Barbara Weatherford
Fifteen young ladies from the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, Kansas, were received into the Junior Ladies of Charity (JLOC) in September. The Rev. Michael Mulhearn, CM, Spiritual Advisor for the Ladies of Charity of Metropolitan Kansas City, received the new members during a Mass. After the homily Fr. Mulhearn blessed and individually presented a beautiful silver charm to each new Junior Lady. The charm holds an anchor, cross and heart. The anchor symbolizes how we are anchored to our faith and duty to serve the poor, the cross represents Christ and his death for us, and the heart reminds us that charity is the action of your heart. The girls then prayed the Act of Consecration. A reception followed the Mass and ceremony. The Junior Ladies and their families celebrated the occasion and planned service opportunities.
A major service project will be a partnership with both Giving the Basics and the Blue Valley School District Special Education ACCESS program. Giving the Basics is a national organization promoting distribution of personal care items where needed. The JLOC will work with ACCESS students helping them with drives at several district schools to collect personal hygiene items. The two groups will work together to sort and package the products. Each package will include a note created by the students, for example, “These toothbrushes have been packaged for you with love by the JLOC and ACCESS students.” The packaged items will be distributed to shelters and pantries. Many school districts have also requested help for students in need of personal care items.
Welcome to the newest Junior Ladies of Charity association (Junior Ladies of Charity of Metropolitan Kansas City), and best wishes on your important service project, which combines accompanying a marginalized group of young people as they work to join the mainstream of society and at the same time together serving people living in poverty.
