New Faith, New Growth, New Orleans

by Sarah, discerner

From left: Sarah; Melissa; Father Jim Osendorf, CM; Lien; Jessica; Maricris; Sister Theresa Sullivan;
Sister Denise LaRock; and Sister Lisa Laguna taking a beignet break at Café du Monde in New Orleans.

As a discerner of religious life for more than a year, I was very fortunate to be asked to attend the Search and Serve in New Orleans. There were four other girls who attended and we shared our stories, our faith and our discernment journeys—which was very helpful because we realized our struggles and our questions were not crazy! We realized we were not alone.

Search and Serve combines service projects and fun with prayer and reflection to aid in vocation discernment. Our first day started off right with the celebration of the Eucharist in a beautiful, intimate little chapel in the House of Charity, where we stayed for the week. We reflected on Pope Francis' writing, particularly The Joy of the Gospel and the letter to religious. We had a wonderful mini-retreat day, learning various forms of prayer, and had time for private reflection and prayer.

We spent some time exploring New Orleans. One of the Sisters of Charity brought us through the Upper and Lower Ninth Wards. Compared to the beautiful houses stacked side by side in the Upper Ninth, the Lower was a sad ghost town. There was a glimmer of hope and some rebuilding, but it showed how truly devastating Hurricane Katrina was to the community 10 years ago. It made the stories real.

We were blessed to meet several persons who were homeless—lovingly called "guests"—at the Rebuild Center. I spoke with many of them as they waited for services Rebuild provides, including showers, Internet access, lunch, general or mental health clinic visits, or just having a safe place to site and escape the sun. In my conversations, I learned these guests had jobs and lives and this homelessness is a temporary condition—that people like you or me could easily have the same bad luck. They told me one after the other that they were "real people." What does that really mean, though? To me, it meant they were human, worthy of respect and love. They were worthy of companionship. They were worthy of me.

We visited the museum at Carville, the former national leprosarium. The Daughters of Charity served people with leprosy thrown out of their homes and towns. They touched the "untouchables" when no one else would. They were instrumental in caring and finding a cure for leprosy, or Hansen's Disease. I loved seeing pictures of Sisters and patients. We touched history in the chapel and toured the grounds.

We also spent time visiting with residents at the Chateau nursing home. I realized once again the humanity and "realness" of these folks. They were young once and have a story—or stories, I should say! They were grateful to have our attention and share with us, and we were glad recipients! We walked out of there with many sweethearts promising to pray for us.

It wasn't all work and prayer, though! We went to the French Quarter and did touristy things like eat beignets and creole spiced foods, and walking along the river. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the wonderful people around me!

During this time I felt a call deep within me to be present for the poor, marginalized and forgotten, to listen to their stories and their actual needs, not just what society says they need. These guests, residents and memories are now a part of me, and I want to continue to serve and be present—to find Christ in the encounters. Through these experiences and talking one-on-one with my fellow discerners, Daughters of Charity, Sisters of Charity and the Vincentian priest who celebrated mass each morning, I grew immensely in my discernment journey and my relationship with Christ.

I am truly thankful for all the hearts and hands that played a part in that wonderful week. I would definitely recommend participating in this experience of a lifetime.

Love is Our Mission, Love is Our Name

by Sister Lisa Laguna, D.C.

"You tell us that to love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete: It means seeing in every person the face of the Lord to be served, to serve him concretely. And you are, dear brothers and sisters, the face of Jesus." –Pope Francis Homily, May 21, 2013

"Let us love God, but let it be at the expense of our arms and in the sweat of our brow." –St. Vincent de Paul, V11, L25

"...A deep love for God in this life which will be shown by practicing His goodness, gentleness and charity toward my neighbor." –St. Louise de Marillac, L-A7

It's easy for us to think of "charity" as good works. People work with charities to help others, we have charitable giving, and so on. From a biblical sense and in the minds and hearts of our founders, charity is used in its original way: love—generous love—love of God lived out in us, bearing fruit for others, especially those who are poor. Is this the mission Pope Francis is talking about?

Jesus says it's easy to love those who love us back. He invites us to love our enemies. That's love. That's charity (Luke 6:32–35). "No greater love has a person than to lay down one's life for a friend" (John 15:13). No greater love! That's charity: Love lived out beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones, beyond the frontiers that separate us, beyond those who love us back, beyond those who even recognize our love or sacrifice. Is this kind of love possible? We absolutely believe it is!

