What is it like to be a
Sister of St. Joseph?
If you are searching for a way to share deeply in loving God and serving your neighbor with love in Florida, you may be interested in joining us as we continue this mission of Jesus.
Sisters visit historic African-American Schoolhouse in Mandarin, Jacksonville.
We live and work together to do what we could not do individually - give communal and corporate witness to God’s love.
As anyone who has entered religious life knows, every one of us is always in the state of "becoming." As a Sister of St. Joseph, our character is continually being shaped and honed. During and following the various phases of development leading up to final vows, we have all been works in progress - and continue to be each day of our lives.
What we do in ministry is shaped by a deep relationship with God and by living in community. Our work is not separate from our prayer life and our life together as vowed religious women.
We find strength, support, comfort and a sense of belonging within the community. We invite you to learn about the process we go through in becoming a Sister of St. Joseph, and also to get a glimpse of the different paths some of the Sisters in our community have taken to follow the Way.
Foundational Values
Our spiritual formation process is one of obediently listening for the voice of God. Sisters who work with our spiritual formation process will help each woman discern what God is saying in her and in the community. We believe that each of us, Inquirers and Sisters, are called to give and receive from each other in love, in justice and in charity. We model a life of personal responsibility, balanced with interdependence, and look for that model within Inquirers.
Stages of Formation
Inquirer - An unlimited time
Affiliate - Seven months - three years
Postulant - One to two years
Novice - Two years
Initially-Professed - Three years or more