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Mission Statement |
Where & How We Minister |
The Sisters
of St. Joseph were one of the first apostolic groups whose works
centered on meeting the needs of local communities by being an active
presence among them. The Sisters first came to the
Erie Diocese in
1860 to minister to the sick, teach children and serve in a wide range
of ministries. The Sisters established
Saint Vincent Health Center,
Villa Maria Elementary school,
Villa
Maria Academy, Villa Maria College, St. Joseph’s Orphanage,
St. Mary’s Home of Erie and St.
Patrick Haven, among others. In addition, the Sisters have staffed
numerous schools over the years, including
Harborcreek School for Boys.
Today, the Sisters’
presence has moved beyond hospitals and classrooms and includes
numerous projects and ministries. The Sisters are involved in
pastoral, social and liturgical ministries in Catholic parishes,
global mission projects, outreach to the elderly, rural ministry,
campus ministry, youth ministry and numerous other projects and
efforts.
There are few people in the Erie Diocesan area whose
lives have not been touched, directly or indirectly, by the Sisters of
St. Joseph.
Along with our
Associates, we continually strive for
unity of neighbor with neighbor and
neighbor with God.
We believe this means that, like Jesus in John:17, we strive to bring
peace and healing to our world. The virtues of humility and charity
are the basis and distinctive characteristics of our spirit and
spirituality. Reconciliation is central to our lives and we actively
seek peace and forgiveness with God, within ourselves, and with others
in order to promote the inner harmony characteristic of a disciple of
Christ. (Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania
2001Constitutions, Part Two, p. 11)
We
fulfill this mission by searching out and undertaking whatever
ministry may best bring about this unity. Prayer and community
life animate and support this mission.
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