LCUSA

by Maureen McMillan, LCUSA Executive Administrator

We are all familiar with the term “our Vincentian Family” but it was only two years ago that I came to understand how large and varied the family is, especially here in St. Louis. In 2009, Vincentians the world over began to prepare for the 350th anniversary of the deaths of Sts. Vincent and Louise. Here in St. Louis a committee gathered to plan events to mark the celebration and I was invited to join. When I came to the first meeting I looked around the room and saw not only the names of people and organizations I knew but also several with which I was unfamiliar. Among those at the table were the familiar: Daughters and former Daughters of Charity, affiliates of the Daughters of Charity, representatives of both the local and national St. Vincent de Paul Society, Vincentian priests and Gateway Vincentian Volunteers, but also those I did not know as well – Vincentian Service Corps, Vincentian Marian Youth, and the Association of the Miraculous Medal.

The international Vincentian Family announced in the fall of 2009 that a special project would be launched in Haiti as part of the commemoration. If Vincentians all over the world focused in a concerted way on the dire poverty in that country, meaningful change might be effected. While we waited for the international project to be revealed, the St. Louis family encouraged its members to consider alternative Christmas giving to another program which provides nutritious food to undernourished Haitian children.

When the international family announced the creation of Zafen, it had three aims: to provide microloans to Haitians, to offer scholarships to school children and to restore the badly deforested countryside by planting trees. Our local committee decided that the collection at the anniversary liturgy would be earmarked for the Haiti Reforestation Project. It was our belief that the money we raised would not only purchase badly needed vegetation but would also plant the seeds of hope for a better future in Haiti.

The commemorative celebration was comprised of two events. On August 21, 2010, more than 150 St. Louis area Vincentians turned out to volunteer at sites in the St. Louis area. On Sunday, August 22, more than 600 people shared the Eucharistic celebration at the Cathedral with Fr. Gregory Gay, C.M., Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, as homilist. This event raised $6,500 for Zafen to be matched by the international family for Haiti reforestation.

In November of 2010, the Vincentian Family Collaborators held a U.S. – Canada Vincentian Family Systemic Change Meeting in Belleville, IL. Many of our local family leaders attended this conference and came away charged with training others in the principles and methods of a systemic change approach to combating poverty.

In March 2011 we held a half-day workshop attended by more than 100 St. Louis Vincentians from every branch of our local family. The most powerful portion of the day was a presentation by a staff member of the St. Louis Council of St. Vincent de Paul who detailed his Project Plus Program. He introduced the group to one of his successful clients, Vadicka, who captivated the audience with the story of her struggle and the road to self-sufficiency this program had given her. Attendees left the session with a new vocabulary and a new outlook on their approach to fighting poverty in our community.

These gatherings of the St. Louis Vincentian family have strengthened the bonds of friendship and collaboration and sparked a desire to continue meeting and working together. From that initial workshop has come a new committee which will carry on the work of planning the next gathering. Our vision has expanded beyond the immediate task of orchestrating the events of that year to forging a stronger and more effective relationship for years to come. †

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by Kathleen Sieracki, Servictte Editor

About eighteen months ago, my friends Marilyn Leslie and Sister Mary Grace Higgins, DC, suggested I become a candidate for the LCUSA board of directors. My first reaction was total denial. Nevertheless, after a period of fear and trepidation, consideration and most importantly prayer, I did apply for a director’s position and was elected by delegates from the northeastern region.

Shortly after the election, then President-Elect Lucy Saunders asked for volunteers to proof-read submissions for the Servicette. We each have our own gifts and talents. One of mine is a keen eye for sentence construction, grammar and punctuation. I offered to help as a copy reader. One thing led to another, and here I am as Editor, working with the Editor-in-Chief Lucy Saunders, and our talented Lay-out & Design Editor Elena Miranda.

It’s a challenge for me to succeed previous editors, Father Jack Melito, C.M., and his assistant Betty Tutor, and Janet Karmitzski, who led the most recent re-visioning of the Servicette. I hope to continue many of their ideas, including use of vintage photographs, personality profiles, book reviews and exchange of information and ideas between editors and readers.

