Celebrating Associate Covenant Day in the East

The chapel at St. Michael Villa in Englewood Cliffs, NJ was the center of much joy on March 13 as the sisters and associates of the eastern region gathered to celebrate two first covenants: Deborah Ann Deveau and James McDonald, CSSR; four five-year renewals: Kathleen Dempsey, Michael Devito, Jane Fielding Ellis, and Mary Ann Wallen; four lasting covenants: Eileen McCann, Frank McCann, Terrence Moran, and Joanne Paradise; and to honor twenty-five year commitments of four people: Robert Chambers, Kate Chambers, Kathleen Dempsey, and Nancy Woods!

The ceremony appropriately began with those assembled proclaiming in song “Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word…All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.”

Co-Directors Eileen McCann, CSJP-Assoc. and Gail DeMaria, CSJP welcomed those present and guided us through the ceremony. Sheila Lemieux, CSJP, Congregation Leader, gave a very meaningful reflection on the readings of the day.

Sheila then began the covenanting ceremony: We believe in the charism of peace through justice as God’s gift to each of us. We come today to share this gift with each other.

Those present responded: We are here today to offer praise to God who is our strength. We are here today to offer challenge and support to each other and a renewal of promise on behalf of all life that is poor and oppressed.

Gail: Our coming together is an opportunity for celebration and a chance to be refreshed and renewed in our struggle for justice, peace, and freedom. Let us pause to search for what is in our own hearts and to renew our efforts for all in this world who do not have an equal chance… We are a Beatitude people who have our hearts set on having God’s reign come about. We are a pilgrim people who will not rest until peace through justice becomes a reality.

Those involved in covenanting then proclaimed their covenants: The charism, vision, spirit, and mission of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace resonate in my heart and I wish to give visible expression to this reality by entering into a covenant relationship (for the first time/by renewing my covenant relationship for a period of five years/by entering into a Lasting Covenant).

As an Associate, I commit myself to the charism of peacemaking in my daily life, a life of prayer, participation in appropriate ways in the life, spirit and mission of the Congregation, and to strengthening the bonds of mutual relationship. Trusting in God, I promise to promote peace in family life, in the Church, and in society. I will strive to respect the dignity of all persons, to value the gifts of creation, and to confront oppressive situations. I commit to God’s people in need and to promote social justice as a way to peace. This may challenge me to prophetic risk in my life so that God’s reign may be more fully realized.

All sisters and associates affirmed and pledged their support: We will assist you to fulfill your Covenant as Associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph and renew our commitment to peacemaking. As a Congregation, we commit ourselves to support you in our mutual promise to live the gospel of peace in daily life. We rejoice and celebrate our commitment to God, the Congregation and our world. May we together remain true to our charism of peace through justice.

May the vision of Mother Clare, the faith of Mother Evangelista and the generosity of the women and men who have gone before us in the Church, our congregation and the world fill all of us with deep hope for the future.

Before the closing song, Eileen acknowledged the 25th Anniversary of Covenanting of Nancy Woods, Kathleen Dempsey, Kate Chambers and Bob Chambers.

We remain challenged by the words of the closing song, We Are Called: to act with justice, to love tenderly, to serve one another, and to walk humbly with God!

The celebration continued in the auditorium at St. Peter’s College with a light lunch and much camaraderie.

Thanks to Peter Pieroni for taking the photos.