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Even in the dreariness of a cold, wet winter's day there is a loveliness to the grounds of our Motherhouse  in St. Augustine, Florida. Yesterday afternoon, when it was much warmer and not raining, I was out weeding the front flowerbeds  when a visitor to the area stopped and took a photo of the house and asked if we had any retired sisters living in the house. I said yes, we had retired sisters in the house but we also had active sisters living here. There are at least five of us in full-time ministries who live at the Motherhouse.

The thing about being a consecrated Religious is that one never retires from one's vocation as a Religious, and no matter what your age or your abilities, one is always called to live a life of faithfulness to your congregation's mission and charism, which in our case is working towards "love and service of God IN the love and service of the dear neighbor."

As Sisters of St. Joseph we are called to be "contemplatives in action." We were founded by a Jesuit priest in  17th century France so our spirituality is rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, but also influenced by the gentleness, peace and joy of St. Francis de Sales.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the 40-day period of preparation for the celebration of Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection. The ashes on our foreheads remind us of our call to penance and conversion, to turn away from sin and return to the Gospel.

The stately oak tree on the north lawn of the Motherhouse reminds me of our Congregation's rootedness in the State of Florida and how more than 150 years of ministry to the dear neighbor in this state has witnessed to God's love.

May this Lent lead us all to grow spiritually and prepare our hearts to receive the graces we need to flourish and delve deeper into union with God.





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