The current editorial staff aims to provide a mix of information from the national and international perspective as well as articles from local associations. On the national level, board members want to communicate with you about what they are doing on your behalf, and want to provide the latest information about social justice issues and systemic change projects. You will also find news about other members of the Vincentian family who work with us to advance our common mission.

At the local level, you have stories to tell and pictures to share with fellow Ladies of Charity who are very interested in getting ideas for their local associations. For example, the last issue of the Servicette featured an article on Mary’s Corner, the latest project of the Ladies of Charity of Albany, NY. Kathy Kavanaugh, then-president, submitted the article following a suggestion from Maureen Driskill, vice-president for the northeastern region. Completing the tag-team effort, I decided to visit Mary’s Corner. The enthusiasm, collaboration and sheer joy of the volunteers, including Ellen Boyer, Ellen Bernier, Pam Seward and Alba Giordano, were inspiring.

In this issue, you will find another story about how a Servicette article inspired a link between Ladies of Charity in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. You also have stories to tell and pictures to share from the history of your associations. Please share some of these with us, and twice a year we’ll feature a sampling of vintage photos and the stories that go with them. Beginning in 2012, current members will automatically be able to receive the Servicette at no additional cost. This wider readership will give us the opportunity to form even more bonds among our membership.

Please keep your articles and photos coming. We’ll use as many as space permits. Sometimes, in order to achieve consistency in the language and format within the Servicette, your submission may be edited. However, we will stay true to your story and meaning.

Feel free to contact me any time by email, kandrsieracki@aol.com or postal service, 246 Berryman Dr., Amherst, NY 14226, with comments, constructive criticism and ideas. I’ve already had the pleasure of communicating with several of you during this process, and I’m looking forward to meeting even more Ladies of Charity. Thank you. †

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by Chris Young, Diocese of Salt Lake City

The Saint Olaf Ladies of Charity (LOC) in Bountiful and the Our Lady of Lourdes Ladies of Charity in Salt Lake City distributed 102 backpacks filled with school supplies to children in need as they returned to school. The backpacks were donated to the Ladies of Charity by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) Centerville Humanitarian Service Room. Each of the backpacks contained three notebooks, pencils, colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, a ruler and scissors. The LOC distributed the backpacks to more than 100 children in the 95 families they serve each month by providing them with a supplemental box of food.

The relationship between the LOC and the Humanitarian Service Room began two years ago when the LDS organization’s supervisors, Bennett and Ailsa Peterson, met Daughter of Charity Sister Germaine Sarrazin one day in the Bountiful City Post Office. Sister is the LOC moderator. Bennett approached her thinking that, as a religious sister, “she must serve the poor,” he said. “It’s been a spiritual experience just being associated with her.”

The Humanitarian Service Room doesn’t directly serve the poor, but helps those who do.

“I get emotional when I think about how Sr. Germaine has given 52 years of her life to helping the poor,” said Bennett. “They provide us with gently used books and homemade educational folder games for children,” said Sr. Germaine. “On Mother’s Day and at Christmas, they also give us about 80 large personal care baskets for mothers. They have even given us personal care baskets for men, and each year at Christmas they give us boxes of hand-made comforters, quilts, baby blankets, stocking caps, scarves and gloves.”

The Petersons were asked by the LDS Church to be active in outreach when they were called to supervise the Centerville Humanitarian Service Room. With the help of volunteers and resources, they assist charitable organizations. “Since 2009, we have developed the family personal care baskets, which are small laundry baskets filled with hygiene and grooming items that are put together by LDS Relief Society groups,” Bennett said. “The pattern for the school backpack was originally a big purse, but the Relief Society women refined the pattern into a backpack, a more cool way to wear it,” he said. “We have Relief Society group and Eagle Scouts doing these projects all the time.”

