Sisters of St Joseph celebrate their 375th Anniversary

Focal point at the Mass celebrating 350 years - image: Sr Marie de Montfort

375 years ago on 0ctober 15th 1650, in the lace-making town of Le Puy, France, Fr Medaille SJ founded the Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy, with six women, of whom only one could read and write. The Sisters were not enclosed but rather worked among the poor and destitute, among the widows, prostitutes and orphans. They supported themselves and their work, by lace-making.

With great joy and thanksgiving. our Sisters around the world gathered to celebrate on October 15th 2025. It was the time for great rejoicing in this Jubilee Year of Hope; a time to share our story of how the lace has grown, thanking God for all the blessings of three hundred and seventy-five years.

The Sisters of St Joseph, from the UK and Ireland gathered in St David's Church, Pontnewydd, South Wales, for a Mass of Thanksgiving, to celebrate this momentous time in our history. We were joined by parishioners and friends, past pupils and nursing and teaching colleagues as well as a number of priests both Diocesan and Religious.

At the start of Mass, celebrated by Fr Matthew Carney OSB, Vicar for Religious, Sister Susan, Provincial, welcomed everyone and then read a letter from Archbishop Mark O'Toole of Cardiff-Menevia Archdiocese. Archbishop Mark expressed his gratitude for the life and presence of our Sisters throughout the centuries, in many parts of the world and, in particular, here in South Wales. This was followed by a joyous rendering of the hymn, "We tell the Sacred Story", a story which as Sister Susan pointed out would unfold in greater detail at the combined Bidding Prayers and Offertory. The readings from Philippians. Colossians and the Gospel of John reflected the theme of self-emptying love in the following of Christ. This was echoed by Father Carney in his inspiring homily when he emphasised the importance of Religious Life in the Church and especially the contribution of Religious in the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia.

The focal point in front of the altar formed a visual history of the Congregation. The various symbols and pictures highlighted each stage of our history. A picture of our Founder and one of the tiny kitchen in le Puy marked our humble beginnings. "The lace" began and grew rapidly during the next century until the disruption and trauma of the French Revolution which saw the martyrdom of five Sisters and the imprisonment of many others. The picture of three Sisters at the scaffold was a stark reminder of those troubled times. In 1808 Mother St John Fontbonne, who had herself been imprisoned, was able to regroup the Congregation. Once again, the Congregation flourished.

A picture of our Motherhouse in Annecy symbolised the beginnings, in 1833, of our own branch of the Sisters. An Indian prayer wheel told of the early pioneers who. at the invitation of the Missionary Fathers of St Francis de Sales (MSFS), began the now flourishing mission in many parts of India. A replica sailing ship reminded us of the arduous voyage from India to England, to set up the English Mission. This unusual piece of "reverse evangelisation" was brought about through the endeavours of Captain Dewell, a British Army Officer serving in India, and Fr Larive, MSFS.

Newport in South Wales became the main focus for the Sisters in the English Province. Sisters worked in numerous places in the South-west of England, in London and Kent, as well as in Scotland and Ireland, while maintaining a very strong mission in South Wales. Sisters from all areas of the Congregation have supported and developed missionary foundations in Algeria, Senegal and Gambia as well as more recently Tanzania, Kenya and Congo. These missions were represented by African artefacts and flags. Now in 2025, for the first time in our history, we have a Superior General from Africa. She is pictured receiving a special blessing at the first of Pope Leo's Wednesday audiences - a symbol of hope for both Church and Congregation.

As the Bidding Prayers led us through "our Sacred Story", a lighted candle was placed at the appropriate symbol or picture. This, combined with our own hymn to St Joseph, expressed our own renewed self-offering and gratitude. This simple but profound ceremony culminated with the procession of bread and wine and a candle placed at the centre of the focal point where the Eucharistic symbols reminded us that the Eucharist is at the centre of our lives.

We continued our prayerful reflections as the Mass continued. After the solemn blessing and the singing of the Magnificat, we continued our celebrations over tea and cake. It was such a joy to share our memories with one another. As many of those present, remarked it was a simple yet profound celebration of who we are as Sisters of St Joseph. We recall that we stand on the shoulders of those "lace-makers" who have gone before us. We pray that our "Sacred Story" may continue …The LACE is not yet finished.

LINK

Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy: https://srsofstjosephofannecy.org/index.php/en/