Italy, Rome: 50th anniversary of the service of the Sisters of St. Joseph at the General House of the Congregation

During the first days of Advent 2025, a modest but very meaningful celebration took place at the General House of the Marians in Rome – the 50th anniversary of the service of the Sisters of St. Joseph in our community.

During the morning Mass, Superior General Fr. Joseph G. Roesch, MIC, emphasized the enormous importance of the sisters’ ministry to the Congregation of Marian Fathers. He warmly thanked them for 50 years of quiet, self-sacrificing, and persevering service, which the sisters – faithful to the motto “Heart with God, hands at work” — support both the general administration and the students, setting an example of deep faith, honesty, and perseverance. He also expressed his hope that this valuable cooperation will continue for many years to come.

In commemoration of the jubilee, Father General, on behalf of the entire community, presented Sister Sebastiana Brzezina, CSSJ, the superior of the local community, with a special papal blessing on the occasion of this important anniversary.

After the Eucharist, Sister M. Mateusza Ciszewska, CSSJ, Vicar General of the Josephites, thanked Father General for his warm words and, on behalf of the Congregation, presented several valuable gifts to the Roman Marian community.

Currently, five sisters from Poland are serving in Rome, taking care of the order and daily functioning of the general house. It is also the only religious house of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Rome, which is why sisters from other houses often visit it, giving the Marians an opportunity to learn more about the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph (CSSJ) was founded on February 17, 1884, in Lviv (today Ukraine) by St. Zygmunt Gorazdowski and has about 500 members. Realizing the ideals of their founder, the sisters serve people affected by poverty, illness, old age, or other life difficulties, both materially and spiritually. They currently serve in Poland, Ukraine, France, Germany, and at mission stations in Brazil, Gabon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon.