Agrégées with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania are Catholic women with a growing desire for something more — a desire to deepen their relationship with God and the Sisters of St. Joseph. These women feel called by God to the Agrégée relationship.
Agregees join the vowed Sisters and SSJ Associates in witnessing God’s great love to the world. They seek to be in communion with vowed Sisters and SSJ Associates. They commit their lives to the mission of Jesus: that all may be one and they express their commitment through a non-canonical vow of fidelity to the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Agrégée (ah-greh-ZHEY) French; attached to or aggregated with
Agrégées are called to permanently commit themselves to Christ by:
- embracing the mission of unity of the Sisters of St. Joseph
- connecting themselves to the Congregation through prayer, faith, personal relationships, mission and ministry, community functions, and service
- professing a vow of fidelity
The Agregee relationship is
• open to Catholic women
• permanent
• making a non-canonical vow of fidelity
• usually entails a 2-3 year formation process
• Continue with independent living arrangements; option to live in “community”
• Agrégées live in their own homes, continue their independent lives, and are responsible for their own financial affairs, including healthcare and retirement.Personal responsibility for finances, health care, retirement, funeral expenses and indebtedness
Interested women are asked to attend an information session, participate in an interview process, and submit a letter requesting candidacy.
Agrégée candidates participate in a two-year discernment/formation process.
Each candidate is then assigned a professed Sister-mentor to companion her through this journey.
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.
~ Charlene Kellerman
Agregee are called to permanently commit themselves to Christ by:
- embracing the mission of unity of the Sisters of St. Joseph
- connecting themselves to the Congregation through prayer, faith, personal relationships, mission and ministry, community functions and service
- professing a vow of fidelity
Agregees continue living independent lives in their own homes, and maintain responsibility for their own financial affairs, including healthcare and retirement.
Interested women are asked to attend an information session, participate in an interview process, and submit a letter requesting candidacy. Each candidate is then assigned a Sister/mentor to companion her through the journey of becoming an Agregee. Agregee candidates participate in a two-year discernment/formation process before formal acceptance as Agregees.
SSJ Agregees Thoughts and Reflections
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