The March gathering for the Friends of St Joseph is Monday, February 10, 4-5:30 at Peggy and Ed’s house at 677 Wilder. (If needed, call Kathy for direction 651-699-1161) Joe and Martha Claus will be sharing their experience on their pilgrimage last year on the Camino de Santiago. and guiding us to consider our own personal and communal pilgrimages this Lenten season.

Eleventh Day Prayer for Peace

Eleventh Day Prayer for Peace is March 11th at Our Lady of Presentation Capel, 6:30 – 7:15.

A Nun’s Life Ministry Visits CSJs In St. Paul

On Thursday, March 6, A Nun’s Life Ministry will bring their field studio to the Administration Center, Assembly Room for a live-streaming podcast. Sisters Cathy Steffens and Jill Underdahl will talk about their lives in community. We invite you to be part of the live audience!

Thursday, March 6, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Arrive no later than 3:45 p.m.
Sisters of St. Joseph Administration Center
1884 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105

An audio recording will be available on A Nun’s Life website a few days later.

The CSJ Way: Community, Spirituality, Justice

Connecting with the Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates, A Community of Spirituality and Justice (CSJ)

As part of National Catholic Sisters Week (March 8-14), spend a Saturday morning with the Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates learning about the many ways to become involved with this energetic, contemporary community of spirituality and justice. The morning will include prayer and stories focusing on this community’s mission and spirituality. Themes explored include spiritual foundations of the community and current ministries. Learn how you can engage as a program participant, volunteer, Consociate, and/or Sister. Healthy, nourishing snacks will be provided.

Saturday, March 15, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
(Exhibition of ministries available until 2:00 p.m.)
Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave, St. Paul

For more information, e-mail Jill Underdahl, CSJ or call 651-696-2873.

Community Garden

2014 marks the ten-year celebration of the garden! Community gardeners met in January to create the 2014 garden design. We are motivated to focus on pollinator plants as bees and other pollinating insect are in crisis. To learn more about the pollinator crises see this New York Times article.

Seed Planting
Tuesday, March 25, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
CSJ Administration Center, 1884 Randolph Ave.

Seed Transplanting
Tuesday, April 15, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
CSJ Administration Center, 1884 Randolph Ave.

Generous Promises

Come on Monday, February 10 at 5:30 for a potluck supper followed by Cathy Steffens’ presentation on Generous Promises. We will learn about the earliest Sisters and how they would start each year making a promise to have a focus for the year. This opportunity is a very special retreat evening. If you can come, RSVP to this email or to Kathy’s phone 651-699-1161. So far we have chicken soup, salad, and dessert. We will meet at Peggy and Ed’s at 677 Wilder. Our plan is to end by 8:30.

Eleventh Day Prayer for Peace

Eleventh Day Prayer for Peace at our Lady of the Presentation Chapel (1890 Randolph) is Tuesday Feb. 11th at 6:30 – 7:15.

2013 Bioneers plenary speech

An Evening with Northland Bioneers, Earth Partners, and the Native American Awareness Working Group of the Justice Commission of the Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates, St. Paul Province.

Tuesday, February 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul
Cost: Free

An exciting evening of film and discussion with Earth Partners and Bioneers. We will hear the 2013 Bioneers plenary speech of Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network. We will discuss how we might become effective allies of the Minnesota Indigenous community as they work to address environmental and economic justice issues and build capacity to protect
the sacred land, water, air and ecosystems on which the entire Circle of Life depends. There will be refreshments, door prizes, and a warm welcome.

Bioneers is an innovative nonprofit educational organization that highlights breakthrough solutions for restoring people and planet.

Seeing God: A Juried Exhibit of Sacred Art

Of interest to you may be “Seeing God: A Juried Exhibit of Sacred Art” at St. Paul’s Monastery in Maplewood, Minnesota. It begins January 29 and runs through March 1. More info is available at Baya Clare’s website.

Breaking The Impasse V

Join us for “Call for Action to Eliminate Poverty”, featuring Simone Campbell, SSS (Executive Director, NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby) and Nancy Maeker (Executive Director, A Minnesota Without Poverty).

Tuesday, February 18, 7-9 p.m.
Coeur de Catherine Ballroom, St. Catherine University, St. Paul
Free and open to the public

Saint Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN) offerings

Here are The Saint Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN) offerings for this month.

February 6: SPIN holds its first midweek forum for 2014 on Pope Francis’ exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel,”  on Thursday, February 6, Noon to 2:00 pm, at the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches, 1671 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul 55105. Fr. Erich Rutten, Rev. Grant Abbott, Dr. Jan Phillips, and Joyce Zahra Slaughter will respond, followed by small group and large group discussion.  Come early and bring a sack lunch.  Look here for further news of SPIN’s Midweek Forums.

February 10: Sponsored by Jay Phillips Center: “In Quest of the Jewish Mary”, Lecture by Sister M. Christine Athans, BVM, Ph.D.,Monday, February 10, 7:30 – 8:45 PM, Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas. Free and open to the public.

February 16: Sponsored by Or Emet:  “What’s All the Fuss about the Bible” with Allan Malkis, presenter from Or Emet, Sunday, February 16, 1:00 – 2:30 PM. Saint Paul Jewish Community Center, 1379 St Paul Avenue, Saint Paul 55116. Its about the Hebrew Scriptures from a humanistic perspective: requiring us to think about its origin as a human creation from a particular time, place, and social setting.

