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WHEREAS, The Sisters of Saint Joseph trace their origins to LePuy, France, where a small group of women who were grasped by the great love of God reached out in love and service to those who were suffering around them during a time of great turmoil and violence of war, famine, poverty, and plague; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Sisters of Saint Joseph continue that same spirit of service to their “dear neighbors.” Most sisters minister in the apostolate of education, as well as serve in parish ministries, health care, and social services. Sisters serve as hospital chaplains, campus ministers, spiritual directors, and prison chaplains; and
WHEREAS, In the spirit of the first sisters, today sisters respond to contemporary needs, including working with people with AIDS and battered women. Educational ministries include work with children with hearing impairments and those who are mentally challenged. Retired sisters volunteer their time by tutoring in schools and visiting the sick. Sisters join with hundreds of lay men and women in living the mission of unity and reconciliation and work collaboratively with bishops, priests, and lay persons in their many and varied ministries; and
WHEREAS, The Sisters of Saint Joseph began their US mission work by sending missionaries to St. Louis, Missouri in 1836, and among their first works in this country were ministry with the deaf, schools for freed slaves, and work with Native Americans. The Sisters of Saint Joseph brought their ministry to Philadelphia in 1847 when four sisters were sent to staff St. John’s Orphanage thus beginning their ministry on the east coast with the Congregation based in Chestnut Hill; and
WHEREAS, The Sisters of Saint Joseph sponsor Chestnut Hill College with its undergraduate college for women and two secondary academies for young women, Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown, PA, and Holy Family Academy in Bayonne, NJ; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the Sisters of Saint Joseph, which is based in Philadelphia, as they celebrate 350 years of dedicated and loving service.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Sisters of Saint Joseph as evidence of the sincere gratitude of this legislative body.
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