Sisters of St. Joseph at the 375th Anniversary Mass at the Cathedral Basilica at St. James, Brooklyn, November 19, 2025
One of the many blessings of my life as a priest and as a bishop is to have had the privilege and the joy of working with so many different congregations of religious women and men that have been serving here in the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. Having been educated as a child by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Brentwood, I was able to come to know and work with them later in my life of ministry as well as the sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, the Sisters of Mercy of Brooklyn, the sisters of the Presentation of Newburg, and the secular institute of the Apostolic oblates both in Brooklyn and here in St. Kevin’s Parish. Each group has its own history, its own charism, and its own area of service to our local church. In recent years, as these wonderful religious communities have declined in numbers, our Diocese has been tremendously blessed with new religious communities that have come to our shores from different lands, each of them bringing a new dimension of ministerial service and, along with that, a renewed zeal and an apostolic energy that has been such a great blessing and a true gift.
Today we gather with hearts full of gratitude like the leper in the Gospel reading to celebrate a significant milestone: the 25th anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Marc here in the United States! Twenty-five years ago, these faithful women answered God’s call with courage, generosity, and deep trust. They left behind familiar homes, cultures, and loved ones to begin a mission in a new land- not knowing what awaited them-but knowing only Who was calling them! These courageous women who arrived here twenty-five years ago took up the challenges of language, culture, finances, loneliness, and uncertainty! They persevered because they believed that the Gospel must be proclaimed, whoever God sends his servants.
Taking in the advice of the words of the first reading today-their hearts were wholly devoted to the Lord; they trusted the words of the 2nd reading that the Lord would keep them firm in their resolve-each and every day of their new journey, which brought them from India to North Carolina in the year 2001. With courage and missionary zeal, these pioneer sisters began their work with a concentration on pastoral care, health care, and service to the local communities. Their total dedication is the foundation for the future growth of the community.
Three years later, the sisters opened their second mission in Ohio, continuing to offer their services to the local church there…demonstrating compassionate care especially in the health care ministry as well as parish work. Then in 2011, the first community opened here in New York at St. Andrew Avellino Parish, followed by the second community at St. Kevin Parish and then in 2024 at St. Mel Parish. Today, as they celebrate 25 years in the USA, there is a strong presence in this country with twelve spirit-filled religious women working in the Mission: Sisters Jain, Leema, Lilly, Jeesa, Roseena, Shiji, Shiby, Bindhu, Jiji, Sini, Jeslin, Rhine.
Serving as registered nurses, parish ministers, and pastoral care workers for the elderly and needy, their presence among us reflects the enduring mission of the congregation: to bring God’s love, compassion, and healing to all they serve, as their founder, Fr. Blanch, envisioned way back in 1845 when the order began in France.
All their work, all their ministry, and every act of service these sisters performed is fueled by the time they spend in adoration before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Their rule of life states clearly and succinctly that “their lives are a constant coming and going from one presence to another. In the Eucharist, they find strength to serve because they know that serving is also a gift.
The founders of the sisters whom we remember today placed the congregation under the protection of our dear St. Joseph. St. Joseph was the silent and faithful guardian of Jesus and Mary. St. Joseph never sought attention for himself. He simply listened to God and obeyed. In so many ways, the sisters of St. Joseph of St. Marc have lived that same spirituality here in the USA these last 25 years-serving humbly, lovingly, faithfully, and trusting in God’s Providence. They have always listened to God’s invitation and obeyed His will.
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