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The Canadian Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph sponsored a pilgrimage to France this fall. A total of 26 Sisters, four from each congregation, were selected to go. Toronto's group included Sisters Susan Davy, Janet Speth, Andrea Dumont and Jane Wilcox. Here are some of their impressions of this "journey inward, outward and into the past," as Sister Susan called it...
"We have a great love for those first six women who gathered together with the help of a Jesuit priest, Jean Pierre Médaille (pictured at left), and then later another young woman, Jeanne Fontbonne. All six Canadian CSJ congregations trace their roots back to that original foundation in Le Puy, France in 1650 and the re-founding in 1808 in Lyon after the French Revolution.
To strengthen the relationships among the six Canadian communities, the Canadian Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, sponsored the first pilgrimage two years ago. Twenty-four sisters enthusiastically re-traced the steps of the founders. As an inter-congregational experience, it provided a focus on the deeper values, spirit and shared history that is at the core of who we are as Sisters of St. Joseph." Sr. Janet
"This was our reflection question for the initial weekend retreat, to ready ourselves for this 'journey of the heart'. This was a new idea for me and although we had been given related themes for prayer over the previous month, I found I was still anticipating the trip as the tourist I had been on past excursions abroad. To help us enter into the experience reverently, two Sault Ste. Marie Sisters accompanied us, Pauline Guindon as Spiritual Guide and Retreat Director and Sister Sheila Anne Spooner as pilgrimage leader. Both these women had been pilgrims in 2001." Sr. Janet
"Sr. Louis Marie Briat, archivist, led us to the original kitchen where our first Sisters, in 1648, gathered to eat, prepared meals for the 39 orphans and made lace." Sr. Janet
"To provide sufficient light to make lace, they filled a large glass flask with water and surrounded it with candles. The reflected light allowed them to see enough ...The Sisters also taught lace-making to the women of Le Puy so that they could become self-supporting." Sr. Andrea
"Today, as one observes the women, younger and older, quickly maneuvering the pins and the bobbins on the small 'carreau' or lace cushion, the intricacies of the skill become quite evident. The lace designs are exquisitely beautiful. Father Médaille referred to the original foundation with its very humble beginnings as the 'little design' and so the symbol of the lace with its threads and spaces continues to be very meaningful for us as Sisters of St. Joseph." Sr. Janet
"Afterwards one of the French Sisters walked with us to the place where two of our Sisters were guillotined. The French people do not wish to be reminded of it so that the exact spot on the square is not marked. The street however is called the street of the martyrs." Sr. Andrea
"Here we climbed the 300 steps up to the huge Notre Dame de France Cathedral. There has been a church on this site since the 5th century A.D. and so again this is where the sisters would have prayed before and after the revolution. The town was a departure point for one of the Pilgrim Ways to Santiago de Campostella in Spain, to the tomb of St. James. The first crusade was also preached from here." Sr. Janet
"We saw and heard many other interesting things but the most spectacular sight was the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I couldn't begin to describe the steep uphill climb and the hundreds of steps that led up to it. However it was worth the climb. Inside, the Cathedral was awesome! - glass chandeliers, large beautiful paintings, polished carved wood choir loft, a huge cross of glass whose prisms broke up the light into rainbows." Sr. Andrea
"Along the way to Le Puy, we stopped to visit the Chambery Mother house, Monistrol-sur-Loire, where Mother St. John was the general superior for many years. She blessed the hospital cornerstone that remains visible. We also visited Sisters at Bas-en-Bassett, where Mother St. John was born." Sr. Janet
"Time was also spent visiting some of the small towns that Father Médaille traveled to as a teacher and itinerant preacher. He died in Billom and there is no identified grave." Sr. Janet
"I learned that Father Médaille's health was frail for a good part of his life." Sr. Jane
"I loved the architecture of the places that we visited: Lyon, Le Puy, Paris, Chartres, and all of the other stops along the way. Even from our bus, we could see the ruins of ancient chalets high on the cliffs and the stone farm buildings in the valleys below." Sr. Susan
