Reflecting on National Catholic Sisters Week 2015

by Victoria O'Keefe, St. John's University graduate student

Victoria and Sister Pat Evanick, D.C.,
at the 2015 NCSW conference.

Several months after the National Catholic Sisters Week celebration on the beautiful campus of St. Catherine's University in St. Paul, Minn., I continue to reflect on what I learned there while giving continuous thanks to the Daughters of Charity for their generosity in making that experience a possibility for me!

The many religious women, who spoke at the conference and those who facilitated the program, shared their faith and vocation stories with us, young women from around the United States who have been discerning and continue to. This was of immense insight and relief. In seeing how their true vocations unfolded with their faith placed in God, it eased my worries that I would somehow miss my vocation. I would constantly stress over possibly missing God's call and was awoken to the obvious at the conference: that God calls on us many times throughout our lives. Discernment is an ongoing process.

There were many fun activities through which we got to
know everyone in attendance of the conference. There was time to reflect both in solitude and also with a Sister, and there were many beautiful, prayerful moments shared together.

One of the sessions at the 2015 NCSW conference

I loved seeing the different orders represented and learning further about the many charisms. Perhaps the greatest part was getting to know Sister Pat better, learning of her story and how she came to fulfill her vocation. In many ways, the stories of her spiritual life when she was younger seem parallel to my life now.

I was, and still am, so grateful I had this time to delve deeper into prayer and my own thoughts. The greatest gift I received was the assurance from the many women around me, along with a sense of calm, that I will come to know my vocation in time through both my willingness to serve and full trust placed in the Lord. National Catholic Sisters Week 2015 was a huge success and I am forever grateful to have been a part of it!

Fire pit from Taize prayer during one of evenings of the conference

'Why Me, Lord?': A Vocation Story

by Sister Caroline Clark, D.C.

I am Sister Caroline Clark, originally from Grand Rapids, Mich., and recently moved to Evansville, Ind., from Detroit.

I have been a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul for almost 63 years. I knew nothing about the beautiful charism of the Service of the Poor before entering the Daughters of Charity.

My plan was to stay only for six months to free my mind as to why I was selected out of about 200 girls to crown Blessed Mother in my senior year at Catholic Central High School. Whenever I became serious about engagement and marriage, this enigma of "Why me, Lord?" would surface and refuse to leave.

Neither did God stop pursuing me after six months, a year, two years, until finally, like Jeremiah, I cried, "You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; You were too strong for me and You triumphed." So I became a Daughter of Charity and learned to live in community in spirit of humility, simplicity and charity while teaching in schools for many years.

For the past nine years as the regional spiritual advisor of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, I have personally experienced the generosity of the lay members of the Society and their dedication to the destitute and underprivileged throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. They taught me by their example how to generously give my time and talents to those who are poor.

Now that I have moved to Evansville and am doing many more home visits each week, I see with my heart and eyes how the poor live.

Recently, I met a family whose wife just returned from the hospital. Due to her illness, her husband lost many days of work and got behind financially due to the added doctors' bills, etc.

The only way this young father could prevent a Vectren shut-off was to pay $45 in order to borrow $300, which then put him further behind. It is when I return from such home visits that St. Vincent de Paul's words ring out in my ears: "The poor have much to teach us."

I have discovered what it truly means to live a simple lifestyle and to place my life in the hands of Divine Providence. It is no wonder our Community is thriving in the poorest areas of the world.

Answering 'Yes'

by Sister Sharon Richardt, D.C.

Sister Sharon Richardt, D.C.

As I approach the 56th anniversary of my entrance into the Daughters of Charity, I again marvel at the way God let me know I was being called to be a religious woman.

I think it began when I attended a Miraculous Medal Novena with my mother when I was in the second grade or so. I was in awe of the devotion to Mary of the people in the Church. After that I found myself pouring over the "medal" stories in the "Miraculous Medal" magazine my mother received. I also began to think I wanted to be someone who gave my life entirely to God for His work.

I always have had a devotion to Mary. While in grade school at St. Anthony's in Evansville, Ind., I volunteered to assist in cleaning the church. Frequently, I would talk to God while I was cleaning the vigil lights, the communion rail and the statues (as far as I could reach).

Although I had always thought I would be a religious, I did nothing about it until high school at Mater Dei. My algebra teacher, Mr. Francis Hillenbrand, asked me what I was going to do with my life. I spontaneously answered that I wanted to be a religious. When he inquired which Order, I again answered, "The Sisters at the hospital." St. Mary's Hospital was across the street from St. Anthony Church, and I observed the Sisters coming to Mass Saturday mornings when I cleaned the church. Mr. Hillenbrand said he assisted the Sisters with some of the bookkeeping and that he would introduce me to one of them.

