This past June, more than 150 former and current St. Joseph workers, Sisters, Consociates, family members, and friends gathered at Carondelet Center to celebrate the life of the St. Joseph Worker (SJW) Program, which is ending after 21 years.

It truly was a day of celebration—full of singing, story sharing, great food, conversation, and a ritual of gratitude and remembrance.

In her remarks, Sr. Suzanne Herder praised the women who served over the 21 years of the program: “You now bless the world by continuing to do the work of Jesus and serving as examples of love of God and neighbor. Thank you for your courage to commit to a year of service and then to go live out your values.”

Program co-directors Lisa Murphy and Bridgette Kelly marveled at what people working together can create and recognized that the “vibrant community gathered was proof of the impact of this program.”

Several Sisters noted how much vitality the young women brought to the CSJ community over the years. In table conversations, attendees were asked to share one word to describe the program: “Transformative, unifying love, empowerment, relationship, growth, bonding, and humor” were a few of the words most offered.

The St. Joseph Worker Program began as a brainstorm to build a volunteer program to help young women grow in body, mind, heart, and soul while advancing the ministries of the Sisters, according to Sr. Irene O’Neill and Sr. Charlotte Berres, who discussed the program in depth on the occasion of its 20th anniversary on a podcast hosted by former SJW Hannah White. They noted that the SJW program offered remarkable opportunities for growth and leadership. “I realized that these women could leave the program with a passport to the world, that they could go anywhere and be recognized as a St. Joseph Worker,” said Sr. Irene.

The individuals who have served in this program have gone on to a wide range of pursuits. They now work as parents, ordained ministers, artists, doctors, lawyers, writers, advocates, teachers, and social workers across the United States and in many countries around the world.

Those gathered for the closing celebration discussed the impact of the SJW program, reveling in the challenges they faced, the friendships they formed, and the love they experienced. While they acknowledge sadness with the ending of the program, Britta Koenen, St. Joseph Worker from 2020-21, said it well: “The work may feel unfinished yet we release it to God.”