Meet an Associate: A Job that Led to So Much More

Pat Weidner Reflects on Her Journey with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

by Pat Weidner, CSJP-A

Pat and her brother Tom at the 2023 US Marine Corps Ultra Marathon in Washington, DC.

Being an associate with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace for the past 23 years has been so life-giving. My journey with the sisters began with my employment on May 30, 1994, when I became administrative assistant to the Provincial in St. Joseph Province, Sister Ann Rutan (RIP). Having been raised in a Catholic household and educated in a Catholic grammar school, I always had a deep respect for nuns and an admiration for all they do.

Part of my job was to take minutes at the monthly Province Council meetings. I soon learned about all the sponsored ministries that the sisters founded and were involved in. I got to meet and know many of the sisters and was amazed at how much they had accomplished over the years through their various ministries.

One of the council members, Sister Gail DeMaria, happened to be the co-director of the Associate Core Group. She asked if I would be interested in coming to the monthly meetings and taking the minutes for their group. How could I say no? Through these meetings, I learned about the associates, lay women and men who were part of the Congregation and who believed in and carried out the charism of peace through justice. I knew I wanted to be a part of this at some point.

In addition to continuing my work as administrative assistant, I became a mother to my first-born son, Joseph, in December 1995 and then John in September 1997. Right after my second son was born, we were told that my husband, John, who had congestive heart failure, needed a heart transplant. This news, while devastating, deepened my spiritual life through the encouraging support and prayers of both the sisters and associates.

I made my first associate covenant in March 2001. It was a very special day for me as I was now part of the Congregation as an associate. Being an associate has been very meaningful to me. When my husband passed away in January 2002, I had the love and support of the CSJP community, which helped me get through it. I raised my two sons using the charism of peace through justice by treating people kindly, respecting all, and helping those in need. I am happy and proud to say they have both turned into fine young men.

During the last 12 years, I got into running with the encouragement of my younger son. I’ve participated and finished over eight marathons, including the New York City Marathon in 2018 and more recently the Marine Corps Ultra Marathon in Washington, D.C. in 2023. I find I do a lot of spiritual reflection during these long runs!

I come from a large, loving family with whom I am very close and met a wonderful man, Arthur, a.k.a. Butch, who also shares the same family values and has a family who has been very welcoming to me.

I continue my ministry as a lector in my parish, which I’ve been doing for over 49 years. I enjoy participating in associate sponsored events, regional assemblies as well as the Congregation Chapter, which I got to experience for the first time in 2021 and 2022. Being together with the sisters and associates from the three regions made me really feel like part of the community. While I still record the minutes for the Associate Core Group, I also participate in the meetings themselves. I am also enjoying my time on the Land Ethic Committee, where several sisters and associates from all three regions meet bi-monthly via Zoom, researching, discussing, and putting together valuable information in response to the climate change crisis, which is very important to me as it affects the future for not only my children but for generations to come.

As I approach my 30 years of employment with the sisters, I look forward to continuing my journey as an associate with the Sisters and Associates of St. Joseph of Peace as we strive for a better and more peace-filled world where all are welcome at the table.

WHO ARE ASSOCIATES?

Associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace are individuals who live out the spirit and mission of the CSJPs in their daily lives. They commit to an ongoing mutual relationship with the sisters, other associates, and the charism of peace through justice. They do this in family life, in the Church, and in society. Associates “strive to respect the dignity of all persons, to value the gifts of creation and to confront oppressive situations” and to “promote social justice as a way to peace.” (from Constitution 11)

Visit csjp.org/join-us to learn more.

This article appeared in the Autumn 2024 issue of Living Peace.