FOR THE DEAR NEIGHBOR

A look at the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the Sisters of Mercy and the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm

(Courtesy photo of Hannah McKay)

FOR THE DEAR NEIGHBOR

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters. The sisters and those who share their charism and mission, are motivated in all things by their profound love of God and their dear neighbors.

They trace their roots to Le Puy, France, where the first Sisters of St. Joseph gathered in 1650. This community, without cloister or habit, devoted themselves to the needs of ordinary people, living among them and offering their lives in service to God and these dear neighbors without distinction. They dedicated themselves to the “practice of all the spiritual and corporal works of mercy of which woman is capable and which will most benefit the dear neighbor.”

In 1836, the first sisters of the congregation arrived in St. Louis, Mo., which would become their first province. Through the years, they have had additional provinces in St. Paul, Minn., Albany and Los Angeles, Calif., plus vice provinces in Peru, Hawaii and Japan. Today, St. Louis and St. Paul maintain provincial governance.

The spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph is centered in love, the central commandment of Jesus — a love that seeks to achieve unity of neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God. The sisters’ life together in prayer and in community impels them to reach out to the dear neighbor, whoever they may be, whatever the need they might have. These calls lead the sisters to wide-ranging ministries to meet the needs of their communities today.

Strength for this mission comes from fidelity to community, prayer, their practice of “Sharing of the Heart” and celebrating the rituals of church and community. Sharing of the Heart is the spiritual discipline that arises from a desire to return to the foundational charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph community as well as from the teachings of Father Jean Pierre Medaille, a Jesuit missionary, who taught them the rich Ignatian discernment tradition of finding God in all things.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet work to bring loving unity to a divided world. Urgent needs call them and those who share their mission to bold conversation and prophetic action. They educate, advocate and take action to promote social justice. They are committed to continuing Jesus’ mission in the belief that creation is a sacred trust given to the whole Earth community. Their work is rooted in the Gospel call to social justice and the struggle to be prophetic signs of unity in our world.

2026 ALBANY JUBILARIANS

75 years

Monica Agnes Nortz, CSJ

Natalie Marie Slake, CSJ

70 years

Genevieve Joseph Ciszek, CSJ

Patricia Houlihan, CSJ

Rita Shawn McClaskey, CSJ

Mary Alice O’Leary, CSJ

Carmella Ann Pfohl, CSJ

Maura Rhode, CSJ

Mary Salvaterra, CSJ

Joan Sauro, CSJ

Margaret Totten, CSJ

60 years

Mary Bartholomew Biviano, CSJ

Maria Jude LaPoint, CSJ

Joan Lescinski, CSJ

Eileen McCann, CSJ

Ann Marie O’Rourke, CSJ

40 years

Christine Pologa, CSJ

Diane Zigo, CSJ

25 years

Jeanne Marie Gocha, CSJ

Source: csjcarondelet.org/albany

A LEGACY OF SERVICE

The Sisters of Mercy are an international community of Roman Catholic women who dedicate their lives to the Gospel of Jesus and take vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service. Inspired by the life of Jesus and by their founder Catherine McAuley, they envision a just world for people who are economically poor, sick and uneducated. They commit their lives to God and their resources to serve, advocate and pray for those in need around the world.

In addition to the three vows — poverty, chastity and obedience — that all Catholic sisters take, the Sisters of Mercy, also take a fourth vow of service.

With over 2,000 sisters in the Americas, they strive to make a difference in the lives of those in need in North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Guam and the Philippines. With over 6,000 Sisters of Mercy around the world, the sisters are part of a global network.

They serve with more than 3,100 Mercy Associates, several Companions in Mercy, close to 1,100 Mercy Volunteer Corps alumni and thousands of co-workers in Mercy-sponsored programs and institutions — all sharing in the Mercy mission and following the example of Catherine McAuley. They sponsor and operate more than 160 service organizations in collaboration with tens of thousands of committed co-ministers, staff and volunteers.

2026 LOCAL JUBILARIAN

Sister Mary Fraser

Glenmont

Entry location: Albany

Ring motto: Jesus

Source: sistersofmercy.org

DEDICATED TO THOSE IN THE AUTUMN OF THEIR LIVES

The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm are consecrated religious in the Catholic Church and members of a Congregation founded by Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa. They dedicate their lives, service and care (to) those who are aged and infirm in the spirit and tradition of the Carmelite Order.

They are women who share a vision where love makes a difference in the world. They may be diverse in age, background, culture and training but the sisters are all united in the belief that life is precious from the moment of conception to its natural end. They have learned that life is full of memories pieced together to form God’s hand-woven tapestry. 

The sisters believe their story is tied to the story of every man and woman who are experiencing the autumn of their life. This includes their joys and sorrows, their pains and consolations, their love of family, their hopes and dreams, their search for God and finding that He is always near. Their life as Carmelites is all about holding the hand of an aged person and giving meaning to their lives. It’s truly about being a mother, a sister, a daughter and a friend to someone who is another’s mother, sister, friend and loved one.

The Carmelites follow the Rule of Saint Albert and are nourished by the tradition and examples of St. Elias, St. Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux and many holy men and women of the Carmelite Order. Their legacy is strong and one which they proudly share. Steeped in prayer, service and a devotion to the Lord, the sisters value life in all its stages as they follow the example and vision of ­their Foundress, Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa. They minister to Christ in the person of the elderly but always return to the spiritual mount of prayer and contemplation.

Source: www.carmelitesisters.com