Journeying with the Charism that unites people and their differences

The life of the congregation is directed toward one goal: “to strive to bring about the total union of ourselves and others with God, union of others among themselves and with us, but all in Jesus and His Father” (cf. John 17,21).

As three persons united in one relationship, the Trinitarian God invites us to be united in our differences. As all of us are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27), our communion with God demands also our communion with one another. No one of us was created apart from the creative, thoughtful design of our Creator. As image-bearers, we were created to reflect the Lord. Each human life has equal value in the eyes of God.

Regardless of the color of our skin, culture, or background, we all need God's saving grace. God loved the world and made it possible for anyone who believed to have eternal life. It is our duty and responsibility to love one another and to accept others as they are.

Our cultural differences as well as differences in opinion and various ministries do not change the fact that we are one family. In our Lord Jesus Christ, we are all children of God. (Rom. 8:16-17). In the people of God, where gifts and functions are diverse and complimentary, our vocation as sisters of St. Joseph is a vocation of communion. We must recognize and express the LORD’s love, live among ourselves and with others the unity willed by Christ. As children of God, we must strive to create a world of justice and brotherhood in which each person feels that their dignity is fully recognized.

The Picture can be thus understood in this way. A single tree is made up of different leaves, in the same way, the body of Christ – the Church comprises diverse human beings, each representing God uniquely; hence it is our primary task to accept everyone with their distinctiveness and uniqueness, with their talents and limitations.  This is what our founder Fr. Médaille urges us to live our Charism by becoming one with the people wherever we are.

Sr. Jaya Meda
The Province of Tanmaya/India