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Joy Jensen SL

Joy is a vowed member, and she resides in the Motherhouse infirmary. Previously, Joy was a community organizer in St. Louis at St. Alphonsus Liguori “The Rock” Church, a historic Catholic church with a predominately African-American faith community. She also did some teaching at St. Louis University after receiving her doctorate. She enjoys reading American history and spy thrillers. Joy also enjoys knitting.
Home » Archives for Joy Jensen SL

Why contemplation?

By Joy Jensen SL / October 1, 2023 /
An imperfect yellow cross graphic with a purple circle in the center.

The mystic sits for the universe. William Johnston The tenets of democracy are under attack. There are groups running over democracy or trying to hijack it. Fundamental freedoms are under…

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Spotlight on Loretto Wisdom Women – June 2023

By Joy Jensen SL / June 1, 2023 /
Bright fuchsia flowers in bloom on a sunny day.

Editor’s note: We are featuring interviews of Loretto Community elders. We are grateful to the sisters and to Joy Jensen for sharing wonderful snapshots of our beloved Community members. This…

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Spotlight on Loretto Wisdom Women

By Joy Jensen SL / May 1, 2023 /
Woman with bob haircut, bangs, and glasses smiles for a picture outside in a striped collared shirt.

Editor’s note: We are featuring interviews of Loretto Community elders. We are grateful to the sisters and to Joy Jensen for sharing wonderful snapshots of our beloved Community members. April…

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Spotlight on Loretto wisdom women – April 2023

By Joy Jensen SL / April 1, 2023 /
A short-haired with glasses woman smiling in a grey sweater at a table indoors.

Editor’s note: We are featuring interviews of Loretto Community elders. We are grateful to the sisters and to Joy Jensen for sharing wonderful snapshots of our beloved Community members. Today…

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Spotlight on Loretto wisdom women

By Joy Jensen SL / March 1, 2023 /
Woman in bright teal blouse and nametag smiles brightly indoors.

Editor’s note: We are featuring interviews of Loretto Community elders. We are grateful to the sisters and to Joy Jensen for sharing wonderful snapshots of our beloved Community members. The…

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Spotlight on Loretto wisdom women

By Joy Jensen SL / February 1, 2023 /
Woman wearing glasses smiles for a portait photo sitting in a red chair.

Editor’s note: In the coming months interviews of Loretto Community elders will be featured in Interchange. We are grateful to the sisters and to Joy Jensen for sharing wonderful snapshots…

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Deep Incarnation

By Joy Jensen SL / February 1, 2022 /
A small brown and cream sparrow, examining their surroundings.

Standing in the creek water of Coleman’s run, Susan Classen, during her videotaped Assembly 2021 presentation, reminded us that Loretto land is millions of years old. Loretto land has evolved…

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Anchoresses in the Infirmary: Life During the Pandemic

By Joy Jensen SL / May 5, 2021 /
Long, four story brick building with a cross above the entrance.

In March 2020, life changed for us residents of the infirmary. In medieval England anchorites and anchoresses lived alone in stone cells attached to a church and had the mission…

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In the ‘Land of Knobs’

By Joy Jensen SL / June 10, 2019 /

If you drive to Bardstown, Ky., on Route 49 from Loretto, you will see a high, cone-shaped hill rising from the surrounding trees near the hamlet of Holy Cross. Everyone…

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A Reflection on Ask the Beasts

By Joy Jensen SL / May 8, 2019 /

A few years ago a juvenile red-tailed hawk was injured while flying into an electrical line. It died of starvation. I searched and found it under a tree. I stroked…

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Our Loretto Motherhouse Farm Is an Ecosystem of Its Own

By Joy Jensen SL / February 1, 2019 /

Did you know that our Loretto Motherhouse farm is an ecosystem? Remember that an ecosystem is made up of living and non-living things that interact and exchange energy. A farm…

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The Folk Architecture of Little Loretto

By Joy Jensen SL / November 1, 2018 /

BLittle Loretto (the first Loretto Motherhouse, located near St. Charles, Ky.) is an example of Upland South folk architecture in early 19th century Kentucky. Folk architecture is architecture built for…

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