The Ladies of Charity Center of Hope is now easy to find with its new blue awning. They were previously hard to find and almost unknown in their location in North Salt Lake. The North Salt Lake mayor and officials met with the Ladies of Charity officers and Sr. Germaine last October after discovering their presence when they saw a Utah Food Bank truck delivering food. “They wanted to know how they could help, and what we needed most was to make our presence known,” said Sr. Germaine. “The previous awning read Card Sharks. Then because the Utah Food Bank was the recipient of $700,000 from Walmart’s Fighting Hunger contest on Facebook in February, they granted requests to help food pantries. We requested a commercial refrigerator, and it arrived in June.” The Ladies of Charity can now accept and distribute yogurt, butter, cheese, eggs and milk to add to the other food staples such as beans, rice and peanut butter.

The Center of Hope opened as a food pantry in May of 2010, on the second Saturday of each month for four hours for people from North Salt Lake, West Bountiful and Woods Cross. About 15 families receive food from the pantry each month or emergency food boxes for families in need. The St. Olaf LOC supplies about 75 boxes of food to 65 families at an at-risk school. Our Lady of Lourdes LOC delivers 30 boxes to 20 families in their homes, with larger families receiving two boxes of food. Working with LDS has been a very rewarding experience for all of us. †

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The Mobile Ladies of Charity is 100 years old this year and invited everyone to join the celebration. A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop, on Sunday, June 12th at 2:30 pm at Corpus Christi Church. A reception in the atrium followed the Mass. Lucy Ann Saunders, LCUSA President, and Mary Cay Murray, LCUSA Regional Vice-President for the southern region, were present.

In the early 1900s, Bishop Edward Allen, fifth Bishop of the Mobile Diocese, was faced with an urgent problem—the need for help with the care of the poor, the sick and the needy in the area. To alleviate the problem he convened a meeting of the Catholic women in the city on April 19, 1911, Holy Thursday. The ladies responded with great excitement to his request and formed a local confraternity of Ladies of Charity, under the rules laid down in 1617 by the founders St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. The ladies moved swiftly and drafted a constitution and by-laws. Officers were elected and committees appointed, and an application was made to the international office in France. It was approved and the charter, in French, is still a possession of the archdiocese.

Using the rules of St. Vincent, the ladies learned by doing. They visited the sick in hospitals and in their homes. They sought out the poor and unfortunate, giving personal consolation and encouragement. To raise money for their work the ladies did a little bit of everything—cakes and candy were sold, as well as homemade linens and quilts. A benefit entertainment called “The Passing Show” was held at the old Lyrics Theater. For over 30 years the Ladies of Charity joined the Mobile Register to have a Christmas Tree Program for the underprivileged children of Mobile. The Shamrock Sales started during the first 5 years. The Grocery Appeal began in 1930.The various fundraisers, together with dues and donations are the Ladies of Charity sources of income, but the true work never stops, nor do the faith, goodness and zeal of the members. The ladies visit the rest homes throughout the year; Santa leaves a small gift and a homemade stocking at Christmas; the sewing committee makes numerous articles each month; the layette committee sews warm blankets and baby clothes; and monthly contributions are made to the National Service Center. The spiritual work includes prayers for members and family at each meeting. An annual Mass for living and deceased members is held along with benediction and recitation of the rosary.

As the Ladies of Charity celebrate the past and look forward to the future, their pledge is to serve, as their founder did, with humility, simplicity and charity. †

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With a successful 2010 National Assembly behind us, members of LCUSA’s board look forward to following up with associations and members on their needs and future plans. In making our plans as a national board, we will continue to put forth efforts to foster better communications with local associations. I extend a special thank you to the committee members that made the Kansas City National Assembly so meaningful and fulfilling for all of us as members of the Vincentian Family.

The month of October also begins LCUSA’s 2011 Annual Appeal. Your generosity will help support the mission of LCUSA in its service to others. From the 2010 Annual Appeal, contributions were made directly to the Daughters of Charity in their ministry to the people of Japan after the earthquake and tsunami. Funding for scholarships was also given for 20 Haitian school children. LCUSA’s donation to Haiti was doubled by the Vincentian Family as they stand behind the support of its members. We hope that you too will stand behind us as we continue to be there for disaster relief wherever it might be. All our board members have given to the 2010 Annual Appeal and expect to show their support for the 2011 Annual Appeal with 100% participation. No contribution is too small. The Ladies of Charity USA gratefully acknowledge your support and prayers for the 2011 Annual Appeal.