"At the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon we visited the room where Mother St. John died (see picture at left). However, I was very conscious that time had certainly not stood still. The historic building was now part of a busy high school, the students running up and down the original stone steps likely unaware of their ancient story." Sr. Janet
"We went up to her room -- still as it was then, with bed, desk, oil lamp, hour glass, and prie dieu. On the wall was her profession cross and rosary. We stayed as long as we could, reflecting on her presence and then singing. "This is Holy Ground". She died there in 1843 at 9:00 am. We TREAD THE ORIGINAL WOODEN FLOOR AS WE LEFT." Sr. Andrea
"In Lyon, we visited the grave of Mother St. John. On the flat granite marker laid a large wooden cross and the etchings revealed that she died Nov. 22, 1843 at 84 years of age. Simple small white stones covered the plot. We were all impressed as to how well kept the site was. The sense of reverence was profound as we prayed silently and sang, "This is Holy Ground." Sr. Janet
"The cemetery resembled a small city of cement monuments. Though there was neither space nor grass between the family plots, the main street of the cemetery was lined with well-manicured cone-shaped evergreens. Mother St. John's tomb was a surprise - so well kept and beautiful in its simplicity. We sang and prayed as a group at the grave site, and each of the six congregations took pictures of their four representatives standing beside the tomb." Sr. Andrea
"I found myself attracted to the spirit of those early women, recognizing that it was a kindred spirit within me as well. I also witnessed it in the sisters I traveled with and in the story of the seven French communities joined together as one congregation in the 1990's. For me, this was a contemporary story of risk and courage, so wonderfully shared by Sister Thérèse Vacher during the stimulating afternoon we had with her. In it, I personally found a particular challenge and I believe one for us as religious women in the North America culture. The hope for the future is contingent on this intensity of response for the sake of the mission." Sr. Janet
"In Paris, I must admit, I became more of a tourist as I realized a life-long dream of seeing the sights in the heart of the city. What a gift, what fun, and what wonderful memories! The Louvre, the Cathedral Notre Dame, the top of the Eiffel Tower and a nighttime cruise along the Seine to see the lights." Sr. Susan
"Am I a pilgrim or a tourist as I journey through life? This question continues to stir in me. I found that while in France I needed to place myself consciously on the 'pilgrim way' each day. I realize more deeply that this is the disposition I desire... to consciously make the choice to engage life fully each day with my best self that reflects compassion and love." Sr. Janet
"I truly loved this journey to our roots. It has been said that a pilgrimage is a journey to the heart of the Sacred and I know that I experienced this deeply as we travelled the way of our first Sisters and founders. There were so many places in which I felt profoundly moved in consideration of the depth of the humanity as lived over the centuries, even millennia, to which the structures and buildings still standing today gave witness." Sr. Susan
"I continue to process this experience in my thoughts and prayers and I trust that I will come to know just how deeply I have been transformed by this experience. I returned home with such a renewed energy for our mission, for living as fully as possibly my gift of Call as a Sister of St. Joseph and simply for living life with zeal. And for that, I am so very grateful." Sr. Susan
"I had never seen Europe. Everything was so ancient. Streets and houses were so narrow- it's a whole different atmosphere. The other thrill was being right there in Mother St. John's bedroom, and the little kitchen they worked in. Imagine being there!" Sr. Jane
"Historically walking in the footsteps of our founders was memorable; yet even more meaningful for me was meeting the many Sisters of St. Joseph that hosted us along the way with the wonderful hospitality that marks us a Community. They were so vibrant, and immediately we felt one with them - we felt at home. I returned home with a much deeper sense of belonging to the rich tradition I have been welcomed into through my vocation call. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to make this pilgrimage and for the graces which I am only beginning to realize." Sr. Janet
For more pictures, see our Photo Gallery
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