LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Sisters of St. Joseph for their
steadfast dedication to St. Christopher's Parish

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to bring full recogni-
tion and just tribute to those men and women of religious commitment who
accept the responsibility of moral leadership and render the wisdom of
human understanding; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Sisters of St. Joseph for their steadfast dedication to St.
Christopher's Parish, to be celebrated at its 100th Anniversary Dinner
Dance on Sunday, April 19, 2015, at Coral House, Baldwin, New York; and
WHEREAS, In the hills circling the village of LePuy, France, 360 years
ago, a young priest and a group of women came together with a shared and
profound love for others, as well as a vision of union with God and
neighbor; and
WHEREAS, This vision was to be achieved through prayer, service and
reconciling love; the concept of a non-cloistered congregation including
women of all classes and all backgrounds was unique in its time; and
WHEREAS, Small groups of these women spread throughout France where
they earned a livelihood making lace, while devoting themselves to their
goal of "dividing the city, seeking out its ills and curing them"; and
WHEREAS, Subsequently, in 1650 in LePuy, France, the group was estab-
lished as a religious foundation by Bishop de Maupas; and
WHEREAS, The vitality and expansion of the Congregation continued
until it was abruptly halted by the French Revolution; convents were
closed, and Sisters were disbanded or were thrown into prison; and
WHEREAS, Upon the completion of the Revolution, the Sisters of St.
Joseph were re-founded by Mother St. John, and once again the Congre-
gation flourished, enabling them to spread throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, In 1836, a request came from the Bishop of Missouri for the
Sisters of St. Joseph to come to America to teach deaf children; and
WHEREAS, Subsequently, three Sisters were sent to Carondelet,
Missouri, to establish a foundation and a school; the first United
States ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph was the education of deaf
children; and
WHEREAS, The Congregation spread throughout the heartland of the
United States and to the west and east coasts; as their foremothers,
these Sisters sought out the needs of the city, and worked to alleviate
them; and
WHEREAS, In 1856, at the request of the Bishop of Brooklyn, Mother
Austin Kean came from Philadelphia to Brooklyn to found what is now the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New York; and
WHEREAS, For more than 150 years, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brent-
wood have been faithful to the original vision, and have served the
people of Long Island from the docks of Red Hook in the shadow of the
Statue of Liberty, to Long Island's eastern shore; and
WHEREAS, When the needs of people called, Sisters were sent to Appa-
lachia, other parts of the United States, Puerto Rico, the Dominican
Republic, and Brazil; and
WHEREAS, Remaining true to its mission, the Sisters of St. Joseph
continue to foster love, unity and reconciliation among all people and
with this blessed earth; and
WHEREAS, Spiritual guidance and nurturing are of great import to the
vitality and well-being of all people and every community of this great
State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, Instrumental in that deliverance are those men and women of
religious commitment who accept the responsibility of moral leadership
and render the wisdom of human understanding; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Sisters of St. Joseph for their steadfast dedication to St.
Christopher's Parish; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Sisters of St. Joseph.