Sisters of St. Joseph and the Selma Civil Rights Movement

Valuing Service, Social Responsibility and Integrity

In the early 1960s, members of the Sisters of St. Joseph — the founding congregation of St. Joseph's University — went to Selma, Alabama, to support the civil rights of African Americans. They endured objects being thrown at them and witnessed brutal, vicious acts of racism. 

The sisters helped in Selma because they felt a responsibility to serve those in need. Their actions mirrored the mission of St. Joseph's University — by valuing service, social responsibility and integrity. 

Members of Sisters of St. Joseph congregations in Brentwood and Rochester gathered in June 2020 for a St. Joseph's University live Zoom presentation of “A Conversation with the Sisters of St. Joseph and Their Work in the Selma Civil Rights Movement.”

The sisters shared compelling memories of their experiences working in and around Selma during the early 1960s. Watch the video above to learn more about their work and how it exemplifies the mission of St. Joseph's University.