This is the charge for all Christians. However, it is our life and our name as Daughters of Charity.

"Therefore, you must live in conformity with the name you bear, since it's God who has given this name to the Company... Notice it was the people who, seeing what you were doing and the service of our first Sisters rendered to the poor, have given you this name... Therefore, preserve it carefully; strive always to have the robe of charity, of which the signs are love of God, love of our neighbor, and love of our Sisters, for fear that God may erase your names from the book of life." –St. Vincent de Paul, VX, C93

Love is our mission. Love is our name.

Today, Pope Francis is challenging us to love in that same way. Love beyond! The theme of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia is "Love is Our Mission"—not a feeling, not only words, but our mission—what we are sent out to do and be, what we do and who we are! When we do love, we are living out the great virtue of charity. Let us keep each other in prayer. Let us pray that we can live out this call to love, to live in charity, to serve Christ in our brothers and sisters. Let us do this in generous love.

We hope to see you in Philly!

Celebrating Our Vows: Sister Meg

As we prepare to renew our vows this year, three Sisters share their perspective about our annual vow renewal. Read yesterday's post by Sister Joanne and check in March 25 for the last post in the series.

Part II by Sister Meg Kymes, D.C.

Sister Meg Kymes,
4 years vocation

When I was beginning formation with the Daughters I was invited by the local community I lived with to come to their Renovation (Vow Day) Mass. I remember sitting in the back of the chapel surrounded by the Sisters I lived with and other Daughters from the area. After the homily the priest invited the Sisters to renew their vows. All at once everyone in the chapel, except for me and the priest, stood for a few moments, not saying a word, then sat down again and Mass continued. I thought to myself, "What just happened?"

Today, I am a Daughter of Charity, but am considered "under vows," which simply means I have not yet made my vows for the first time.* Most days my life doesn't look any different from the other Sisters I live with. I wear blue and white just like they do, I go to chapel and pray the same prayers they do, I go to my ministry every day. Nothing seems different at first, but I can't vow my life to my Lord like my Sisters do. I have signed over everything I owned before I came to the community and feel like the vows are part of my life, but I can't pray the same words they do every March 25. Instead I try to live out the vows to the best of my ability by practicing chastity, poverty, obedience and serving my masters, the poor, as my Sisters do.

On March 25, I pray for my Sisters around the world renewing their vows and pray to our Lord that when my time comes, I can say my own vows to the Lord and mean them with my whole heart.

*Daughters of Charity are 5-7 years vocation before they make vows for the first time.

Celebrating Our Vows: Sister Joanne

As we prepare to renew our vows this year, three Sisters share their perspective about our annual vow renewal. Check in March 24 and March 25 for more posts.

Part I by Sister Joanne Vasa, D.C.

Sister Joanne Vasa,
39 years vocation

March 25 is the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the feast day that honors the angel's announcement to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she was the one chosen by God to bring Jesus Christ into the world. This is also the day thousands of Daughters of Charity around the world renew their commitment to a life of service of the poor, poverty, chastity and obedience. As a Society of Apostolic Life, the Daughters make annual, simple vows. This is not simply a refreshing of an original commitment, but rather a new pledge each year.

One of the ways I imagine the vows of the Daughters of Charity is to think of them as "pillars" that support my ministry and everyday life in the community. From the early days of the Sisters in the 17th century, the vows were seen as a framework to support them in their efforts to serve the poor. Making vows was a way to ensure the way of life and ministry of the Sisters would continue and not weaken with time.

How does this happen for me today? I think of poverty, chastity and obedience as three supporting columns and my service of the poor as the surface or "arena" where I respond to God's call each day. In fact, these structures are so much a part of my everyday life I often forget their impact on me. The time of vow renewal puts them front and center. Poverty is a commitment to embrace a simple lifestyle and a means of being in solidarity with poor persons around the world. Chastity places the person of Jesus Christ as first in my life and ensures all other relationships flow from that primary one. This makes me more conscious of how I proclaim the power of this relationship in each interaction as a celibate woman. Obedience–not a popular subject these days–challenges me to offer my service for the common good of the people I serve, the Church and the community. This means I choose God's will freely, no matter the cost. These three pillars are not so much "what I do," but really form the fabric of who I am as a Daughter of Charity. It's one package!

