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Celebrating Sister Susan
I am delighted to announce that one of our own blogging nuns, Sister Susan Rose Francois, CSJP, will be professing first vows in October. Sister Susan is currently a 2nd Year Novice with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace and is the author of the popular blog Musings of a Discerning Woman. Sister Susan was one of the first people who linked to my blog, helping me to get started. She’s also one of the nuns behind the web ring (a network of websites) SisterBloggers.
I am very happy for Susan and think it’s way important to celebrate these moments — both for Susan and for religious life! Being a nun is a fabulous way of life and everytime a person commits to the life, it reaffirms my own life choice and my love of God and serving others. I think it is also an inspiration to people to know that religious life is alive and well and continues to be a viable way to live joyfully and radically, to be fully human, to serve God and others.
Be sure to visit Sister Susan’s blog — recently she wrote a great post about an article in America magazine– Religious Life in the Age of Facebook. I highly recommend you read the article and Susan’s post, especially if you are a religious and/or vocation director. (The America article is in the July 7, 2008 edition, available online only to subscribers.)
Blessings to you, Sister Susan, and upon the Sisters and mission of your community.
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Thanks Julie!! I feel so special to get my own post on “A Nun’s Life”!!
Peace,
Susan
Thank you Sister Julie for the article and link back to The Musings of a Discerning Woman.
I thoroughly enjoy both blogs.
In reading other blogs written by younger women – of the non – religious / discerning type – I sense a longing and wrestling with life and its options for them.
And, in Sister Julie’s or Sister Susan’s ( can I preface Susan’s name with Sister?) blog, there is a tendency of the younger ( however young is determined : under 36 yrs old?) view their world when their peers are thinking about grades, relationships, degrees and not even be aware of other life options in which to explore such as religious life.
Keep on reaching out Sisters and your fellow Sister Bloggers – - – the younger people ( and others not so young) have a hunger for the truth and a way to live their lives authentically.
p.s. I simply have to plug another Sister’s blog : Sister Mary Martha … she proves to me ” It’s hip to be square!”.
Sister Susan:
Congratulations on professing your first vows. I understand from some of your postings, you are in NJ. So am I! I don’t know too much about the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Are you connected in any way with the SSJs of Philadelphia?
I found the comment in the article in America about technology rather notable. Why? Most sisters I know, whether they be in their 40s, 50s or 60s – and even 70s – are WAY more technology savy than I can ever wish to be. That might not be true, of course, with those aged, erudite Jesuits though (smiles). From my experience, a lot of clergy get other people to do their work for them (smiles once again!).
I too have heard time and time again that older women are entering the convent these days. I’ve seen it in action as well. I personally think that is a positive as many folks don’t seem to be spiritually focused when younger. In the Jewish faith, 40 years of age is considered the beginning of spiritual maturity. Buddhist nuns often don’t enter their “orders” until their 50s or 60s. Nonetheless, as a woman whose daughter has occassionally mentioned entering the religious life, I believe it is important for orders to know how to respond to the needs of younger people. They must help them to make their transitions easier – even financially. As I see it, the girl is giving herself (to God first)but then to the particular order – this is an enormous gift of self. In return, the order should be giving back. And maybe they do. I really don’t know too much about how all this works but I’ve heard a few less than admirable stories. I do feel, however, creativity, flexibility and generosity (in an intelligent, frugile manner) are key. I do hope more orders get younger aspirants would think it would be difficult to be the lone young person in the order – whether it be in the novitiate formation program or even in community. One doesn’t need to have 15 girls their own age to work with. But 2 or 3 would be nice. That’s true with any life, any vocation/job, etc. One needs folks they can relate to. And age can be one factor to look at.
Good luck with all your undertakings. Maybe I’ll meet you some day at a conference, retreat, workshop or whatever.
Peace and blessings,
dee
Dear Sister Julie,
Thanks for a great post on Sister Susan’s profession of first vows; it is indeed an inspiration!
