“The Building Does Not Hold The Memories, We do.”
By Sister Colleen Crossen, CSJ
One day, while driving out of Port Vue, I stopped on Edmundson Street to look and weep over the ruins of St. Joseph Church and School building. Suddenly, I was consoled as I recalled a line from the TV show, Call the Midwife: “this house does not hold the memories, we do.”
As I drove back to my community in Baden my heart was flooded with memories of growing up at St. Joseph, Port Vue. We were blessed with wonderful priests who led us through the changes of Vatican II and beyond. We were blessed by the dedicated service of the Felician Sisters who not only taught us to read and write but also shared their charism of simplicity and humility. But most of all we were blessed to know and to live “church” as the people of God.
I often thank God for the roots of my faith journey: YOU, the people of God have nourished and encouraged my vocation to be a Sister of Saint Joseph.
May you continue to model the virtues of Saint Joseph, whose faith and trust in God enabled him to follow his dreams in quiet, hidden ways, always for the glory of God.
Sister Colleen Crossen’s reflection was written for publication in the bulletin of Saints Joachim and Anne Parish. Sister Colleen’s home parish, St. Joseph in Port Vue, merged with St. Eugene in Liberty Borough in 1993 to form St. Mark’s Parish. Mass continued to be celebrated at the St. Joseph site until St. Mark Parish was merged into the new Saints Joachim and Anne Parish, which has worship sites in Elizabeth Twp., Glassport and Liberty Borough.