From daily maxims to special dedications at Mass, the Sisters of St. Joseph and their impact does not go unnoticed at St. Teresa’s Academy. Over the summer, the Sisters of St. Joseph celebrated the 375th anniversary of their founding on July 18th. Additionally, STA students also embarked on the annual trip to the motherhouse in St. Louis earlier that summer.
To truly see the scope of the CSJ’s effect, it’s critical to know what 375 years looks like in person.
Director of Campus Ministry Renee Schultz elaborated on how the Sisters impact the STA community…
“I’d say they have impacted the campus in almost every way possible,” Schultz said. “We exist because of them. They literally built a lot of the these buildings and formed who we are, and the decisions we make as a school.”
Schultz reflected on how the CSJ values are incorporated into our community.
“Their values are definitely instilled in a lot of our students, faculty and alum,” Schultz said. “I think that they are known for being aware of the needs of the time and always have been. Staying a part of what is going on right now, and being progressive makes them an important part of who we are and our values. Their basic values of loving the dear neighbor have never really changed and I think that’s timeless.”
Shultz then explained the real meaning behind the CSJ’s mission.
“The ultimate goal of their legacy is what we always say: ‘loving the dear neighbor without distinction,’” Schultz said. “Acting out of love, and letting that be the lens that we see everything through moves us towards unity. We can carry it on by not just saying the phrase but living it, embodying it and seeing our lives in that lens.”
Schultz believes that a critical part of the CSJ message is its timelessness.
“Because they are so a part of our everyday issues, protesting and serving those who are marginalized right now, I think they are an important part of who we are and who we will become.”
Modeling behavior after such women is never easy. Schultz shares how her experience with the Sisters has affected her personally.
“The anniversary is really important especially when you look at their history and what they have been through,” Schultz said.
“At one point, they were down to one Sister, Mother St. Jeanne Fontbonne, and have grown to be what they are today. Remembering that even as they diminish now, even when they were down to one in the past, reminds us that it’s not the end of the order. When you look at what they have been through and what they have overcome, it’s really amazing to see how long this order has been around and the influence they have had on our world.
“Remembering unity always is really important in the way I live my life and it’s something that’s become an important part of my life since coming to St. Teresa’s Academy and learning about the Sisters,” Shultz said. “I think when you act to work towards unity, you always make the a loving choice and sometimes that’s not avoiding a hard thing or a hard fight, it’s working towards solutions, love and unity. I think that’s made a big impact on my life.”
Schultz explained the lasting effect of the CSJ.
“They have been really vocal since the beginning about what women are capable of and living to the most of those capabilities,” Schultz explained. “I think that had a huge impact 375 years ago and it’s still really important today that women aren’t limited by anything society tells them.”
Our campus has a lot to offer in terms of the history of the Sisters of the Joseph and the evolution of the order, which is also implemented in the classroom. Theology teacher Carl Schmittgens shares how the CSJ inspires his class.
“For me when I think of CSJ, I think of the message of unifying love and loving thy dear neighbor without distinction,” Schmittgens said. “The first CSJ member that comes to mind is Sister Helen Prejean. She is a sister of St. Joseph and a hero of Catholic Social teaching. In my class right now, we’re learning about the death penalty and the prison system, and Sister Helen Prejean is a perfect example of how we can acknowledge the dignity in every single person, regardless of the things they have done.”
Senior leaders Audrey Peterson, Gabby Egan and Maddie Dwyer have all spent time learning about Sisters. From the CSJ’s wisdom, they have provided welcoming spaces at school such as Living In Fellowship and Truth (LIFT) and Campus ministry, where everyone can be seen and heard.
These students explained why they think it’s so important for students to have interactions with the Sisters of St. Joseph.
“I think there important for students at STA to remember the heritage and our school’s history especially because we don’t have Sisters on campus,” Peterson said. “Knowing the history is important because our school and social justice is rooted in the CSJ Sisters, so it’s important to know where that came from so we can properly live out that mission.”
“I think they make so many choices and are a part of so many things at STA ,” Dwyer said. “But the girls aren’t really aware of that, and so making sure they are aware that they are a part of those choices through those connections are super important. “
The students also elaborated on how interacting with the Sisters has personally impacted them.
“It has personally impacted me by seeing how progressive and caring they are for the environment,” Egan said. “I think it’s a big issue that there is a stereotype that the sisters are so focused only on prayer.”
“When you think of a Sister, you think celibate people trying to make everyone follow religion, and yes, that’s a factor, but it’s also important to break that stereotype,” Dwyer said. “We have had wonderful conversations and laughs with them. They are just so alive and filled with joy. And seeing that fulfillment they have through Christ is really inspirational.”