As a 21 yr old making my way through the ups and downs of discernment, I can definitely identify with the discussion on age, generation gaps, etc. I do find that I identify much more easily with congregations that have other young women in formation, just because it’s that much more likely that we will share many similar life experiences.
I wanted to share a thought which might seem cliche, but I’ll go for it anyway
In the end, I believe that being young at heart is what really counts. Being young means being curious, being willing to make mistakes and learn from them, being open to both internal and external change, never becoming complacent. In this sense, I’m sure there are plenty of “old” 20-somethings and plenty of “young” 60+ somethings.
One of the many things that has consistently struck me about religious women and men is this type of youthfulness, no matter what their age. Cliche? Maybe. True? Absolutely.
Thanks again!
Dee,
I was actually taught by the Sisters of St Joseph of Philadelphia!! They’re a great group.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace are a separate foundation with our own unique story. We were originally founded in 1884 in Nottingham, England as “St. Joseph’s Sisters of Peace of the Immaculate Conception.” Our founder hoped that the name “Sister of Peace” would inspire a love and desire for it. She chose St. Joseph as our patron because he was a model of peace, particularly in times of struggle and uncertainty.
Between 1929 and 1970, we were known as “Sisters of St Joseph of Newark,” because our mother house was located in that diocese. When Vatican II encouraged communities to return to their founding spirit, we reclaimed our original name as Sisters of St Joseph of Peace.
Today we minister in the United Kingdom, East Coast (mostly New Jersey), Pacific Northwest and El Salvador.
Sr. Susan (and others):
The “Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace” is most definitely a better name than the SSJs of Newark!!! A few years back I went to a day retreat on water and spirituality or something like that. I believe one of your sisters presented it. I don’t remember her name off hand.
Where do most of your sisters work in NJ? What is the main thrust of your ministries?
I know quite a few of the SSJs of Philadelphia. One of my “groovy” nun friends is an SSJ. She is one of those deep, intellectual, insightful people I love to spend time with. She is in her sixties but seems much younger. Overall, I find the SSJs to be exceptional in many ways. From my experience, they tend to be very intelligent, committed and bold (Sisters Helen Prejean and Elizabeth Johnson are SSJs – although not of Philly – you probably know this). They are women of considerable substance.
In case you weren’t aware of this, the SSJs of Philadelphia have a lovely retreat house (huge) right on the waterfront in Cape May Point. The beautiful, original Victorian building was once a hotel. I’ve been going there for my silent, directed retreats for a few years now. I will return there in August (BTW, they have very good directors there.). They also hold vacations for sisters. I’d highly recommend the place to you … and Sr. Julie if she likes the beach. If you enjoy Cape May, you may consider going there.
Peace!
dee
Cape May Point is beautiful! One of my nuns is from the Jersey shore and I’ve loved my visits to that area. I’ve made a few visits to Stone Harbor where the Immaculata IHMs have a summer place. While I do like the beach, I’m definitely a mountains and forest kind of gal. Though I’ll take anything besides the hustle and bustle of big city life!
Dee,
That would have been Stella Maris Retreat Center in Long Branch, New Jersey – our own bit of beauty on the Jersey Shore. Sr. Suzanne Golas runs her Waterspirit ministry out of there, which seeks to help people make connections between creation and our creator.
In addition to our retreat house on the shore, most of our Sisters minister in Northern New Jersey. We sponsor Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, Cusack Care Center for the Elderly in Jersey City, and St Ann’s Home for the Aged in New Jersey. We also sponsor the York Street Project in Jersey City, which consists of an early childhood education center, alternative high school for women aged 18-34, transitional housing for families and a home for low income women. Other sisters work in education, health care, spiritual direction, and advocacy.
I’m from our Western Province in Seattle where I will be returning after Novitiate!
Peace,
Sr. Susan
Sr. Susan:
Thanks for the response. It seems you all are very busy. Although I am from NJ, I actually lived in Seattle for 4 years when I was younger. It’s very pretty out there.
Peace,
dee
Congratulations Sister Susan on your first vows.
Susan, be sure to get some video footage so we can all see the big day!