Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada and around the world have spent many years working and forming relationships with migrants, refugees, and trafficked persons. In that time, we’ve learned much about the gift of each person’s life, the hardships they’ve endured, the exploitation they’ve encountered, and the strength with which they begin to make a new life for themselves.
Welcome to our new website!
After months of planning and hard work, we are proud to unveil our new website!
This site is for you, Sisters of St Joseph from all across Canada, Associates/Companions, friends and new visitors.
As you explore our new digital home, you’ll find a streamlined site with newly organized sections designed to help make it easier to find the information you need including:
The work we do together
A way to connect globally with other Sisters of St. Joseph
A place to share news and information about the Federation
A place to store newsletters, documents, and resources
You will also notice a new, more modern look and feel, including a design that is now compatible with modern tablets and smartphones, making it easier for you to be connected and to find what you need, regardless of the device you are using.
With the new site now in place, we look forward to being able to once again share updates and post our most recent newsletters.
If you have questions or feedback about our new digital space, please contact Sister Loretta Manzara at can.csj-fed@bellnet.ca.
Letter to Premier Ford regarding cuts to legal aid
Dear Premier Ford,
We urge the Ontario government to re-think its budget cuts to legal aid funding.
In the April 11, 2019 budget, you announced a 30% reduction in Legal Aid Ontario’s (LAO) budget and indicated the government will no longer fund refugee and immigration law services “outside of any potential transition costs.”
Access to legal aid is already far too limited in Ontario. The immediate cuts of 30% to LAO’s budget will create further marginalization from legal justice. This can only erode faith in the fairness of the legal system.
In addition, assisting refugees and newcomers with legal services is integral to creating a fair society. Moreover, it costs us little. In 2017-2018, refugee and immigration services were just a small piece ($45 million) of LAO’s $460 million budget. Yet, in that same year, this money allowed LAO to address 13,687 immigration and refugee legal matters. Without such legal assistance, these legal matters would be very hard to navigate and leave newcomers vulnerable to irreversible decisions with hugely negative impacts.
One of the ways we define our character as a province is by how we treat each other when we’re in vulnerable circumstances. The Ontario government’s new slogan suggests we want an Ontario in which all people have a fair chance to grow. This can only happen if we ensure each of us has access to the resources and opportunities which are fundamental to participation in our society. Fair access to the legal system is one of the basic resources everyone needs.
Sincerely,
Sue Wilson, CSJ
Office for Systemic Justice
Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada
Download a copy of the letter to Premier Ford here.
Public Statement on "Global Compact for Migration"
News from the Novitiate
Greetings from Concordia
Novitiate Update from Sister Kristine Fernandes, February 8, 2018
Dear Sisters and Associates,
Novices with Sister Janet Gagnon
You probably know that I am back in Concordia, Kansas and well into the second semester of the Federation novitiate. I met a few of you in December but, sadly, did not get a chance to connect with everyone in Toronto as I had hoped. I caught a cold soon after arriving and it quickly developed into a bad case of laryngitis. When I had recovered, it was time to return to Concordia.
The novitiate sessions in January were all about the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph throughout the world. These have been very interesting and inspiring. The other novices and I started off hearing from Sister Marcia Allen (CSJ Concordia) who talked about pre-Revolution France and helped us understand the nuances of the culture in which Father Jean-Pierre Médaille and the founding Sisters lived. I was intrigued by Catholic spirituality in 17th century France that gave birth to so many religious congregations and movements.
The following week, Sister Janet Gagnon (CSJ Lyon) spoke extensively about Mother St. John Fontbonne and post- Revolution France. She also talked about the Centre International St. Joseph in Le Puy-en-Velay and the many CSJ branches that grew out of Lyon, France.
Next week, Sister Patricia Byrne (CSJ Baden) will come in to talk further about Father Médaille and introduce us to his primitive documents. These are the Maxims and letters that he wrote to Sisters that served as the foundation of their faith and ministries.
Sister Kristine and a Bobbin Lace Project
On the arts and crafts front: We continue to learn bobbin lace-making amongst other things. I have completed three bobbin lace projects: a snake bookmark, a butterfly and I just finished a Christmas star ornament. Next week, we will be introduced to crochet and will learn a few basic stitches. The focus is on art as a meditative tool.
We were also introduced to right brain journaling, art journaling and a few other journaling styles in which we are encouraged to write and draw whatever comes to mind that reflects our feelings and states of mind. These are based on the methods of psychotherapist Ira Progoff and his therapeutic writing techniques.
Nearly everything I am learning is new to me and I am enjoying it. I hope to continue some of these exercises and activities when I return to Toronto.
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers especially as you gather for the February Congregation Days.
Thanks,
Sister Kristine Fernandes
kfernandes@csj-to.ca