February 19: Sponsored by the Jay Phillips Center, the Depts of Sociology, and Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St Thomas: Film screening of “If I Give My Soul: Pentecostalism in the Prisons of Rio“and interfaith conversation with Andrew Johnson and local prison chaplains.  Wednesday, February 19, 7:00 PM, Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas.  Free and open to the public.

February 20: Sponsored by United Theological Seminary: a chapel and lunch occasion celebrating an exhibition (from January 29 to March 31) of art at the seminary.  “Kabalah and Creation: An Exhibition of the Jewish Women Artists’ Circle.”  Thursday, February 20, Chapel, 11:35 AM, Lunch and discussion with the artists: 12:15 PM.  RSVP: rflesner@unitedseminary.edu, or 651-255-6138.  Also an Artists’ Reception on February 27, 5:00-7:00 PM.

Kathy will be healing and out of commission for a while after her knee replacement on January 9th. If you need to contact someone about the Friends of St Joseph, try Eric Celeste, Ed & Peggy Fisher, or Carolyn Puccio. Otherwise, Kathy will be back in commission in 4 to 6 weeks.

Remember that our Gathering on February 10th is a retreat night with Cathy Steffens. It will cover our earliest sisters and their associates making Generous Promises at the beginning of each year. We will each be encouraged to reflect on our Generous Promise for the year 2014. It will include a potluck 5:30- 6:30 followed by the presentation and prayer. We encourage those interested in attending to RSVP so we can best plan our space.

January 13th is our Second Monday Gathering at the Fishers, 677 Wilder St., 4-5:30. All are welcome. For driving directions email Peggy. The Fishers will lead this month’s presentation and prayer.

11th Day Prayer for Peace is Saturday, January 11, 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel, 1890 Randolph Avenue, Saint Paul

Out of the Darkness, Music by Janet Williams, Consociate, Presented by the Anti Human Trafficking, Dismantling Racism, and Immigration Working Groups of the Justice Commission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates.

A Labyrinth Candlelight Walk, Friday, January 24, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool that is thousands of years old, walked by millions of people across time and traditions. We invite you to walk the labyrinth by candlelight and pray for peace in our hearts, in the world, and peace in all creation. May the evening be a meditative walk in prayer, remembering losses, celebrating joys, and welcoming the new year. Facilitators: Barbara Kellett, Marilyn Larsen, MJ McGregor, Mary Kaye Medinger, and Lisa Moriarty. RSVP on Wisdom Ways’ registration page or call 651-696-2788.

Christian Meditation, Tuesdays, January 7 – June 10, 7 to 7:40 p.m. More information.

Encountering Teilhard De Chardin: A Three-Part Series. As this new year begins, join with Sisters, Consociates, and other folks committed to the CSJ mission in learning about the life and work of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. (1881-1955). The words of this significant writer, thinker, mystic, and scientist open and close the text of the 2013 CSJ Congregational Acts of Chapter! Drawing from his prolific writings, the series will include readings, DVDs, reflection, and group discussion. Facilitator: Mary Kaye Medinger, Consociate Services Team, whose own life has been heavily influenced by Teilhard for nearly fifty years. When: Mondays, January 20, 27, and February 3, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Where: CSJ Administration Center Assembly Room, 1884 Randolph Ave Cost: free will donation to cover materials. Registration: Advance registration is requested to assist in preparing materials. Contact Joan Pauly Schneider at 651-690-7063.

Join the Friends of St Joseph on Monday, December 9th, 4:00 – 5:30 at Peggy and Ed Fisher’s house at 677 Wilder.

Joe Claus will lead us in a reflective process of readings followed by prayer. All are welcome.

You’re invited to the sung prayer of Holden Evening Prayer, reading of Scripture and a reflection.
Sundays, December 1, 8, 15, 22 at 4:30 PM at Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel on CSJ campus.

Fridays, December 13 and 20, 5:15 – 6:15 PM at Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel.

Learn and sing music from Hildegard of Bingen and the Gaelic tradition. Facilitated by Katy Taylor, local singer and musician.

Winter Solstice: Celebrating the Newborn Cosmic Child

Wednesday, December 18, 6:00 – 7:00 PM at Carondelet Center

Thursday, December 19, 7:00 – 8:30 PM at Carondelet Center

Reservations required, RSVP to info@wisdomwayscenter.org

The Friend of St Joseph have been invited by the Consociates to a Soup Supper before the beginning of the Fall Soul Conference.

Soup followed by discussion which will begin at 5pm on November 22 in room G-1 in Carondelet Center. We will discuss how we might apply the concepts of the Soul Conference (What is the Cosmos Telling Us) to our lives and backyards.

Cost is $10. Registrations and money due Monday, November 18.

Make your check payable to “Sisters of St. Joseph,” with a memo “Soup Supper,” and mail to Linda Crosby, 2091 Scheffer Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55116.

The Friends of Saint Joseph had a retreat at the sisters’ property at Timberlee in Cold Spring, Minnesota in September 2013. Visit our retreat planning page to see a bit more about what we planned to do. We did all this and more!

Here are some pictures of our retreat at Timberlee in September 2013.

Ed prepared a CSJ Friends Flyer draft which Peggy prettified.