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SSJ Associates

The SSJ Associate Program offers opportunities for those not called to the profession of evangelical vows to intensify their commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ. The Congregation, through the Associate program is able to provide a sharing of its nature and spirit to people beyond its vowed members. The associates share with the Sisters of the Congregation in faith, in prayer, in various aspects of communal living and ministry. The Foundation for Associates has its roots in the primitive Constitutions of the Sisters of St. Joseph in seventeenth century France.
Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania Constitutions, 2001

Associate membership is open to all Christian men and women, regardless of age, marital status, or vocation. Associates come from all walks of life. Among the members are nurses, mothers and fathers, carpenters, teachers, doctors, priests, grandparents, waitresses, and teachers. They range in age from mid-twenties to eighties and beyond. Many are members of different faith traditions, as well. Associates focus on ministries that are part of their own daily lives. Many are also involved as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, social workers and volunteers helping the poor and homeless.

Associates make a commitment which is renewed annually; they do not take vows. Presently, there are over 220 SSJ Associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Associate Initiated Ministries

associates

Our Associates extend our charism and mission through their daily interactions and their work and ministries. SSJ Associates prayerfully support our mission and ministry and as an extension of the SSJs, they have started ministries where they saw the need.

St. James Haven

St. James Haven was started by the Associates in the Meadville, Pennsylvania area. The Haven is a 6-bed temporary overnight shelter for homeless men. The Haven provides a comfortable bed and clean, dry shelter on a first come, first served basis. A simple evening meal is served. The Haven is staffed by a resident manager and is open daily from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m.
St. James Haven
169 Walnut Street
P.O. Box 15
Meadville, PA 16335

Shawl Ministry

“Bless these knitting needles so that they may become instruments of prayer and meditation.”
Prayer recited at the opening of each shawl ministry gathering.

Through the “SSJ Associates and Friends Shawl Ministry,” members gather and create prayer shawls that are blessed and given to those in need of prayerful support for a variety of reasons. The group comes together once a month to work on the shawls and to pray over those that are completed. This ministry is very spiritual and the group opens each session with a prayer and knits as a prayer.

Many recipients have shared how blessed and comforted they have been by the shawls. “It’s clear that God has His hands in what we are doing with ours,” said Associate and knitter Mary Lou Rathers. “We know that when we are knitting or crocheting, we are weaving God’s spirit into these shawls that we pass on to others. We hope that these shawls make others feel as blessed as we are in making them.”

New members are always welcome to the ministry. To request a complimentary shawl for someone in need, please call 814-836-4100.

ASSOCIATES' History Brochure

DOWNLOAD ASSOCIATES HISTORY BROCHURE (PDF)

ASSOCIATES PROGRAM Brochure

(coming soon!)

If you would like more information about the SSJ Associate program or are interested in becoming an Associate, please submit the form below and someone will contact you.

Associates Testimonies

Hear what some of our Associates have to say about working with the Sisters.