Recent Statements & Actions: 

A variety of Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociate Public Statements of support and other actions are below.  See additional statements from the Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph by visiting their Corporate Statements page. 

CSJ St. Paul Province’s Justice Commission Public Support and Statement on Indian Boarding School Policy in the U.S. Act: 

December 1, 2021

The CSJ Justice Commission recently affirmed our public support of this legislation together with a growing number of other national organizations including: Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Franciscan Action Network, and the Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology, to name just a few.  In addition, the CSJ Justice Commission released a statement of Public Support for the “Truth & Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy in the U.S. Act.” Read the full statement.

Journey of Truth and Healing – Use of a Land Acknowledgment Statement and Future Actions

November 13, 2021

The CSJ Community Assembly of the St. Paul Province approved a “Journey of Truth and Healing which includes the use of a living land acknowledgment and future actions.”   At this time in our journey, a resource text for a Land Acknowledgment is recommended for consideration, but this text is only a reference.

We hope and pray that members of this Community will adapt, personalize, and consider using an acknowledgment that fits a particular setting/group/program and is genuine to your acknowledgment of the land on which we reside. Read the full statement.

Sisters support the Build Back Better Act 

October 15, 2021

We invite you to take urgent action with us between now and October 31 to let our senators and representatives in the U.S. Congress know that we expect action on the Build Back Better Act. Learn more.

Help us protect voting rights 

September 15, 2021

The right to vote is foundational to our form of government. Voting allows citizens to have a say in decisions that affect our lives and to be fairly represented by officials who are responsive to our needs. Read more and take action.

Treatment of Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees Worldwide

September 14, 2021

The CSJ Federation released a Statement on the Treatment of Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees Worldwide.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet call for care of our dear neighbors in Afghanistan 

August 18, 2021

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are heartbroken by the recent events in Afghanistan. 

Like people around the world, we are watching the unfolding events there with great sadness. We are also challenged by Pope Francis in his address to the 6th International Forum on Migration and Peace: “We have a duty toward our brothers and sisters who, for various reasons, have been forced to leave their homeland: a duty of justice, of civility and of solidarity.” Read the full Statement here.

Province continues to speak out for peace and reform of policing 

May 12, 2021

The Province continues to seek ways of promoting peace and non-violence as affirmed in their 2019 Chapter Directions.  The CSJ Justice Commission recently affirmed their public support for a proposal for ending police-only responses to mental health crisis calls with the Mental Health Work Group of Communities United Against Police Brutality.   

Similarly, CSJ Province Leadership spoke recently at a press conference encouraging reform of policing measures in the 2021 Legislative Session. Our own Sr. Cathy Steffens spoke with Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson, Imam Makram El-Amin and other community faith leaders and local business owners asking the Minnesota Legislature to support common sense reform of policing practices.  The official livestream of the press conference is posted on the Office of the Governor of Minnesota’s YouTube (note:  Sr. Cathy’s comments begin at 38:15 ).   

Province and Federation responses to the Chavin guilty verdict 

April 21, 2021

The results of the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd call us to pray for Mr. Floyd’s family as we mourn the events that bring us to this time and place. As we pray, we are also compelled to move our faith into action… read more.

The Federation’s statement can also be found at their website here. 

Province Statement on the Fatal Arrest of Daunte Wright  

April 11, 2021

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province, raised our voices in prayer for justice and nonviolence with yet another shooting by police of Daunte Wright.   

Province Statement on Recent Violence 

March 27, 2021

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province, condemn all forms of violence, whether rooted in hate, ideology or discrimination. We are deeply appalled and overwhelmingly heartbroken that our country has witnessed seven mass shootings in seven days... read more. 

Calling for an end to gun violence 

March 18, 2021

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet recently re-released their statement “Calling for An End to Gun Violence.” 

Respecting the Sanctity of All Life: Reaffirming Our Opposition to the Death Penalty

November 6, 2020

With the continued and increased use of the death penalty, we the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are impelled to boldly oppose the use of the death penalty and end “the cycle of violence perpetuated by the death penalty.”[1] In this stance, we look to the way of mercy and forgiveness exemplified by Jesus’ own life, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and our CSJ charism. As a congregation of religious women of the great love of God, we value “respect for the sanctity of human life, the protection of human life,”[2] and the sanctity of all life. Read the full statement>>.

The Fatal Arrest of George Floyd

May 27, 2020

Sadness, frustration, fear, and anger are but a few of the disquieting emotions resulting from the egregious fatal arrest of George Floyd of Minneapolis.

 “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly,” wrote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  We once again are feeling the pain that the use of violent force is wreaking. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province, pray for the family of George Floyd, for all those struggling with his senseless death, the officers who must live with the results of their actions, and for the entire community. We are “caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,” again revealing systemic injustice causing indescribable suffering to all and disproportionately to our Black brothers and sisters. Read the full statement and see our CSJ Prayer for the Dear Neighbor.


Past Statements

A call for civil and respectful discourse

Immigration: Our Humanitarian Crisis

We will not stand for the discrimination of our Muslim ‘dear neighbors.’

Let us Not… Be silent! Grow Complacent! Tire from being a witness of love and compassion in the world.

Building Bridges or Walls?

Supporting Refugees and All Immigrants

LCWR Denounces the Administrations’ Decision to Rescind TPS for Salvadorans

Justice Matters. This is going to hurt: the 2017 tax bill.

Commitment to Nonviolence

Response to the President’s Ending of the DACA program

CSJ Congregation responds to events in Charlottesville

LCWR Condemns Racism in All Forms

Reaffirming Our Solidarity with Native Peoples

LCWR Assembly urges dialogue with North Korea

Islamic Center Letter of Support

Community Statement on Philando Castile Verdict


As a member of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, we encourage you to visit their website for the latest Justice Statements on behalf of approximately  4,203 vowed members as well as 3,032 associates and 25 agrégées in the United States. The U.S. Federation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph is a dynamic union of all the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the United States who claim a common origin in the foundation at LePuy, France in 1650. World-wide there are over 10,749 Sisters of Saint Joseph and 4,399 associates in over 50 countries.