Pilgrimage to Le Puy, France

My name is Isabella Lemus, and I am looking to raise money to help fund my trip to France during Easter 2023.

I am a freshman at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP). The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet founded OLP in 1882. I have the fantastic opportunity to go on a pilgrimage to the site where the Sisters of Saint Joseph were founded, in Le Puy, France, in 1650. The Sisters arrived in Carondelet, Missouri, in 1836. They continued to move west, where they founded OLP in San Diego.

This pilgrimage aims to give us, the students, a historical tradition to learn more about “Unifying Love,” meaning how the Sisters of Saint Joseph view their ministry in terms of meeting the needs of the people of their time. One thing the Sisters of Saint Joseph did was teach young women how to make lace to empower them and get them out of poverty. This is part of our school’s symbolism. At OLP, we focus on how to serve the “dear neighbor” without distinction, meaning treating others with kindness and respect, even if you don’t agree with them or don’t know them. You still are there for them if they need help.

During this pilgrimage, we will walk the cobblestone paths that the Sisters of Saint Joseph walked in 1650. We will also be appreciating the French language and culture. I will have to learn some French prior to my trip. This pilgrimage will help me grow closer to God and develop a deeper relationship with Him.