Pamela Schaeffer

Pamela Schaeffer is an independent writer and editor in St. Louis, with more than 35 years full-time work as a journalist specializing in religion. Her experience includes editorial roles at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Religion News Service, the Society of the Sacred Heart, Catholic Health Association and National Catholic Reporter, where she is a former managing editor. She holds a doctorate in historical theology from St. Louis University.

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From left, agrégées Karen Hurd and Kathleen Dugan, St. Joseph Srs. Natalie Cain and Mary Ferguson, and associate Cathy Rigali at the St. Joseph Federation Event 2022 in St. Louis (Courtesy of Karen Hurd)

St. Joseph agrégées rejoice in congregations' growing acceptance of their role

Meet the agrégées, as they are known — women who are not canonically vowed sisters but who want to share in the charism and mission of their chosen religious community in the fullest possible way.

Panelists discuss injustices within the U.S. prison system at Event 2022, held July 8-10 in St. Louis, Missouri. Pictured (from left) are Lisa Cathelyn, April Foster, Barb Baker, Serena Martin-Liguori and Shameka Parrish-Wright. (Mary Sue Rosenthal Gee)

Sisters of St. Joseph carry 'radical' history forward at Event 2022

The Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph's Event 2022 brought some 450 sisters and federation members to St. Louis July 8-10. The program included reflection as well as discussion about fighting racial oppression.

'Ouch' moments discomfit, challenge sisters at convocation on racism