Médaille

MAXIM 54

ORIGINAL

Empty yourself of all human respect and of the least blameworthy concession, and declare, with a generous heart, never to yield in anything that would be against God's will.

Original Maxim 6
as written by Fr. Médaille

MAXIM 81

ORIGINAL

Whatever the virtue you recognize in yourself, never turn away from a true fear of God, conscious that his judgments are unfathomable and that his appraisals are quite different from ours.

Original Maxim 81
as written by Fr. Médaille

Read all Maxims

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