From the Associates:

A Journey into La Familia de San José 

Juanita Campos, CSJA

Left to right: Juanita Campos, CSJA, Kathy Tighe, CSJA, Mary MacGillivray, CSJA, at the 2025 Living the Dream Dinner 

My journey to becoming a CSJ Associate began with a deep yearning for belonging, a desire to be part of the Familia of God —a God who loves me and everyone without distinction, where no one is left out; all are welcome with love, justice, and freedom. This journey truly started with the encouragement of my dear friend Judy Swett, a Palliative Care Chaplain. Judy always invited me into the circle of the CSJ Associates, where everyone is a leader and has a voice.

Later, during a retreat, Kathy Short, CSJ,  extended a similar invitation with great excitement as we concluded our last day of direction, urging me to come and see, and by showing me the associate’s invitation pamphlet. Both Judy and Kathy warmly said, “Come and see—you will find the family you’ve been searching for. La familia que buscas.” Although my first meeting — held during the election of the leadership team — was challenging due to a lack of diversity, I soon met another Latina associate, Latina, como yo, and that encounter began to soften the path ahead, which made me feel more at home.  

The journey was long and demanding, as I balanced a full-time career, part-time theological studies degree, multiple church ministries, and family life. A pivotal conversation with Sister Mary Ellen inspired me to embrace the formation program for commitment, saying “yes,” —  yes to the spiritual call and the journey ahead. Sister Mary Ellen, sensitive to my life complexity and inspired by the Spirit, selected Framingham as my meeting place and two excellent, brilliant, perfect for me mentors, for my trinity formation, Mary Ellen O’Rourke, CSJ, and Laurie Abruzzi, CSJA.  

These two women live in Jesus’ style; they embody the charism of the CSJ every day and share their love with me without distinction. Sister Mary and Laurie were to me, and continue to be, the embodiment of the sign and sacrament of the active and inclusive love of God. As a result, the three of us become a real loving trinity — three interlaced and overlapping arcs or piscis shapes — as symbols of “loving unity rooted in Jesus’ prayer of all be one.” During the nine-month mentoring and formation period, my companions and I entered a sacred circle of prayer and discovery. We explore the spirituality, history, vision, mission, and ministries of the CSJ. We walk together, caminamos juntas. Step by step, we explore and discover what it truly means to be an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph. I found myself developing a deep affection for them, as well as for the sisters and the associates. God brought to my life these saintly women – unas santitas, as my mother will say, with prophetic voices, much like the first Sisters from Le Puy. Women who live and serve on the margins. Women who embody Jesus’ style. Women who remind me, again and again, that we are all called to unity, to presence, and to love. Working alongside them, I felt the warmth of la familia that I had longed for, rooted in love and collaboration, as Jesus’ style!  

There was time spent sharing, listening, studying, living: the Call and Charism, the history, the Little Design, the Maxims. Time flew, and on a beautiful morning, my Commitment Day arrived. The emotion of being surrounded by my family, friends, and my new familia, including the sisters and associates, was a moment when heaven and earth came together. As the song Ángeles de Dios beautifully says, I do not know if the church went up or if the heavens came down… in all directions, God was present. To become an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph is not just to join a group. It is to answer a call, a call to live the Gospel in the ordinary and the hidden. It is to walk alongside others in the work of reconciliation, presence, and love. It is to be la familia I was always searching for and now help to create for others. I say to them, come and see, come and taste how good it is…