Another area that needs your support, your physical support, is to consider being a candidate for a position on LCUSA’s board for the term of office beginning in 2013. One particular position to be filled in the upcoming elections is treasurer. LCUSA manages all its financial information through the QuickBooks program. Everything is already set up and sorted by account numbers. There is a great need for someone to come forward with either the knowledge of QuickBooks or with a background in accounting to fill that particular position. Director positions will also be available throughout the five regions. For more information contact the National Service Center and Executive Administrator Maureen McMillan will have a regional VP or officer get in touch with you. Your God-given talents are there and with all the graces already received, what better way to serve and make use of your talents than to share your gifts with LCUSA’s board. We need you to play an active part in your national organization. Serving on the board affords the opportunity to share your experience and talents with all our local associations and our extended Vincentian Family.

Anticipating the increase of Servicette subscriptions next year, please start to organize members’ names and addresses on an Excel spreadsheet, setting up individual columns for the first name; last name; street address; city; state; zip code; region. Please note that only the first letter of names and addresses are in caps with the exception of the state abbreviations. The Servicette is LCUSA’s vehicle to provide information valuable to you as members. This quarterly newsletter affords each subscriber ideas on how to attract new members; offers different approaches on ways to serve those less fortunate; provides spiritually uplifting prayers and history about our Vincentian heritage; and publishes book reviews and other treasured articles to inspire you as a Lady of Charity. Quoting a statement written in our Silver Anniversary book (LCUSA’s history of the first 25 years), “Communication, both through the written word and personal contacts, is of the greatest importance to the success of an organization such as LCUSA and its affiliated members on the national level and the local level.” Today, more than ever, those words should resound to all of us on the importance of hearing and reading accounts of what is happening in the lives and work of the Ladies of Charity throughout the United States and the world.

Even though we sometimes feel our impact is lacking the luster and publicity that seems to be all around us, I have seen from my visits so much caring and love spread throughout local communities because of your support and effort. This same feeling has been reiterated by other board members who have visited and enjoyed meeting local association members. The board and I appreciate the welcoming hospitality we have received and look forward to visiting with many more of the local associations.

As Ladies of Charity, we know the meaning of commitment. It is defined by St. Camillus de Lellis “as doing what you said you would do after the feeling you said it in has passed.” We know this is true commitment by all of our standards and it is particularly evident in our daily service to others as Ladies of Charity. You have found your place, a rewarding place, doing the work of Christ in the service of the poor. Thanks for all you do and continue to do for others.

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Over a year ago I decided to give a beard a try. Since that time, two of my aunts have been praying incessantly that it would go; some of the stalwart and faithful ladies at the cathedral parish in my diocese have been hoping that it would go; and any number of people have felt free to make a comment that they hoped it would go.

And now, it’s gone!

Taking off the beard was the result of a beautiful pilgrimage in Poland this past summer. During the pilgrimage, I had the chance to reflect a great deal about what is right about my life and soul and what isn’t right. I then took the opportunity to recommit myself to God to be a better man, a better priest, a better bishop. I made a conscious decision to reconsecrate myself to God through Mary, through our Blessed Mother, through my Blessed Lady.

As I began my journey back home to the United States, I felt I needed to make some outward sign to God to match that inward recommitment. I remembered a practice in the Old Testament called the “Nazarite rite” where a Jewish man who dedicated himself to the Lord would not cut any of his hair—even facial—as a sign of that vow to God. I decided to do the reverse—to shave the beard as a sign of my recommitment to God through Mary, a sign of my need to take greater notice and have greater care for the flock which Our Lord has placed in my care.

Once the beard went, it was interesting how many people didn’t even notice. My dear aunt, my godmother who never, ever spared from telling me each time she saw me how much she wanted the beard to go, didn’t notice it gone. My dear goddaughter, Carla, who was so forthright about her dislike from the very beginning that she persisted in calling me “Furry,” didn’t notice that it was gone. Even dear Janice, the woman who cuts my hair and trimmed the beard every two weeks, didn’t notice until she was about to take the clippers to my face.

