2026 Spirits on Fire:
My Spiritual Experience

Left to right: Barbara Pecci, Boston MA; top back: Christina Kubica, Philadelphia, PA; middle: Jen Sahrle, MSEd, PMP, SHRM-SCP, LSS GB Health Care, CDE, Executive Director St. Jospeh’s Neighborhood Center (SJNC) NY; far right: Dawn Cimino, Chestnut Hill, PA.

By Barbara Pecci

I recently had the privilege of attending Spirits on Fire, a year-long formation program for Lay Leaders in the CSSJ mission and tradition. Having worked in my role as Director of the Women’s Table for nearly two years and experienced the CSJ charism first-hand when I was afforded the opportunity to participate in an immersion program such as this, I agreed and was so pleased to have been invited.  What I soon discovered was that this was not just AN opportunity, it was THE opportunity to become immersed in a further understanding of the legacy and service in action that the Sisters of St. Joseph have gifted to the world since 1650.

Honestly, I was not sure what to expect from this experience. I imagined that I would meet leaders from congregations across the country who are as committed to their work as I am. I looked forward to hearing about other people’s roles and networking with them professionally. What I soon discovered was that although this time together would afford those opportunities, this retreat was also, and more importantly, about learning who we are as individuals who have chosen to work in environments that are mission-driven and that seek to carry out their charism every day in every way. I learned the distinction between “charism” and “mission” in that they are connected in unity but are not interchangeable. So, it was not lost on me that this invitation was not only from my Boston Congregation; this was truly a much bigger invitation from God to broaden my efforts in working with, and for, the dear neighbor. As a result, this became a special invitation in my heart which helped me recognize that this work happens with our faith as the base, and that having faith in our gifts, big or small, will guide us in all pursuits to meet the unmet needs of those we aim to serve.

Above: Pecci’s cohort

At the end of the week, my great epiphany was that I am not just working for the Sisters of St. Joseph; I am working with the Sisters of St. Joseph to foster relationships in an atmosphere of mutual respect and love. I am therefore right where I am supposed to be and look forward to this year-long process of discovery through “Unity and Union,” through drawing all into one.