He introduced me to Sister Stella Polheber, and she took it from there. Sister Stella asked me if I would like to visit the Provincial House in St. Louis. The visit was very helpful. When I accompanied one of the Sisters on a visit to a man who needed some reading glasses, the man's son asked me if I was going to be a nun and I again answered "yes." I am in wonder now at how certain I was of being a religious, but it just came spontaneously. I believe it was truly the grace of God.

However, when I returned home, I entered back into high school studies and events. It took another question from Mr. Hillenbrand for me to make a follow-up telephone call to start the application process. It was only after the application had been sent I began to have doubts as to my acceptance into the Daughters of Charity.

During this time, I met with Father Eugene Dewig, superintendent at Mater Dei, for counseling and direction. Again, all of these people-supports were seen by me as messengers of God supporting my very naïve understanding of religious life.

My life as a Daughter of Charity continues to be very full both spiritually and ministerially. Our community makes, besides the traditional vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, a vow of service to persons who are poor. We annually renew our vows, which always reminds me of the first time I made vows. A true renewal of our dedication.

From a ministry perspective, I am a registered nurse, and early in my life as a Daughter of Charity served as a rehabilitation coordinator. When I was about 10 years in the order, I was asked to prepare to serve in formation, retreat work and spiritual direction. This I did by obtaining a master's degree and later a doctorate in formative spirituality from Duquesne University.

With both a nursing degree and preparation in spiritual formation, I developed a role in Catholic healthcare known today as Mission Integration. Most recently, the Community asked me to serve in another new position, coordinator of spiritual transformation, which is one of being available to our Sisters in various kinds of life transitions from a spiritual perspective.

I am grateful to God for my vocation to religious life and the Daughters of Charity. After 56 years, I can testify it continues to be a most rewarding life. God has blessed me with ups and downs, but I have never doubted I have been called. God has kept His promise: the blessing has been a hundredfold indeed.

Sister Irma's Dream

The following was written by Sister Irma Vargas, D.C., for The Lord's Call, a publication of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

When I was 8 years old my godmother took me to see a movie called "The Nun's Story." I was so struck with the Sister and amazed at how lovingly she tended to the people in Africa she was serving. When I got home I told my mother that I was going to be a Sister and be a missionary. My mother told me, "No, you can't be a Sister because Sisters are holy and you are not yet holy because you are always fighting with your brothers and sister."

Although I was not happy with her response, through the years, I kept it in my heart.

Growing up here in San Antonio, I had boyfriends in high school like everyone else, and dated in college. Then I went to work for Dr. Tom O'Brien, M.D., who brought my dream back to life. Around the time when Archbishop Oscar Romero was martyred, Dr. O'Brien made me aware of what was going on in El Salvador and other countries. He had me, as a translator, go with him to do physicals for refugees from Guatemala and El Salvador who were on their way to Canada or Australia, where they would be accepted.

He also took me with him to work at St. Phillip's Clinic, where I was also a translator. My first encounter with Sisters was there at St. Phillip's Clinic. I kept my distance. Soon I discovered they were Daughters of Charity. I still kept my distance. I noticed though how one had such a beautiful smile, a sense of happiness in how she served. And she wore tennis shoes! I liked that!

Then one day Sister Dorothea asked me to go with some volunteers to get pizza. I went, thinking it was just a social event. After chatting a while over our pizza, she invited us to think about becoming a Daughter of Charity. I said, "This is not for me." Sister Dorothea gently responded, "Just stay and listen." The others were so I interested that I thought they were signing up right then!

In the following days Sister Dorothea occasionally invited me to several diocesan vocation events or to come to the Sisters' house to visit. I always responded that my car had something wrong with it so I could not go. Another time some of the volunteers were going to St. Louis for an event for young women. Sister Genevieve asked me if I was interested. Oh, no, I was not!

Later at the office, Dr. O'Brien asked me if I was going. I responded, "No. I don't have the plane fare."

"I'll pay it," he said.

I continued to protest, "I can't take the time off."

"I'll give you the time off."

So I agreed. During the flight, I figured if there was no one at the airport to meet me then I'd just go right back home. At the airport in St. Louis, I heard my name paged! Sister Kieran was waiting for me with the others who had already arrived. When we walked into the Provincial House, I was surprised to discover that I felt at home!

After the closing Mass, Sister Kieran called me aside and gave me a brown envelope and said to me, "I believe you have a vocation. Think about it. The application is in the envelope."

I went home and put it under my bed. It stayed there for two years. It must have been the Holy Spirit who urged me to finally send it in.

There were seven of us in formation together. We were all professional women who had careers, cars, bank accounts, etc. I was amazed at how we let go of them for the bigger mission of serving God in those living in poverty. Our prayer life and our living in common sustained us. We also supported one another in our various ministries.