Interesting, isn’t it? It seems to me that we all find ourselves moving so fast through life that we oftentimes don’t notice the obvious. Whether it’s someone sitting next to us on a plane, a crucifix hanging on our living room wall, a stop sign at a familiar intersection, or the good that someone does for us, we sometimes as very busy human beings simply don’t notice.

While you, like my aunt or my goddaughter or my hair cutter, may have an opinion about beards, I ask all of you to pray for me that I may be true to my recommitment to God through Mary, and that by taking greater notice of the needs of our Church, I might be a better shepherd.

My first step in that pledge – after shaving – is to slow down and better open my ears and eyes to those around me. Might I invite you to do the same. Perhaps that’s the kind of recommitment God wants from us and what we need for God.

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The Ladies of Charity St. Vincent/Guardian Angel held their second annual WALK from 9:00–11:00 am on Saturday, September 10 at Carondelet Park in St. Louis, Missouri. There were one and three mile routes. They were blessed with good weather, which was a pleasant surprise after such a hot summer. This year everyone was asked to bring a pair of gently worn tennis shoes for the homeless. The Arch Rival Roller Derby Club sent six volunteers to lead the WALK. Many of the children brought their skates to follow them. The disc jockey donated his time again and sent everyone off to music.

The membership event was a success with more people participating than last year. It has turned into a fundraiser as well as a membership drive. The money is still coming in but it looks like the ladies raised about $4500.

The event is truly spreading the Ladies of Charity mission to the community. Panera Bread as well as grocery stores in the area contributed refreshments. The event would not have been possible without the help of so many wonderful volunteers. Thanks are due to all who supported this WALK!

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The Ladies of Charity of Metropolitan Kansas City hosted an assembly we will all remember. The theme, “Embrace It – Drive It – Change It” was reflected by the speakers and a variety of workshops ranging from leadership on a governing board, providing information on treatment for addiction and insight on the needs of young urban boys, to focusing on global loan opportunities. The presentations, workshops and round table discussions were directly linked to members discovering for themselves the meaning of “it.”

Following the opening Mass, we were honored to have a personal welcome by the Honorable Sylvester James, Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri.

Guest speakers and their topics were: Frs. Richard and Robert Gielow, CM, “I Could Have Done More;” Natalie Monteza, Secretary General, International Association of Charities (AIC), “Changes being made on the International Level;” Sr. Caroljean Willie, SC, “Characteristics of Systemic Change;” and Kristy Childs, founder of Veronica’s Voice, on the discrimination faced by American women who have been victimized by prostitution. The speakers were very motivating as they focused on a systemic change approach to working with those living in poverty.

Fellowship and the renewing of friendships, along with new ones being formed, will provide for better communication in the future within and among the different regions.

At the conclusion of the assembly, fourteen grants were presented totaling $8,330. The Junior Ladies of Charity were recognized and certificates were presented to the moderators for the Junior Associations.

To Albe McGurk, Gayle Johnson and their entire committees, we thank you and congratulate you on a very successful national assembly. Your kindness and hospitality were appreciated by all who attended. †

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The following is taken from the Fall 2011 Servicette

Mary Ann Dantuono, Advocacy Committee

“We should assist the poor in every way, and do it both by ourselves and by enlisting the help of others.”

—St. Vincent de Paul

In establishing the Systemic Change Commission of the Vincentian Family in 2005, the Very Rev. Gregory Gay, C.M., stated, “We are called upon to start actions, especially political actions, to eradicate the causes of poverty and unite in solidarity for justice in favor of the poor, because unjust systems created by selfish hearts have caused social, political and economic poverty.” This call to action has been taken seriously by the National Board of the Ladies of Charity USA. We began by studying the systemic change methodology in Seeds of Hope, in the publications of formation #11 and #12 and the materials that are available on FamVin.org. We began to develop ideas that could help LCUSA become more effective in responding to Fr. Gay’s call. One result of the Board’s study was the establishment of the Advocacy Committee of the Board in the spring of 2009.

