Statutes

I.    NATURE AND PURPOSE

1. “St. Joseph Missionaries of Sacrifice” is a private association of the Christian faithful, without juridical personality, recognized by the Most Rev. Blaise Morand, D.D., Bishop of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, on January 26, 2005 (Code of Canon Law, canon 310).
2. Based in the Diocese of Prince Albert, the association groups clerics, religious men and women, celibate singles in good standing, Catholics who wish to share in its purposes, under the patronage of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, patroness of missionaries (Canon 307).
3. The principal purpose of the association is to live and spread the Gospel and to serve sacrificially for the development of the Church, more particularly to serve the First Nation people, the sick and the elderly in the Diocese of Prince Albert, but also elsewhere in response to calls from Church authorities.
4. Dedicated to the work of evangelization, the members, as they carry out their daily tasks, are to reach out with the love of Christ to every soul in spiritual need. As missionaries, they are always ready to serve in any way, and that service is dedicated to Christ.
5. For this reason, no task entrusted to them, especially by the Bishop of the Diocese where they are carrying out their mission, is too difficult to be considered. Relying on the help of the Lord, His Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the members will respond willingly, to the best of their capacities, to situations brought to their attention, both physical and spiritual.

II.    THE MEMBERS, THEIR SPIRITUALITY AND THEIR RULE

6. The association will have a Spiritual Counsellor, freely chosen from among the priests who lawfully exercise ministry in the Diocese. However, for this priest to assume this office, the confirmation of the Bishop of Prince Albert is required (canon 324).
7. Members of the association are those persons who have completed the necessary period of initial probation and discernment, have been accepted for membership by the majority vote of the existing members, and have made the public promise of commitment to the St. Joseph Missionaries of Sacrifice.
8. Once accepted for membership, members make a public promise to the community, preferably on September 14, the feast day of the Triumph of the Cross, to observe the Statutes of the association and to live according to its spirit. The promise is received by the Diocesan Bishop, or by the Spiritual Counsellor, or by another priest designated by either of them. The members will make to God private vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, in order to give even greater stability and significance to their commitment.
9. The spirituality of the association finds its expression in community life, being focussed on living the Gospel, and being totally faithful to the teachings of the Church, as expressed by the Holy Father and the Diocesan Bishop in communion with him. Each member will be mindful of the dignity and responsibility of being a missionary of the Gospel. Regular community meetings will be arranged to enable them to reflect on the role and mission of the association and of its individual members.
10. The community life of the members is such that it shows how they have rejected the false values of the world. Sacrificing their lives and possessions in order to be missionaries of the Church, with a special devotion to Christ Crucified, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to St. Joseph, they work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without recoiling before weariness or difficulties. In community, they will respect each other, observing confidentiality on all that concerns the individuals they serve and those who are members of the community.
11. Prayer in common is a source of life for each member, as he or she gathers strength to carry out the Lord’s work. In consultation with the Spiritual Counsellor, the community will draw up a prayer schedule, to which all will adhere at all times except for urgent matters that can not be delayed.
12. Since true mission work requires a knowledge of the teachings of Christ and of the Church, a weekly study period will be set aside to enable the members to grow in the Faith, and to be more prepared to pass it on to others, both by words and deeds.
13. A periodic spiritual retreat is part of the life-style of the members. At least once a year, a lengthier period for prayer and reflection will be set aside, in consultation with the members of the association.
14. Among the particular virtues and attitudes exercised by the members is the spirit of service, unselfish and total dedication to the souls of others by always being ready to serve out of love for Christ. Faithful to their name, a spirit of sacrifice is also characteristic of the members; in this regard, Fridays are days of penance, with some form of fasting offered up for intentions approved by the community.
15. The practice of the three evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience, with private vows, gives stability, availability and purpose to the life of the members.
16. All members are committed to the virtue of chastity. They will do everything in their power to make all thoughts, words and actions pleasing to Christ. They will dress neatly, in accordance with community customs and policies. The St. Joseph Missionaries of Sacrifice cross which they wear daily will be a sign of their commitment to the sacrificial life.
17. In the spirit of their vow of poverty the members will practice detachment in their attitude to earthly possessions. They will learn to detach themselves from the things they use. Activities undertaken on behalf of the community will be covered by the common fund.
18. Obedience is a virtue which they hold dear, following the example of Christ who was obedient, even unto death, always doing the will of the Father.
19. Their service is carried out in a spirit of humility, recognizing that any good accomplished is due to Christ only, and accepting that all gifts come from God and are for God’s service.\

Ill.    DISCERNMENT AND FORMATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

