• HOME
• MISSION & MINISTRY
  •    Our History
  •    Our Ministries
  •    Sister Search
• JOIN US
  •    Vocations/Formation
  •    SSJ Associates
  •    Development
• SUPPORT US
  •    Ways to Give
  •    Annual Fund
  •    SSJ Spirit of Courage
  •    Thanksgiving Dinner
  •    Legacy Society
  •    Circle of Friends
  •    150th Anniversary
  •    Naming Opportunities
  •    Annual Development Report
  •    Donate Now
• SPIRITUALITY & PRAYER
  •    Prayer Request
  •    Faithkeepers Trail
  •    Spiritual Direction
• NEWS & EVENTS
  •    Press Releases
  •    Events
  •    Journeys
  •    Peace & Justice
  •    Obituaries
  •    Federation Statements
• EMPLOYMENT
  •    Opportunities
  •    Apply
  •    Benefits
• CONTACT US
• LOGIN

The Sisters of St. Joseph

of Northwestern Pennsylvania

Statement of Support for LCWR

April 20, 2012 - The Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania respect the statement from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) stating the need for time to review a mandate from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and prepare a response. As members of LCWR, the Leadership of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania believes that the organization has remained faithful to its mission of service to leaders of congregations of women religious. Our prayers and support are with them.

Please direct any inquiries on this matter to Sister Annmarie Sanders, IHM, director of communications for LCWR, at asanders@lcwr.org This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it.

Joining in the Fight Against Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking is 21st century slavery and it involves transporting, primarily women and children, within or across borders to be sexually exploited, to work in sweat shops, to be domestic workers, to be objects of sex tourism or to be mail-order brides. Over 15,000 women and children are trafficked to the United States each year.

As part of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and stimulated by the love of God and neighbor without distinction, we call on all persons to work to abolish the horrific crime of human trafficking and modern day slavery. Impelled by our mission to restore right relationships we are committed: 

• to educate about the root causes, consequences and magnitude of human trafficking and slavery
•  to minister to survivors of any form of human slavery
•  to use our strength as consumers and investors to promote a just society that eliminates the incentives for human trafficking
•  to advocate for just laws at all levels that punish traffickers, protect victims and prevent recidivism

•  to be aware of, identify and report potential victims.                       (Read more . . . )  

We are part of a group of vowed women who have been serving the people of God, the “dear neighbor,” since our founding in LePuy, France in 1650.  In 1836, our Sisters came to the United States and eventually found their way to Northwestern Pennsylvania in 1860.  Since then, we have served in the 13 counties of the Erie, Pennsylvania Diocese and have ministered in numerous foreign lands.  We remain an active presence today -- within the Diocese and beyond -- with some of our Sisters living and ministering in other parts of the United States.     
    Our Associate program, which was established in 1982, allows lay men and women – from all walks of life – to join with us and share in our mission, our community, our prayer and our works.Today, nearly 350 Sisters and Associates in Northwestern Pennsylvania continue to respond to the needs of the “dear neighbor” through various ministries and by establishing new ministries.