Image

Living a Legacy of Love: My Journey to Become a Sister of St. Joseph

By Jennifer Berridge, Candidate for Vowed Membership
with the Congregation of St. Joseph

I come from a long legacy of love. My family are good people. Warm, caring, honest, hard-working, helpful, “salt of the earth” people. My Mom has always been the kind of person who would drop everything to help anyone at any time. My Grandmother is the same way. Those who have come before me in my family are compassionate, sensitive, and kind. We were born to love. It’s in our DNA.

But for me personally, there were times in my life when I didn’t always operate out of love alone. I used to let the world define me, with all its deceitful messages and false descriptions of what a woman should be. A wiser place inside me knew that the world’s characterizations of women just weren’t good enough. I had to ask myself the hard questions that we have all had to ask ourselves at some point in our lives. I started with: Who am I? As I searched, I began to understand that my ultimate identity is found in God alone. I found that this is the truth of who I really am, and it has forever changed the way I see myself and others. I am a witness, living and breathing, that God is good!

Me, Judith, Marie Hogan, Kathleen Durkin
Jennifer with Sisters Judith Minear,
Marie Hogan, and Kathleen Durkin

Once I accepted this truth, no other fabrication that the world offers will ever be good enough. I no longer buy in to the constructs that the world imposes on women. I believe that we can all just be who we are, who we were born to be: authentic and real. We were created awesome and unique in God’s sight. God created all of us to be in loving relationship with each other and all of creation. When I think of love, I think of radical availability and radical receptivity – the kind of love that gives and receives from a mutual place that blesses all. I have found that the love I give, I receive in turn tenfold.

Since January 23rd, 2016, I have been a Candidate to become a Sister in the Congregation of St. Joseph community. I am blessed to have been offered the opportunity to invite others into this love that unites. We are called to a love of God and love of neighbor without distinction. Love is a part of our foundation!

Rita.Jennifer.Judith.lowres
The day Jennifer Officially Became a Candidate
with the Congregation of St. Joseph!

So what is it like to be a Sister with the Congregation of St. Joseph? I spoke at a luncheon this June and tried to explain how my life is different now. In my speech, I said that who I am now is definitely my best self. Who I am now is who I know myself to be. I feel very centered, grounded, whole, healthy, and happy. I often say that I have been an adult before, but I have never been a Sister of St. Joseph before. So I simply ask our community of sisters for support, encouragement, and love. I pray for all the graces that are needed along the journey. And I can honestly say that I have been given more than I need. Being in community is like having sisters as prayer warriors with super powers! When sisters pray, things happen.

Federation Event July 2016 with Jeanne Cmolik and Bostn CSJ Pat Boyle
it’s always a blessing to be with other sisters!

I was recently on a retreat at Saint Mary’s By the Sea in Cape May Point, New Jersey. One of the many graces of the retreat was watching the sunset in the evenings at Sunset Beach, as well as getting ice cream with new friends! The sun coming down over the ocean revealed to me the power of love right there in from of me, rising and setting with each new day. It was a wonderful experience. Another grace of the retreat was meeting other Sisters of St. Joseph in formation, sisters of all ages, as well as women from different religious communities. Relationships naturally formed. What a gift to be welcomed by all in love!

IMG_0485

This sunset was a reminder of the power of love!

Derek Tasker says in his poem I Wonder:

I wonder what would happen if
I treated everyone like I was in love
with them, whether I like them or not
and whether they respond or not and no matter
what they say or do to me and even if I see
things in them which are ugly twisted petty
cruel vain deceitful indifferent, just accept
all that and turn my attention to some small
weak tender hidden part and keep my eyes on
that until it shines like a beam of light
like a bonfire I can warm my hands by and trust
it to burn away all the waste which is not
never was my business to meddle with.

I pray for the grace to love like the light from a bonfire. I pray that I will remember the Sunset Beach moments in my life, all the flashes of light that stop me in my tracks to gaze upon the beauty of God’s love. In the end, I would rather be able to say that I loved too much than not at all. In the end, I want to know that I was able to carry on that from which I came, a legacy of love.

sweden-123784_1920

May we all have the grace to love
like the bonfire light!

 

About the Author

photo of jenniferJennifer Berridge is a current Candidate with the Congregation of St. Joseph. A native of Cleveland, OH, she currently lives with sisters from the congregation in Wheeling, WV and serves as a Youth Care Worker at St. John’s Home For Children. In her free time, Jennifer like to write, listen to audiobooks, watch movies, and visit with sisters.

37 thoughts on “Living a Legacy of Love: My Journey to Become a Sister of St. Joseph”

  2. Cathy Ludwick says:

    Is not God amazing! Such beautiful thoughts, Veronica. I am so excited, as an associate of the Congregation, to see one so young entering. Hope is alive! God bless you and may He be with you always on your path.

    Like

    Reply
  3. Sallie Latkovich, CSJ says:

    So nicely done, dear Jennifer! It is a gift to us in the Congregation that you’ve found your truest self in our midst. Blessings! Sallie

    Like

    Reply
  4. Mary Jo Curtsinger says:

    Oh Jennifer! Your heart shines out brightly in your writing! I wish you lived closer to Chicago (or I lived closer to Wheeling) so I could catch more of your rays! 🌻💓Mary Jo

    Like

    Reply
  5. Kathleen Kaiser says:

    You’re an inspiration, Jennifer. You’re sometimes a flash of light; sometimes a steady ember; sometimes a gentle glow. so glad you are sharing your fire-love with us!
    Kit

    Like

    Reply
  6. Jodie in Cleveland says:

    The joy you radiate is contagious, Jennifer…thank you for sharing this gift with us. You remind me that God’s blessings are always around us.

    Like

    Reply
  8. Lydia Nighswander says:

    As a lay employee for the Sisters of St. Joseph for almost 10 years, I’m delighted to hear when someone is Called to join those Sisters that I am honored to work for. From your article I hear echoes of words I’ve heard through the years–about the journey, the love, the flame of God’s grace. I wish you great joy as you keep “becoming”…and may you continue to be blessed!
    Lydia

    Like

    Reply
  9. Father James LaCrosse SM says:

    Dear Jennifer, I just read your beautiful article of your journey. I know that you are going to be a great Sister of St. Joseph because you have so much to give and that is why you have been chosen by God to do so. I am also very proud to know and I want you to know that I pray for you every day, when I pray for vocations. God Bless you.

    Like

    Reply
  10. Donna Weber Fry says:

    You blessed me with your writing. Thanks be!! It was the perfect moment to have received your inspiring message.
    Donna Fry, CSJ Associate, Northern California

    Like

    Reply
  11. Pat Adams says:

    Jennifer,
    We are so grateful that you are one with us!
    Your spirit and willingness to help others have been blessings to all!
    I thank God for you!
    Love and Blessings to you, my friend!

    Like

    Reply
  12. Therese May says:

    As a CSJA (Associate) I would love to congratulate you on your new journey with the CSJ’s. You are a breath of fresh air and many blessings on your journey. Come up to Canada sometime.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment