Introduction

Many people are associated with Josephites in ministry or friendship or shared vision. Some choose to formally become associates of a specific Josephite congregation. Josephite Associates are women and men of any age, married or single who are attracted to the Josephite spirit, personified in Blessed Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods.

Perthville Associates

The Perthville Josephite “Family” includes numerous Associates who live the Josephite character and life in their own life situations, whatever their age or location. For them the Association provides an opportunity to journey with the Sisters to a deeper spirituality and to explore further the Josephite flavour in their lives. It also brings them an experience of belonging and of sharing in service of others in the spirit of St Joseph and of Fr Woods and Mary MacKillop. Associates pray with and for the Sisters and, in whatever ways they can, contribute their services to the disadvantaged and to the Church, helping to foster the Josephite spirit in schools formerly staffed by the Sisters, encouraging efforts on behalf of young people, assisting in organization of liturgy  and other Parish projects,  visiting hospitals and homes for the aged,  taking Communion to the sick and elderly in their homes and assisting with hospitality for celebrations at Perthville and in their parishes. They adopted children at East Timor’s Besilau School, in 2001 as an ongoing missionary project. The fifteen Associate groups in each specific area are linked under a Lay Co-ordinator and a Contact Sister. The 15 groups have an appointed Sister who is overall Co-ordinator, (Associates Director) and she is assisted by a Lay Assistant Director.

Goulburn Associates

The Sisters of St Joseph of Goulburn invite men and women who are attracted to the person and spirit of Julian and Mary to become an Associate and to explore ways of living out the call to proclaim and witness to God’s love and presence in the world.  Associates gather for friendship, for prayer, for formation and to deepen their understanding of the life and spirituality of Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop, reflecting on how they can live this Spirit daily so as to make a difference in our world.

Central Associates

Associates come from all walks of life, and, in acknowledging their link to the Sisters of St Joseph, desire to both deepen their Josephite spirituality, and continue to explore how they daily live this spirit so as to make a difference in our world as Josephites. As part of the Josephite family, they gather periodically in friendship and prayer to increase their appreciation of the Josephite story and charism, and to be involved in the service of God’s people in ways relevant to their individual lives.

Associates are found in every State of Australia, and overseas in New Zealand, Peru, Ireland and Scotland.  Each area has a local contact person. Currently there are around 4000 Josephite Associates!  Associates have grown in a deeper understanding that being an Associate is a way of life centred around Prayer, Friendship and Service in the Josephite spirit. Spiritual formation is provided by Associates in local areas In many instances, Associates keep the Josephite spirit alive when the Sisters leave parish communities. Some Associate groups commit themselves to support particular areas of the mission and ministry of the Josephites, e.g. Peru,  East Timor, and other specific projects for people in need. Responsibility for the celebration of Mary MacKillop’s feast day in the local area is being taken by the Associates. There is a growing number of ‘Young Associates’ (or ‘Junior Josephites’) groups.

New Zealand

There are currently fourteen Associates’ groups meeting regularly on the North Island – In the South Island five groups meet regularly at – The NZ Associates’ Leadership Team is made up of Associates and Sisters of St Joseph who meet quarterly at the Province Centre at Mission Bay. Members of the Team share tasks, plan ‘happenings’ and circulate Celebratory suggestions.

Queensland

In Queensland, there are approximately 550 Associates in many places from Cairns to Brisbane, Mt Isa and Quilpie and in many pockets all around Queensland. The Associates’ Core Group, runs the Associate Movement in Queensland. For further information about the Queensland Associates, and coming events, please check out our Associates’ Newsletter

JAN: Josephite Associate Network QLD Inc.

A newer group in Queensland is an incorporated body, JAN: the Josephite Associate Network Qld Inc. JAN Qld Inc enables people to work individually or with others in their own area, responding to the needs of their local community.

New South Wales

There are forty nine Josephite Associates’ groups scattered across NSW. These are in both the city and country and many of these groups keep the Josephite presence alive in areas where the sisters have had to leave. They join with the broader Josephite family in celebrations for St Joseph’s day and Mary MacKillop’s feast day. They have their own formation program at local and state level. 

Western Australia

Western Australia has approximately 400 Josephite Associates belonging to groups which are scattered throughout this vast State. The Josephite Associates Central Committee of WA meets quarterly at South Perth as does the Metropolitan Area Group. There are a number of other Associates’ groups in rural WA, the Esperance and Busselton groups being the largest. Other Associates groups have been formed in the following regions:

• Geraldton
• Great Southern (Esperance)
• The Northern and Central Wheat Belt
• The Goldfields
• The South West

 

Victoria

The Associate Movement in Victoria has continued to grow and develop in recent years. There are now nineteen groups, which meet on a regular basis  Every Victorian Josephite Associate group would warmly welcome new members! 

South Australia

In 2006 the SA Provincial Leadership Team appointed a lay leadership group comprising 7 women and a Josephite. Since this time, Associates have had the opportunity to be a part of a number of prayer and reflection days, focussed on different aspects of the Josephite Story and Charism. There are about 450 Associates in SA.In country SA there are 4 main active groups in Port Lincoln, Jamestown, Murray Bridge and the Riverland (Berri, Barmera, Renmark, Loxton). There is one very active group in Adelaide in Hectorville,  we have established a telephone link for Associates who are unable to attend gatherings. Associates receive a quarterly newsletter by either email or post. On the 8th of each month many Associates gather to celebrate Eucharist and socialise. In Several groups of Associates gather on regular occasions to share life and faith.

Peru

Over the years since they began ministering in Peru, the Josephite Sisters shared with the Peruvian people the story of Mary MacKillop, and many found they felt at home with her vision and values. Nowadays they are supported by a large number of dedicated Associates who share the Josephite charism and participate with the sisters in the ministry.

Scotland

The Sisters are only in their third year in Scotland and have as a special focus making Mary MacKillop known in the land of her forbears. They have already prepared material for distribution  and have met with various groups. 

Ireland

As the Irish region has developed and the sisters are working in parishes and communities throughout the country.

• Introduction
• Being a Sister
• Being an Associate
• Being a Volunteer
• Being a Junior Josephite