New Members

Susanne Daniels, CSJ, professed final vows with the Congregation of St. Joseph on Saturday August 9, 2008 in Wichita. She entered the noviate with the Wichita community in 2003. “I was working as a certified health unit coordinator at the former St. Francis hospital," said Sister Susanne. "I like my job but had no desire to move up the corporate ladder. I came to realize a strong desire in me for personal growth…I knew there was more to my life.”
Sister Connie Beiriger, CSJ has served as a mentor to Sister Susanne for the past three years as she prepared for this day. “Susanne is a wonderful example of how a woman today finds her way into the religious life” said Sister Connie. “She considered other congregations, had other experiences, but it was when she worked at Via Christi’s St. Francis Campus that she got to know the Congregation of St. Joseph.” Sister Susanne says, “I was attracted to the spirit of the CSJ sisters I met during that time.”
Following the novitiate she was given the opportunity to visit the Wichita congregation’s ministries in Japan. “It was during my 2005 visit to our sisters in Japan that I was touched by their ministry to the aging. Our Japanese sisters have a skilled nursing and assisted living ministry in Matsusaka. Being with
them had a profound impact on me and led me to minister in Via Christi Senior Services.” she says. Today Sister Susanne serves as director of Mission and Spiritual Care at Riverside Village and Cornerstone-Ridge Plaza within Via Christi Senior Services.

Sister Susanne graduated from Newman University in 1981 with a degree in history. In 1999, she received her master’s degree inhuman resources and organizational development from Friends University. Currently, Sister Susanne is in her third year working toward a Master of Arts degree in healthcare mission at the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. She also has retail food management experience after working for Pizza Hut for several years.

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Sister Received into Novitiate in Nazareth

Sister Jennifer Graus, CSJ, was received into the novitiate of the Congregation of St. Joseph on July 26, 2008. A ceremony was held at Holy Family Chapel at the Nazareth Center of the Congregation of St. Joseph.

Sister Jenn grew up as a member of St. Anne Parish in Warren, Mich. She attended Saginaw Valley State University and received a BA degree in English. For the past two years, Sister Jenn ministered as a junior high teacher at Bishop Kelley School in Lapeer, Mich. She enjoys watercolor painting, reading, working with computers, watching sports, and walking in nature. Sister Jenn is the daughter of Larry and Judy Graus and has an older brother. She grew up in Sterling Heights, Mich.

The Novitiate Stage is a two-year period of time in which the novice continues to discern her call as she experiences religious life as a Sister of St. Joseph. These years are “Sabbath time” to deepen her relationship with God, to intensify the living out of our mission and charism and to foster human growth. The novitiate experience includes a concentrated program of prayer, study, reflection and limited ministerial engagement.

The novitiate for the Congregation of St. Joseph will be in Chicago. For nine months, Sister Jenn and seven other novices will participate in the Federation Novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph which is held in Orange, California.

“As I approach this new phase in religious life, I am aware that God is opening me up to more experiences for growth, sharing and creativity. I know that these experiences will allow me to be a more loving, unifying example to those that I meet along this journey.”

Sister Professes Final Vows in Baton Rouge

Celeste Cotter, CSJ, professed final vows with the Congregation of St. Joseph on January 12, 2008 at St. Joseph Chapel at the Catholic Life Center in Baton Rouge, La. She entered the novitiate with the Medaille community in Baton Rouge. When asked what drew her to religious life, she replied, "a flat-out call."

A brochure for the Sisters of St. Joseph led Sister Celeste to call Sister Ily Fernandez, the vocations director in Baton Rouge. One of the reasons she was drawn to the Sisters of St. Joseph, she said, was "because of their emphasis on social justice and because they are ministry-minded." In fact, Sister Celeste was working in prison ministry when she saw the movie "Dead Man Walking," based on Sister Helen Prejean's ministry to end the death penalty, and she wanted to know more about her community.

"We don't necessarily choose ministries. Sometimes they choose us," she said. "I kept saying ‘no. No, I'm not ready. No, I don't think I can be obedient to anybody,'" she laughed. Her reservations vanished once she and Sister Ily met. She signed the papers to begin her formation process on that first visit.

In her reflection during the vow ceremony, Sister Celeste explained, "(Our congregation) seeks to bring all people into union with God and with one another, and we do that by going out into our communities and attending to the needs we find there.”

Asked if she is concerned about the relatively high number of older sisters and the relatively low number of younger ones in religious communities, Sister Celeste said, "I know it can be an issue. But you honor the call you're given and trust God to provide. Elizabeth gave birth later in age; Sarah gave birth in old age. You see the message in those stories. Our future call may be shaped a different way than it is right now."

Currently, Sister Celeste is the associate director for parish social ministries for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, located on the Louisiana Gulf Coast.

Sister Professes Final Vows in Cleveland

Theresa Hafner, CSJ, professed final vows with the Congregation of St. Joseph on March 29, 2008 at St. Joseph Center in Cleveland. An Ohio native, she entered the novitiate with the Cleveland community in September, 2002, and made her first profession in August of 2004.

“It is within the shared experiences of our religious community,” reflects Sister Theresa, “that I find the love, encouragement and challenge to be faithful to the call of Jesus in the Gospels.”

Currently, Sister Theresa is employed at St. Joseph Academy in Cleveland teaching theology. Her interests include scripture, and ecology and the environment.

Sister Professes First Vows in Wheeling

Barbara McCartney, CSJ, professed first vows with the Congregation of St. Joseph on February 2, 2008 at Mount St. Joseph Convent in Wheeling, W.Va. A native of West Virginia, she entered the community in Wheeling in June 2004 and completed her novitiate in May 2007.

Currently, Sister Barbara is a full-time student at Wheeling Jesuit University where she is studying for her bachelor's degree.

Her formation director, Sister Carol Hannig, said, “Barbara is a deeply spiritual woman. She is fun-loving, compassionate, and has a great sense of humor. She has a passion for working with poor people. During her time with us, she has become deeply aware of the many ways in which God acts in her life.”