QUIÉNES SOMOS

Llamados a servir, arraigados en la fe

Los josefitas son una comunidad formada en el servicio, guiada por la fe y comprometida a preservar la vida espiritual, histórica y comunitaria que se nos ha confiado. A través de la oración, el recuerdo y la devoción compartida, honramos nuestro pasado al tiempo que apoyamos la misión que continúa hoy.

The Josephite Mission Statement

St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart, The Josephites, a religious community of Catholic Priests and Brothers, is committed to serving the African American community through the proclamation of the Gospel and our personal witness. Our commitment is expressed through sacramental, educational and pastoral ministry, service to those in need, and working for social justice.

Our History

Since 1871, the Josephites have been in the mission of serving the African American community.

It began with a determined man named Cardinal Herbert Vaughn. In 1866, he opened a school named St. Joseph College of the Sacred Heart located in Mill Hill, England. Cardinal Vaughn’s greatest desire was to send missionaries into all parts of the world. In May 1870, he petitioned the pope for a mission field. The choice was the United States.

For years the archbishop of Baltimore, Martin John Spalding, had been appealing to Rome for help in ministering to the thousands recently released from slavery. In 1871, Pius IX handed down the Negro Oath, which would shape the modern-day Josephites.

In Cardinal Vaughn’s time, every missionary assigned to this duty was to sign this oath, which stated, among other things, that the priest would «vow and solemnly declare that I will make myself the father and servant of the Negroes; nor shall I ever take up any other work which might cause me to abandon, or in any way neglect the special care of the Negroes. So help me God and these His Holy Gospels.»

With the oath in hand, Cardinal Vaughn and four missionary priests set off for Baltimore. Here Cardinal Vaughn consecrated the mission to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and named his missionaries the «Josephites,» because St. Joseph was honored as the «first missionary.» Together Cardinal Vaughn and the priests established a seminary, many parishes, schools and the beginnings of an interracial brotherhood. And so it continued. Missionaries would study at the college in Mill Hill in England and then travel to America for their foreign mission.

However, overseeing an international organization was difficult. So, in 1893, Cardinal James Gibbons of Baltimore offered to accept the Josephites as an independent organization and Cardinal Vaughn gave his consent. Father John Slattery became the first Superior General of the new American Josephites and set the direction of the newly independent society.

What began as a mission to help the newly freed slaves in America, evolved into the broader task of assisting all of the Black community. The Josephites continue in the tradition of Cardinal Vaughn and by the commission of Pope Pius IX, as a society dedicated solely to the service of the African American community.

ARCHIVES

Contact: Carla Canady

Mailing Address:
1200 Varnum Street N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20017

Phone: 202-851-4149 Fax: 202-851-4153

Email: archives@josephite.com

The archives contain the historical records of St. Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart, Inc., also known as “The Josephites” and as “The Josephite Priests and Brothers.”

The archives also hold records, books, bulletins, obituaries, programs, photos, memory books and all other sorts of memorabilia generated in our parishes, schools and other institutions that we staff or serve.

It has huge sections devoted to African American Catholic history, African American history, Mill Hill Missionaries (also known as The Society of Saint Joseph the Sacred Heart for the Foreign Missions) and the communities and civic municipalities in which are found the missions and ministries that we staff.

Our archives are used for many purposes. Some of the more common ones are:

● The safe keeping of all important documents and materials which contain our Josephite history and traditions,
● Biographical information and accomplishments of our priests, brothers, and seminarians,
● A resource arm for the administration and leadership of the Society,
● A resource tool for authors, historians, writers and other archives.

We Josephites have been doing the work of evangelization in the African American community for more than 140 years. The Josephites have served African Americans in their faith journey since 1871. The Josephite story is an exciting part of the history of our country and our church. As we look forward, we can do so in confidence because of partners like you.

To be a Josephite Sustaining Partner is one who has made a commitment to support the work of the Josephites in all aspects of our very existence – recruiting and training young men to be priests and brothers, to care for the sick or retired, and to continue ministering in places and assignments that cannot afford to support a Josephite. That commitment “sustains” us – and is given on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or even annual basis by our partners for this special work. Your support is also a “commitment” – regular and continual – with the understanding that a sustaining partner can opt out at any time they so choose.

If you are already one of the 1,400 “Sustaining Partners” who regularly contribute to the Josephite mission, I thank you and encourage you to renew your pledge today!

If you are not a Sustaining Partner, I ask you to consider making the Josephites a beneficiary of your goodness. Complete this secure donation form to make a continuing gift to the Josephite ministry. Or, you can make a one time “Sustaining Partner” donation if you prefer.

Our Sustaining Partners are our most reliable source of support for the Josephite mission.

Here is why we need your help:

We don’t have enough priests. The basic income that has sustained the work of the Josephites for over a century comes from the support of priests who serve in parishes. The fewer active priests we have, the less sustaining income we have. Today we have 47% fewer priests than we did 25 years ago.
Although our sustaining income has dropped, we have rising costs on two fronts:
- Each year, we have to care for more aging and sick priests, at an average cost of $150.00 per day.
- We still have to find and educate candidates for the priesthood at an average of $50.00 per day in the United States.

As a Sustaining Partner you will receive the benefits of a special Mass said each month for your spiritual and temporal welfare. In addition, you will share in the prayers said by all Josephite priests, brothers and seminarians.

To fill out a form and send it by mail, click here.

Every day of our lives, Josephites are about our mission of evangelization in the African American community. Every day, we are preparing for the future and at the same time taking care of those who have already given totally of their lives in missionary service. Every day, we Josephites pray for our benefactors, living and deceased.

For more information on the Sustaining Partners programs, please contact the Josephite Mission Office:

Mailing Address:

Josephite Headquarters
P.O. Box 65010
Baltimore, MD 21209

Toll Free Phone: 844-249-5730

E-mail: missionoffice@josephite.com