In my ministry I encounter persons who are homeless, people seeking a deeper relationship with God and our own Sisters discerning God's call in their lives. What I notice in these three diverse populations is they have something in common: They have a strong desire to be "at home with God." For me, the vows are an anchor around which I can extend myself in service to each person, confident in the way God will be present. Promises give stability and purpose. If I can be a source of encouragement and a person who deeply listens, then the vows are doing what they do best: giving meaning and direction to my life.

I am grateful for the vows because they both test and stretch me; they affirm me some days, but most often they remind me authentic gospel living does not come without cost. I pray for the grace to continue letting them provide the basis for "washing the feet" of those I serve.

A Life of Surprises

Sister Mary Walter Boyle shares a bit about her life of ministry as a Daughter of Charity.

Yes, my apostolic life of serving the poor has taken me all over the world!

As a young nurse entering the Community, little did I know the wonderful roads I would travel. While serving in medical nursing and seven years in psychiatric nursing, I earned my bachelor and master degrees.

My next exciting 37 years in hospital administration began in Washington, D.C., as we witnessed the Cuban crisis, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s March and sadly, President John Kennedy's assassination. Then over many years, my apostolates took me to hospitals in New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. I was also privileged to help raise money for building two hospitals for the poor, which included trips to Haiti and three trips to Sarajevo, Bosnia. St. Boniface Hospital in Haiti and St. Vincent's Hospital in Bosnia serve many poor.

And now my prayer apostolate at St. Louise House in Albany continues as I remember the poor and our Sisters serving in missions throughout the Province of St. Louise and around the world!

Are you ready for a life of surprises as a Daughter of Charity?

Responding to the Call at the Border

Sister Mary Ellen stands with donations of papooses
for young mothers at the border. More than
100 donations were received within two weeks.

Sister Mary Ellen Lacy, D.C., shares about her time serving at the border this summer. 

In spring, I was asked to attend a human trafficking conference. I was haunted by the ease with which a trafficker eyes his victim and cajoles her to follow him into a nightmare. Afterward, I was asked to present human trafficking legislation at the Daughters of Charity Provincial Assembly. As I prepared, I included federal protections for trafficked as well as unaccompanied children.

Like most immigration advocates, I was monitoring the increasing numbers of kids at the border and my concern had been growing. I wanted everyone to know there were established protections for these kids so Sisters might be able to guide them properly. By June, unaccompanied kids were in the news everywhere and I feared they would be ripe for traffickers. I prayed we would respond with the generosity of the Poor.

At our Assembly, some Sisters put up a sign for anyone who wanted to attend an ad hoc meeting regarding the children. About 70 Sisters sacrificed their chance to socialize, rest or take in the sights of St. Louis. They wanted to talk about helping these kids. We shared knowledge about the issue, established an email list and resolved to continue the discussion. Almost 20 volunteered to be sent to Texas that week. Sister Isabel called Catholic Charities in El Paso and was told we could put volunteers in a holding pattern. Things seemed to be under control.

After the Assembly, the group exchanged emails about happenings down south and different service opportunities. We kept our community council aware of our prayers, dreams and ideas. Within two weeks, three of us were granted the initial privilege of going to the border to serve in various ministries. We left within 72 hours of appointment of our posts of service.

I'm in awe by the ease with which God eyes the Daughters and cajoles them to follow Him, once again, onto a road less travelled, to realize the dream of sweet charity and divine justice for His Poor.

I was assigned to live in Harlingen, Texas, to work at a legal assistance clinic for immigrants. My other companions, Sister Sherry and Sister Janina, ministered at the shelter in McAllen. They served as interpreters and companions to young families. As usual, we were sent to serve the Poor and, as usual, we met Jesus every day.

We gathered information, prayed and waited until we came to believe it was time to act. When one mother was not allowed to have one of her three children stay with her because she couldn't afford an extra bed, I told her story and was overwhelmed by the number of people willing to give her money to buy one. Amazing things happen when you embrace the Spirit's momentum and allow Providence to be your guide. God wanted all three of us there so He paved the way. We just had to walk the road He laid. When we did, we experienced that familiar gratitude and peace that follows true surrender to His will.

Want to serve at the border with us? Join us for Vocation Border Immersion in El Paso Jan. 3-8, 2015. 

Hands and Feet of Christ

Michelle Hoffman is a discerner with the Daughters of Charity. She shares what has been integral to her discernment journey. Please join us in praying for Michelle as she discerns God's call.

As I have been discerning my call to religious life, a song by Matthew West called "Do Something" has really stopped me in my tracks.

There are days I wake up and think about all the problems in our world and why God lets those things happen. If I want to make a difference in the world then I need to stand up and "do something."

