Pathways: Fall 2002
An Interview with Medaille Novices
Joan Manuel and Theresa Pitruzzello
By Joan La Place,CSJ
The eight-month 2001–2002 Federation Novitiate Program held at the CSJ’s of Boston Center in Framingham, Massachusetts included ten Congregation of St. Joseph novices – two from Chambery, two each from Baden and Medaille, one each from Lyon, Chestnut Hill, Boston and Carondelet.* Six came from the northeast, two from the deep south, and two from Norway and they ranged in age from 26 to 51.
What were the main components of the experience?
Joan and Theresa: We had class twice a week conducted by various CSJ speakers on topics such as prayer, vows, and church. Once a week we had an intercommunity class, which included novices, from other Congregations, that were both men and women and one day each week was ministry day. We had made orientation visits to all the ministry sites early in the year; among the options were: working with aids patients, tutoring, assisting the elderly, and prison ministry. Then we each chose our ministry for the remainder of the program and the evening of each ministry day was given to theological reflection on the experience. Fridays of each week were our prayer or quiet day when we could take advantage of our beautiful, spacious grounds, use the meditation room or large chapel.
We had several weekend courses and retreats, met weekly with the program directors, each visited our spiritual director monthly, and had mid-term and final evaluation sessions. Saturdays were our “personal care” days and we enjoyed several weekend outings to the shore.
We took turns preparing supper, planned special parties for our own group and for the entire house (The Patriots in the Superbowl provided extra incentive to party), planned liturgies, gave homilies at Saturday masses, “shared the state of the heart” on Sunday evenings, and met twice a month to “share the state of the house.” Attending mass at the prison once or twice a semester was a particularly powerful experience for all of us.
What did you learn from the experience and were there any surprises?
Joan:
I really appreciated being able to experience CSJ culture
as represented by the various congregations from different
parts of the U.S. and from Norway. The experience provided
insight into how Sisters of St. Joseph have lived religious
life and how they envision the future. The class presenters
were all experts in their fields providing knowledge, wisdom,
and dialogue about subjects from charism to the cosmos. It
was very stimulating to meet the men and women in the inter-community
groups from seven different countries and various religious
congregations throughout the world. Being on the journey with
them was a great experience of cultural diversity. Growth
in self-understanding and my own spiritual life was the most
profound learning.
Theresa: Although I thought I had already learned a lot
about our charism in the first year of novitiate, I gained
a much deeper understanding from the presenters. I also found
it invigorating to be with other religious my age and still
have the cross pollination of various generations.The group
was full of energy, creativity and talent and everyone shared
readily with each other. Joan and Theresa: The surprise was
how similar the struggles, challenges, and dreams of all the
participants were in spite of the fact that we came from such
different places, generations, and walks of life.
What would you say about the Federation experience to someone
who is looking at the Sisters of St. Joseph?
Joan: I felt there was a depth of learning about religious
life that I achieved in a way that I could not have gained
living only in my own community. Even those who were reluctant
to come to the Federation Novitiate - like myself - were amazed
at how fruitful it was. The key is to go with an open mind
and heart.
Theresa: It gave me a good foundation for the rest
of my religious life. Granted, it was an ideal time; still,
it gave me a chance to see what religious life can be and
gave me directions in which to grow.
Joan and Theresa: Each person will have a unique experience
and each Federation group is unique. Attending in the second
year of novitiate was more beneficial to us than attending
as first year novices when we were still too new at religious
life.
Theresa: I really thought the “honeymoon”
would be over sooner. Fortunately, I found the groups melded
together well the entire eight months and made genuine efforts
to iron out the normal differences that arise in any group
of people.
Joan: I was rather anxious and fearful about living
with a group of entirely new people and wondered how we could
possibly come together in a cohesive, collaborative group.
I was pleasantly surprised to find it worked so smoothly.
The Spirit was definitely with us!
Joan and Theresa: We really appreciate the balance
in the program’s design and the excellent directors.
Having international novices in the program and forming lasting
bonds of friendship with other participants were big advantages
to our overall experience.
Study Days 02'
By: Maria Hill, CSJ
At the end of May this year our new members in the Congregation
gathered for five days at the Chatawa Retreat Center in Mississippi,
just outside of New Orleans, for the purpose of getting to
know one another better and to receive some common input on
the topic of Family of Origins: Birth Order and our life in
community. The days fulfilled that purpose, and more—way
beyond my expectations.
We learned more about how our place in the family affects
our personalities and behaviors, although the many variables
(e.g. spacing, gender, relationship of parents, blended families,
deaths) cause one to work for that knowledge. Besides gaining
self knowledge we had innumerable opportunities to interact
and support one another in conversation, prayer, ritual and
fun times.
It was refreshing to begin each day with Tai Chi, gathering
the powerful energy of the universe and returning it, blessed.
There were many memorable concepts and activities that will
propel me into ongoing learning and growth. The strongest
memory for me is the saying, “There are no difficult
people, only wounded people.” When I feel impatient or
critical of others, those words stimulate a compassionate
response coming from a place of respect for each person.
Ufta, it is Hot in New Orleans
by Kim Wolters
Immediately
upon the acceptance of my application into the Affiliateship
with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, I was invited
to New Orleans for the yearly Study Days. I asked the vocation
director to explain the purpose and goals of this yearly event.
Study Days are offered to women in the community who are in
initial formation. Some of the women, like myself, do not
live in community yet, but have formally expressed interest
in becoming a community member. Other women live in community
fulfilling the requirements to become a Sister or have already
taken first vows.
Study Days are spent learning about different aspects of religious
life such as the vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty
or community living, just to name a few. Furthermore, time
is spent forming relationships with the other women in initial
formation. I knew this would be an excellent opportunity to
build friendships and knowledge about the community so I immediately
accepted the invitation.
A mixture of emotions flooded my mind as the days drew nearer
to when I would leave my residence in Fargo North Dakota and
fly 1500 miles to Louisiana. Many thoughts surfaced as I planned
and packed for my trip to the South. I quickly realized sweatpants
and sweatshirts would not be the most appropriate to wear
in New Orleans in May as it can be in North Dakota. I also
recognized the food menu would change slightly from meat and
potatoes to seafood, seafood, seafood. I prepared myself for
anything and got on the plane to begin a journey I would not
soon forget!
The Study Days were spent learning about birth order and its
impact on religious life. A Sister from another religious
community facilitated the days with insight and knowledge.
I left Study Days with a greater appreciation for birth order
and how it affects relationships and goals.
Furthermore, I spent five days acquainting myself with the
other women in initial formation. Right now, there are seven
of us, Praise God! How wonderful to journey down this path
with others. It was a privilege and honor to be in the presence
of such talented and devoted women who love God above all
things.
Most of all, this was an opportunity to further confirm my
decision to become an affiliate with the community I am growing
to love more and more everyday, the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Medaille!
They
shall live
so that
their Congregation
shall bear the name
of the Congregation
of the
Great Love of God.
-Constitutions