SJF Executive Team, Providence Leaders and Board of Directors at Providence House, Seattle, WA
Aligning Our Mission with Catholic Social Teachings
Guest Post: Gabriela Robles, Chief Mission Integration Officer, South Division and Chief Executive, St. Joseph Fund
St. Joseph Fund was built on the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange’s and Providence St. Joseph’s commitment to serve our dear neighbor without distinction. I am honored to continue this work as SJF strengthens the alignment of our work with Catholic Social Teachings (CST). Human dignity is a fundamental principle of CST that states that all people have an innate dignity that is given freely and cannot be taken away. This is in line with the Sisters’ call to serve the poor and vulnerable, regardless of their faith or background. This inclusive approach is the heart of our advocacy and partnerships.
Rooted in Love for All
Our servant leadership philosophy is rooted in love and drives us to support and empower all communities, reflecting the Catholic commitment to social justice and the common good.
These principles are also expressed in Providence’s broader mission, which inspires us to be “steadfast in serving all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.” We continuously work to infuse this directive into our initiatives, ensuring our work reflects Providence’s foundational values of compassion, dignity, and service.
Beyond Boundaries of Faith and Background
As SJF has evolved, we’ve deepened our understanding of how to build communities that are lively, hopeful, healthy, and just. We believe in the power of community and listen to their wisdom, understand their needs, and invest in their opportunities. Our community partnerships are not restricted to those within the Catholic faith but are universal, connecting to a broad human experience. We believe genuine compassion and the desire to benefit others leads to more positive outcomes.
Flourishing Communities
Our work, inspired by CST and Providence’s mission, isn’t just traditional, transactional grantmaking. We partner with community members to go the distance with them toward wholeness. Whether through disaster response and resilience, education, power-building, or healing and resilience, our efforts are guided by a shared vision of flourishing communities.
I love our tagline, “Rooted in love,” because it signifies our commitment to serving all in need, building lasting relationships based on trust and mutual respect, and moving toward a future where every individual, regardless of their faith or background, has the opportunity to flourish, hope, love, and grow.
Our story is the collective narrative of our communities and those who join us in our mission. Together, we are building a more compassionate and just world, one community at a time.
To learn more about the alignment of SJF, CST, and Providence, consider following us on LinkedIn or signing up for our monthly communication, “Rooted in Love.”