That's exactly what I got to do for a week with the Daughters of Charity on the Search and Serve retreat in East St. Louis, Ill.

During this week we spent time in prayer and reflection but also got to "do something" about the problems of this world. We served at St. Vincent de Paul Parish where we truly saw a variety of Vincentians working together serving lunch and dinner to the poor, making care packages for the homeless and giving away clothing. We also visited social service agencies, cleaned a bus transformed into a good truck for the homeless, and visited and cleaned a women's shelter.

Michelle (center) serves with Martha (left) and Cynthia (right)
at a women's shelter during Search and Serve 2014.

It was great to see people every day "doing something" to alleviate some of the pain in this world. This one week helped me open my eyes that I want to do more than I have been to serve the poor because, yes, one week helps, but it's an everyday problem. I want to be part of the solution and do something instead of doing nothing.

Through my discernment journey I have been looking for a religious order that serves the poor in many different ways. The Daughters truly embody service to the poor in everything they do. Through this week I saw how the Vincentian charism is lived out, not only through Daughters of Charity but through the Congregation of the Mission, Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Ladies of Charity. Those who embody this charism show dignity and care to each person they come in contact with, just like they are meeting Jesus. I know now I am being called to "do something" with my life by applying to become a Daughter of Charity.

Who wants to change the world with me? Together, with Christ, we can change the world.

Vincentian Family Members Join Us for Our Next Holy Hangout

It's important to work together toward a common goal, and we are blessed to have brothers and sisters in the Vincentian Family as part of our team!

For our next live chat on YouTube, Holy Hangout will feature some members of that team as we all talk about our collaboration to serve the poor together. This is a great time to ask questions about our charism and different projects and efforts we take part in to help each other help others.

Our panel includes:

• Father Memo Campuzano, C.M.
• Sister Mary Frate, D.C.
• Karen Hawkins, Society of St. Vincent de Paul/affiliate
• Father Jay Jung, C.M.
• Sister Elizabeth Riddell, D.C.

Ask questions on our Facebook Page or by using #HolyHangoutDC on Twitter, and we'll answer them live on YouTube Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. CDT! If you can't join us, the conversation will be available on our YouTube channel.

• More about how to "Hangout" with us.

Daughter of Charity Named Person of the Year in Macon

What does it take to be Person of the Year in 2013? In Macon, Ga., it takes someone making a difference.

Sister Elizabeth Greim, D.C. (Credit: Woody Marshall/The Telegraph, Macon, GA)

Sister Elizabeth Greim, D.C., was selected as that someone by Macon's news publication, The Telegraph. As one of the key catalysts who launched Daybreak, a center for homeless in the Macon area, Sister Elizabeth's ability to reach out to those in need and maintain collaborative efforts to meet those needs is credited for her selection, according to The Telegraph.

Read The Telegraph's story about Sister Elizabeth here.

After Daybreak opened in late 2012, the center became a place for filling gaps for those who were unable to make ends meet. Daybreak functions as a resource to come in and have breakfast, get ready for work, use a computer, hunt for a job, and find help for a variety of other needs.

The communications center provides phone and Internet access.

From a quick bite to eat to getting ready for the day, the homeless can
stop by Daybreak as a resource for needs.

Daybreak provides a place for Macon's homeless to prepare and advance.

Daybreak is located on Walnut Street in Macon.

Do you know Sister Elizabeth? Share your congratulations and stories in the comments.

Volunteer with Vincentians in 2014

Looking to volunteer through a Catholic service opportunity?

Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM) is accepting applications for missions in Kenya and Ethiopia in 2014. Applicants must be 21-35 years old and able to spend 4-6 weeks on mission.

Apply for 2014 missions by Jan. 25, 2014. Selections will be made in February.

Daughters of Charity, VLM, and the Vincentian Family in Ethiopia and Kenya work together to serve the poor in those countries. VLM's website says 72 of their missionaries have served in seven Kenyan and Ethiopian communities. Contact VLM Director Jessica Werner at jessica.werner@doc.org for more information and to apply.

Vincentian Mission Corps (VMC), formerly Gateway Vincentian Volunteers and the Vincentian Service Corps-Central, offers year-long service opportunities in community. Young men and women are encouraged to get involved at VMC, serving the poor in St. Louis, Mo. Contact Director Kellie Willis at kellie.willis@doc.org for more information about available opportunities.

Share your service experience in the comments.