BRIGHTON — Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston and associates gathered in Framingham March 31-April 2 for the election of the seven-member leadership team who will serve the congregation for the next six years. The members of the new team who will begin their term of leadership at the end of June are Sisters Mary L. Murphy, CSJ, president; Lee Hogan, CSJ, assistant president; Marilyn McGoldrick, CSJ and Rosemary Brennan, CSJ, general councilors; Brenda Forry, CSJ, Helen Sullivan, CSJ, and Ellen Powers, CSJ, area councilors.

The election process began on Friday morning. In the name of all who gathered, Sister Joan Duffy, CSJ, the current president of the Sisters of St. Joseph, welcomed Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley who presided at the 9 a.m. Mass of the Holy Spirit.

In looking ahead to her ministry as president of the congregation, Sister Mary said, “To be elected president of our congregation is…an opportunity to be of service to you, the Church, and all God’s people in ways known and unknown to us at this time in our history. ‘As women entrusted with the mission of reconciliation, we devote our life and work to realizing the prayer of Christ: that all may be one with God and with one another’ (Constitution of the Sisters of St. Joseph). Fidelity to our charism, being women of unity and reconciliation, and inclusive love of neighbor with neighbor without distinction in whatever we are about and wherever we are will ensure the fulfillment of this mission.”

These days are part of a yearlong process that also included weekends in September, October, November, February, and mid-March. These gatherings centered around prayer, discernment, and discussion about how the mission and spirituality of the congregation is to be lived during the next six years.

During the November weekend, participants articulated a vision for the next six years that states: “Enflamed with the compassion of God, we, Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, women of the Church, rooted in the Gospel together with our associates are impelled by the active, inclusive love of God to: deepen our relationship with the dear neighbor without distinction; foster prophetic communion; and journey into the future with Sisters of St. Joseph and associates throughout the world and with all God’s creation.”

The selection process focuses on who are the women who can best empower the congregation to live this vision at this time in history.

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