THE VOCATION OF ALL CHRISTIANS:
Jesus said, “The harvest is great, but the labourers are few.” All men and women are called to the kingdom of God; all men can be saved in Christ. But how can they believe unless they know Christ? And how can they know Him unless they hear about Him? Now let us hear how St. Peter describes the vocation of every Christian. Reading “1 Peter 2:1-10”
‘’I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them”. (Jn. 17:26)
Who Are the Lay Associates?
The lay associates are believers who take seriously their baptismal commitment, who wish to grow in their faith and who join the sisters of saint Joseph of Tarbes in living the charism and spirituality of the congregation.
Who Can Be A Lay Associate?
Men and women, baptized Christians, who wishes to live the Gospel values, and is attracted by the Gift of our charism. They feel that they are called by the Lord to accept and to live according to this Gift of communion, the source of which is the love of the Trine God. They have a deep desire to be associated or linked to the charism, spirituality and Mission of our SJT Religious family.
They will remain in the state of life they have chosen, keep their profession or field of work, maintain themselves and will continue their public life. They will live their commitment assumed in faith, love and service. By sharing the SJT charism and spirituality, they participate in the same mission of the sister becoming builders of communion. Their relationship with the congregation is of an apostolic order.
The sisters of Saint Joseph of Tarbes (SJT) Lay Associates, by their link to the Gift of the Charism, live in consistency with this gift as laity. This experience is fundamental for their commitment to be lasting.
WHY SJT LAY ASSOCIATES IN OUR CONGREGATION
- A call from the word of God
The following biblical texts from the Apostolic Exhortation CHRISTIFIDELES LAICI’’, (Pope John Paul ll , 1988) enlighten us to welcome the SJT lay Associates:
1.1. Vocation and mission of the laity in the church and in the world, workers of the vineyard
a) Matthew 20:3-4 ‘’ He went out again to the market place at nine o’clock and saw some men standing there doing nothing, so he told them, ‘you also go and work in the vineyard, …’’
b) Matthew 13:38 ‘’… the field is the world; the good seed is the people who belong to the kingdom …’’
c) Luke 10:1 ‘’ After this the Lord chose another seventy-two men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go.’’
1.2 The Laity are part of the Lord’s vineyard, called to relive the same communion of God
a) John 15:5 ‘’ I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit …’’