Eighteen students from colleges founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph are invited to go on a pilgrimage in July 2022 to Le Puy, France — the birthplace of the congregation.
Founded in 1650 in the small village in France by a young priest and a group of women touched by the Spirit of God, the Sisters of St. Joseph shared a vision of union with God and the dear neighbor, which they sought to achieve through prayer, service and love. The congregation came to America in 1836, eventually founding nine colleges in the United States.
The Association of Colleges of Sisters of St. Joseph (ACSSJ), which connects the nine colleges and universities, is inviting two students from each institution to visit Le Puy, France, from July 10-17, 2022.
“Students (have) an opportunity to reflect on what bold and courageous women the first Sisters of St. Joseph were and how their work has led to great institutions, like St. Joseph’s College,” Martha Malinski, executive director of the ACSSJ, said of the trip. “It also (allows) them to meet current Sisters of St. Joseph, who continue this bold legacy and are leaders in their own communities.”
Le Puy Pilgrimage of Years Past
The last student pilgrimage took place in June 2018. SJC Long Island’s Tatiana Belanich ’19 and SJC Brooklyn’s Veronique Mathieu ’18 attended the trip.
“The entire trip was filled with memorable moments,” said Belanich, who earned bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Journalism and New Media Studies. “From walking the same streets to seeing the same beautiful sights as the first Sisters, I was struck by the simple, humble beginnings of the congregation.
“With every story, I was enamored by the courage and passion the Sisters had in following God’s will,” she added. “Moreover, sharing this with students from all around the country whose own colleges were also founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph enriched the experience more than I can say.”
Click here to learn more about the upcoming Le Puy pilgrimage and for a chance to participate.
Funding for this was made possible by the College’s third annual Giving Day. Donors exceeded the goal, contributing more than $2,500 toward the project.
