During the week of April 26 – May 2, 2025, the Associate Community of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ celebrated their first Associate Week.

The week provided an opportunity to collaborate, interact and co-celebrate with fellow Associate Communities all over the Midwest who are members of Midwest Kindred Spirits.   Together we honored what we hold in common, the desire to reflect the charism of our founders/foundresses through the gospel values of love, peace and a sense of belonging to the world.

The week kicked off with the annual Companions on the Journey Retreat with the focus on Curiosity which celebrated the completion of a year of formation for three candidates who entered final discernment of their formal commitment as an Associate.

Also included in this week of celebration were daily shared prayer petitions, The Way of Creation prayer service, and an invitation to all Associate Communities to join an interactive zoom presentation, “Together We Rise: Community in Times of Change. In addition, the local Sisters designated a day of prayer during the week as a gift to the Associate Community. It was a wonderful way to celebrate together the Associate Way of Life!