Inside page of 2026 Jubilee Mass program of the Sisters of St. Joseph.On October 10th the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida celebrated Jubilee, an annual celebration of the religious congregation’s founding in October, 1650, in Le Puy, France. This year marked 376 years from our original founding, and 160 years since eight French Sisters arrived in St. Augustine, Florida at the invitation of Bishop Augustin Verot, the first bishop of St. Augustine, to educate and evangelize the children of the freed slaves following the Civil War. The Diocese of St. Augustine was not established until 1870.
Since our founding is marked on October 15th, the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, the jubilee celebration is usually held on a Saturday near that date. This year, for the first time that I know of in recent history, there was only one jubilarian - Sister Carol Stovall. She entered the Congregation in 1976, fifty years ago, and was celebrating her golden jubilee. Bishop Erik Pohlmeier of St. Augustine presided and preached at the jubilee Mass held at 10 a.m. in St. Anastasia Church. A reception followed in Celebration Hall of the parish.
Jubilarian Sister Carol Stovall with Bishop Erik Pohlmeier of St. Augustine following the Oct. 10th Jubilee Mass at St. Anastasia. Sister Carol was delighted to have family and friends join her and the Congregation at the Mass and reception. Nephews and nieces came from North Carolina and Ruskin, Florida, and friends from Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Connecticut.
While October included a joyful Jubilee celebration, the next weekend, on Oct. 18, Sister Eileen Marie Flanagan, the final living Irish-born member of our Congregation, died. Our Congregation was blessed over the years with many Irish Sisters, just as the presbyterate in Florida was blessed with many Irish priests. Sister Eileen Marie had visited with family members who came from Ireland recently before she died. The Congregation was able to live-stream her funeral services in our Motherhouse chapel on Facebook for the family in Ireland.
Sister Eileen Marie Flanagan died on October 18, 2026.