We also participated in the Systemic Change Commission of the Vincentian Family’s convening of North America (US, Canada, Virgin Islands) that took place in November of 2010 in Belleville, IL. This meeting sought to introduce and/or deepen the understanding of the process of systemic change as a way of promoting on-going development of persons living in poverty and to equip leadership and trainers with the necessary tools (knowledge, convictions, and skills). It also began a process to develop regional strategies for continued training in systemic change and to provide opportunities for inter-Family exchange of experience and plans for future collaboration.

In many ways the meeting was a great success. As we shared our stories, we advanced in knowledge and deepened relationships with the various branches of the Vincentian family. From that convening many local meetings and trainings have taken place across North America.

On October 20-23, 2011, in Indianapolis, IN, the family will gather to continue this work. At “Vincentian Family Together Building Bridges Out of Poverty” both the leadership and members of the various branches can come together to pursue the opportunity to learn about the Ruby Payne and Philip De Vol methodology to end poverty in America. The theme promises great opportunities for our service to persons living in poverty. In addition to the goal of helping us to understand generational poverty, this meeting will also explore strategies for transforming local communities and continue to promote collaboration in the Vincentian Family.

We are challenged as members of the family to engage in a systemic change approach. What does that mean to us as the Ladies of Charity? We have been focusing on traveling the “Path of Caritas” with two feet: the foot of Charitable Works and the foot of Social Justice, an advocacy approach. As Vincent stated “Charity embraces Justice.” The Systemic Change approach also requires collaboration.

Collaboration is a 21st century model of organizational leadership. It stresses teamwork rather than competition. It begins with an assumption that each individual and organization has talents and skills to offer to the mission but no one individual or organization has it all. In this complex world we need to partner with others to effectively serve persons and communities living in poverty. In the current environment when needs are increasing and resources are diminishing, it offers us a direction of hope.

Collaboration encourages us to:

• develop relationships to engage in the work of charity and justice;
• learn the strengths and weaknesses of our partners including persons living in poverty;
• plan and develop projects together;
• pool our resources or work together to secure resources as partners for joint ventures and projects;
• consider that who we work with is as important as what we do;
• be open to new organizational structures where clearly defined and interrelated roles are possible and probable; and reflect together on our efforts so we can continually refocus ourselves on the 21st century mission of the followers of Vincent.

Collaboration was the style of both St. Vincent and St. Louise. They saw need and created opportunities for others to assist. Our own founding as the Confraternities of Charity is an example of how to engage and organize collaborators in the work of service for persons who suffer poverty, illness or oppression. As followers of Vincent and Louise, we must seek collaboration with the branches of the family and other groups who share our values to achieve the goals of alleviating the conditions of people living in poverty, of eradicating poverty, and changing the systems that perpetuate poverty in the 21st century. We will succeed if we believe sincerely as did Vincent and Louise, that more is accomplished jointly than can be accomplished individually. †

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The following was taken from the Fall 2011 Servicette

Marge Fiala, Diocese of San Jose

A man of humble beginnings, St. Vincent became a spiritual master and extraordinary teacher of the faith. As St. Vincent de Paul served the vulnerable of his time, he encouraged long periods of prayer and meditation before social action in order to know God’s will. His legacy to us should be his desire for true conversion to God and following the divine will. Taking time to pray and to reflect will lead us to the holiness that St. Vincent de Paul experienced, “Behold, now, how little is needed to become a Saint? Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing, on every occasion, what God wills.”

In what I do, is it my will or God’s will?

St. Vincent, pray for me that I will take the time to seek, recognize, accept, and follow God’s will.

He was convinced that Christ crucified died for all, and that Jesus wants to save the world. This belief is so instrumental in helping us discover Christ in those we serve.

Do I see Christ in those I serve?

St. Vincent, pray that my eyes will be open to see Christ in those I serve.

The diversity of the Church, the diversity of each one of us, coming together to serve the poor in so many ways resonates the Body of Christ at work in this world. In celebration of St. Vincent de Paul’s feast day, let us rejoice in the calling God has given us as a Lady of Charity following the Vincentian way.

(Excerpts taken from Columbia Magazine 2007 and various St. Vincent de Paul writings) †

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