Eight New Associates Join Associate Program in Wichita

The Sisters of St. Joseph celebrated the feast of their patron St. Joseph on Saturday, March 21, at their Wichita Center. Over 100 sisters and more than 50 lay associates participated in a special liturgy, celebrated by Monsignor Robert Hemberger. The Sisters traditionally have a devotional renewal of their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on the feast of St. Joseph. The Associates present also renewed their commitment, "to live and work so that we, and all creation, may be united with God and with one another in God."

Eight new associates (pictures above) joined the associate program as a part of the St. Joseph Day celebration. The new associates promised to live according to the ideals and values of the Congregation of St. Joseph and join with the Sisters in bringing about the transformation of our world. The associates received a small pin which depicts joined hands as a symbol of the Congregation's commitment to serve others in the spirit of charity that St. Joseph had in serving Jesus and Mary. They also were given a copy of the Congregation of St. Joseph's Generous Promises which express the direction the Holy Spirit is leading the congregation at this point in history.

In addition, thirty-four associates were honored for their past years of commitment and received a pin commemorating their years as associates. Mary Ryan was honored for her 25 years as an associate; Don and Virginia Arnold; Noreen Budig, Mary Edgington, Barbara King, Gloria Lloyd, John and Carol Ann Polaha and Karen Wrede for 20 years; Diana Chipas, Geneva Drouhard, Annette Osborne, Suzanne Rhoads, Bev Sales, Daniel Urenda were honored for 15 years; Jane Anne Beachner, Georgia Broadwell, Wanda Mercer, Lorraine Souza, and Helen Vit for 10 years and Kathryn Anne,Rita Boyle, Sarah Ernzen, Karen Kenny, Peggy Kitchens, Cindy Martin, Janice Potts, LeRoy and Donna Rheault, Laurie Robinson, Marion Thomas-DePuit, Linda Varon, Ruthanne Vihinen and Teresa White received pins commemorating their five years as an associate.

The Associate Program of the Sisters of St. Joseph can be traced back to the very beginning of the congregation in 1650 in LePuy, France. Associates are lay women and men who feel called by God to live the mission and values of the Sisters of St. Joseph in their own lifestyle. Ofen Associates minister or volunteer with the sisters in their ministries. The Wichita Associate Program was started in the early 1980's. The Wichita Center of the Congregation of St. Joseph has 150 associates throughout the United States. For more information about associates contact Sister Helene Lentz at 316.613.7016.