Join Our Mission

Interested in Becoming an Associate?

Steps on the Journey

“Did they partner with the richest and most powerful people in the world? No, they partnered with Jesus and with each other to minister to the poorest of the poor and the outcasts of society.”

– Kathy Teahan, CSJA, Reflection from CSJ Associates 2022 Commitment Renewal

Consider an Associate Relationship

Becoming an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston involves a period of prayer, discernment, and mentoring. During this time, you will discover where God is leading you. You will grow in your understanding of the spirit and spirituality of the Congregation, and will consider your readiness for participation in our life and works. If you are interested in becoming an associate, the following steps will guide your journey.

Come and See

During the “Come and See” phase, your initial contact might be an associate or sister who invites you to attend an Associate gathering. You are also most welcome to contact our Associate Director, Mary Ellen O’Connell, CSJ, to learn more about our Associate relationship, and to discuss opportunities to meet us. Contact information: 617.746.1670; maryellen.oconnell@csjboston.org or fill out this form.

This phase offers many ways for you to gather with us — formal meetings, informal conversations, times of liturgy and prayer, Congregation events, and activities related to justice, peace, and integrity of creation.

This is a time to meet others and experience the rich spirit and spirituality of the Congregation.

During “Come and See” − typically a period of one year − there are no formal obligations or expectations. However, we encourage you to participate as fully as possible in the Associate experience.

This is your time, your opportunity to explore the possibility of Associate relationship.

Mentoring Relationship

If you wish to move forward, you will participate in a formal, yearlong mentoring relationship. During this year, you will work with two mentors ‒ an associate and a sister. In the context of prayer, you will explore more deeply the history, spirituality, charism, mission, and ministries of the Congregation, and you will learn what it means to be a CSJ Associate.

Commitment

After engaging in a year of formal mentoring, you will meet with the Associate Director to determine your next steps. If you choose to move forward, you will send a written request to the President of the Congregation, formally expressing your desire to make your initial one-year commitment as a CSJ Associate. This commitment takes place in May during our liturgy commemorating the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

Commitment, which is renewed annually, is not vow; it is an associate’s promise to embrace the CSJ charism, and to engage actively in the mission of the Congregation. Commitment is an opportunity for each associate to express this promise:

“. . . to continue to be united with you, the Sisters of St. Joseph, in the mission of Unity, for I have experienced the Spirit of the Congregation and I wholeheartedly embrace the charism of Unifying Love which I strive to live in my daily life. I ask that the Sisters continue to acknowledge, accept and encourage me in this commitment.” ¹

¹ CSJ Associate Handbook