As the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet we believe that mission grows through relationship.

Community Engagement weaves together several  long-standing  initiatives — Membership and Association, Celeste’s Dream, and the young adult engagement focus of the St. Joseph Worker Program. Building on program development that responds to the needs of the times such as the CSJ Community Garden, Stirring the Fire, CSJ Way, and the St. Kate’s/CSJ Food Access Hub, the office is  expanding programming and forging new connections that carry the CSJ mission into wider circles.

The work moves in two directions: outward into community, and inward toward the spiritual and communal needs of neighbors near and far.

Showing Up and Reaching Out
Relationship-building is at the heart of everything. Community Engagement staff show up at local festivals and conferences, partner with nonprofits, and invest in the kind of slow, intentional connection that opens doors over time. These efforts expand the CSJ family beyond its current networks —across the Twin Cities, throughout the broader CSSJ Federation, and nationally, where increased collaboration draws young adults and others into the life and mission of the community.

Programming That Listens
The best programs begin with listening. Young adults drawn to CSJ mission and seeking authentic community, new skills, and a way to give back, inspired the creation of the CSJ  community garden over two decades ago. In 2016 the St. Kate’s community reached out to the CSJs for support in addressing campus food insecurity, we dug in to collaborate and co-found the St. Kate’s/CSJ Food Access Hub to meet the needs. 

When members of the St. Joseph Worker Alum Community expressed a need to connect with others in faith leadership roles, Companions on the Journey was born — a supportive gathering space for women, queer, and trans lay and ordained ministers. When a young consociate was looking for intergenerational conversation about spirituality and justice, Bridging Generations took shape — a casual monthly gathering that has quickly found its people.

Learning Labs take a different approach, tapping the gifts already abundant in the CSJ community — kimchi-making, foraged tea workshops, Open Craft Circle — and turning them into hands-on opportunities for connection. Partnerships with schools, colleges, and universities continue to grow through service, advocacy, and immersion experiences.

An Open Invitation
The work of Community Engagement is for the entire community, and all are invited to join us on this journey of relationship building with our neighbors and creating opportunities to meet, connect and build a better world.