20. Persons who feel called to membership in the association, are invited to spend some time living in community with the members, to become more familiar with the “St. Joseph Missionaries of Sacrifice” and their life of prayer and sacrifice, and to determine whether they wish to commit themselves to this form of life. This period would last for at least three months.
21. Having completed the initial period of familiarization with the community, those who wish to join the association may request in writing to be allowed to begin their formal formation period. If they are accepted by the community leadership for eventual membership, a minimum of two years will be spent in deepening the sense of their vocation, under the direction of a person appointed by the community leadership for this purpose.
22. This two-year initial formation period, called a novitiate, will have as its focus to give the candidates a greater understanding of their vocation. They will experience the manner of life of the association and form their minds and hearts in its spirit. At the same time, their resolution and suitability are to be tested.
23. At the end of the initial formation period, if the candidate so requests, and if the request is accepted by the community leadership and the members, the candidate is invited to make the promise of membership. The duration of this phase is at least three years, and the promise may be made for three years, or for one-year or other periods, renewable.
24. The promise new members make contains the following core passage. They may add a suitable introduction or conclusion, once it has been approved by the community leadership.

    “I, N.N., having freely requested admission to the St. Joseph Missionaries of Sacrifice, and having been duly accepted by the community leadership, do hereby promise, in the presence of N.N., community leadership, do hereby promise, in the presence of N.N., community leader (or delegate) to observe the statutes of the association faithfully for a period of ..... year(s) (or for life). I pledge myself to employ and develop the gifts received from God, and to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without recoiling before weariness or difficulties, to assist in proclaiming Christ’s Gospel message. I ask St. Joseph to guide me, with purity of intention and with detachment of self for the good of the Church.”

25. After three years, or later, when the member so requests, and is accepted by the community leadership, a definitive promise may be made to the association.
26. If, after making the promise, a member who discerns that his or her place is no longer in the community, may request from the community leadership permission to leave the association. This is granted after consultation with the Spiritual Counsellor.
27. Likewise, if the community leader, with the consent of the councillors, judges that a member is no longer suitable for membership, that person will be asked to leave the community. However, before asking a member to leave, opportunity will be afforded for this member to present his or her case to the community. The Spiritual Counsellor must be consulted in all such instances (canon 308).
28. A member who leaves the community, whether during the stages of initial formation, or after having made promises, can claim nothing from the community for services rendered, or for future considerations.

IV.    GOVERNMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION

29. As a private and independent association of the Christian faithful, the St. Joseph Missionaries of Sacrifice govern themselves in accordance with these statutes and the customs of the community (canon 309).
30. Those who have made at least the first promises have the right to vote for leadership, and to be elected to office (canon 306).
31. An annual assembly of the community will take place to evaluate the life and mission of the group, to consider new forms of apostolic commitment, to make adjustment in the statutes if required, to approve financial statements, and to address important issues facing the group.
32. A community leader will be elected by the members, for a three-year term, renewable, at the annual assembly during which the previous term of office expires. If, at some later date, the community grows beyond one local group, then a local community leader will be elected for this new community, subject to confirmation by the community leader.
33. The assembly will also elect two counsellors to assist the leader in the daily operations of the community. These persons are elected on an annual basis, and may be re-elected for consecutive terms.
34. The assembly will also elect a treasurer, who is not the community leader, and who will be responsible for the management of any temporal goods acquired by the association. However, the treasurer will be accountable to the community leadership and its leader.
35. The community is to be self-supporting financially. The Diocese of Prince Albert or its constituent parts have no financial responsibility in its regard. Appropriate civil arrangements will be made to assure that any goods acquired by the association on its behalf will be duly registered and protected. The diocesan Bishop has the right to ensure that the goods are applied to the purposes of the association (canon 325).
36. At all times, members are accountable to the Bishop of the diocese where they are working, and are subject to his authority in those matters which depend on him (canon 305). The diocesan Bishop will see that there is no dissipation of forces, and that the exercise of their apostolate is directed to the common good (canon 323).
37. In due time, provided it shows strong signs of growth and stability, and with the consent of the Bishop of Prince Albert, the association could request juridic personality, and even the status of a public association of the faithful.
38. If, on the other hand, it were necessary for the association to go out of existence, the members, in assembly, could vote for this. The decision would require confirmation of the Bishop of Prince Albert for it to take effect. Likewise, the Bishop of Prince Albert could suppress the association if its activity gives rise to grave harm to ecclesiastical teaching or discipline, or is a scandal to the faithful (canon 326).
39. In case the association no longer exists, its temporal goods would be given to the Diocese of Prince Albert, or to a recognized charity accepted by the members upon dissolution.

V.    A CALL TO FIDELITY

40. By themselves, statutes do not guarantee that each member will be faithful to the commitment made. However, these statutes spell out guidelines for spiritual and vocational development. Each member has freely and willingly made a commitment to observe them. They are, as it were, an expression of the charism of the association and, as such, offer a way for each missionary to follow Christ in accordance with the vision and inspiration of the original members of the St. Joseph Missionaries of Sacrifice.
    
    In addition, the members will have a preferential devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mother of the Redeemer and of the Church by imitation of Her availablity and being configured to her as the handmaid of the Lord and assuming Her virtuous life.