My mom has always had a deep love for St. Vincent de Paul. Was it any wonder that I would join the very community that he and St. Louise de Marillac founded! A missionary community!

Being a missionary had always been my dream. But I have not gone to another country. I have learned, however, that we, the Daughters of Charity, are missionaries by nature. Serving Christ in persons who are poor, wherever they are, is our charism, our passion. So I am actually living not only my own dream, but God's dream for me, implanted in me so many years ago.

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?

Being Taught by Teaching

Sister Meg (second from left) with some of her students at
Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg, Md.

by Sister Meg Kymes, D.C.

"The poor have much to teach you. You have much to learn from them."
- St. Vincent de Paul

This past school year, I had the opportunity to teach second grade religion. This was my first year teaching, and like most first-year teachers, I learned more than I think I taught my students.

Pope Francis met with students from Jesuit schools throughout Italy and Albania in June of last year. He said, "...The main element in school is learning to be magnanimous. ...This means having a big heart, having a greatness of soul. It means having grand ideals, the desire to achieve great things in response to what God asks of us..." I learned to not just expect the minimum from my students, but to expect great things from them because that is what God would expect from them.

One of my students had some issues with his reading ability. However, in discussions, he would come up with amazing insights into God's presence with us in all things and had a deep love for the Eucharist. God had given that child a very special gift of a deep love for our Lord and His laws and it was a stunning gift for me to witness. It inspired me to go deeper within my own faith life.

My first year of teaching also encouraged me to be more trusting in our Lord. Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" My lead teacher and principal entrusted me with the awesome responsibility to pass on the "good gift" of our faith to my students, which is what Jesus would give to these children if he were still on Earth.

One of our retired Sisters who became a mentor to me told me to remember to trust that Jesus was with me every step of the way. I also had to remember the Holy Spirit had inspired my lead teacher and principal to make me these students' teacher. On especially difficult days, I tried to remember that, for a reason yet unknown to me, the Lord had chosen me to be these children's teacher and I needed to do the best I could while remembering that he was with me every step of the way.

Acting on God's Invitation

Shannon Cawley

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

I would not be where I am today if it weren't for the special people God has placed in my life--from the three individuals who challenged me to consider a vocation in religious life, to the Sisters I've met along the way, my spiritual director, friends and family.

In reflecting on my discernment journey, my need for interaction with others has changed and deepened. One of the hardest obstacles in my discernment was the initiation. I knew God was inviting me to discern my vocation, but I didn't take any action for two years because I was afraid of where it might lead.

I decided to begin by taking a leap of faith and sharing my intent of discerning my vocation with a friend who shared my faith. That was the best decision I ever made because she immediately encouraged me to look into a particular community and sent me information about an online discernment retreat with the Daughters of Charity, which was another important part of my discernment. I would encourage anyone in the process of discernment to find at least one person to share their journey with who they trust and who walks closely with the Lord.

The online discernment retreat with the Daughters was perfect for me because it allowed me to take one step further in my discernment journey without having to let a whole group of retreatants know I was considering religious life. Speaking with Sister Sharon Richardt for those five days opened my eyes and heart to possibilities within religious life. Before the retreat, the idea of religious life was very intangible, but after speaking with Sister Sharon, I realized Sisters are real, down-to-earth people called by God to live their lives in a special way.

As I continued my discernment, it was very important for me to visit with different communities to learn about their charisms and apostolates, and to spend time talking with their Sisters. Events like Nun Runs and Come and See weekends helped me get an initial idea of how different communities live, but as I've continued my discernment journey, I've found spending more time with Sisters on special visits and talking with vocation directors to be most helpful. It's been invaluable to spend time with Sisters doing everyday things, like helping clean up at a local Catholic school, because it helped me better understand the heartbeat of their lives. This has been important for me because it will allow me to find my home as I continue to reflect on the desires God has placed on my heart and discover the person He has created me to be.

Give Yourself a Chance and Give God a Chance

Truc Nguyen

Truc Nguyen is a Postulant with the Daughters of Charity in Los Angeles. Truc shares her discernment story and the advice she has received.

My sister invited me to a Come and See discernment retreat with a Vietnamese community. I thought I felt a calling. However, I also felt something was missing. I didn't understand what it was back then.

I can name it now as belonging, a sense of home. I attended two more retreats with the same community and continued to have the same experience. A new friend invited me to a discernment retreat with the Daughters of Charity. I liked their charism, especially missionary service to the poor. I felt at home, but I still had doubts and fears.

I had only been living in the United States for six years. I was concerned about my English language skills and the reality of cultural differences. I volunteered with another community almost every day. I felt a sense of home there, but my heart was not settled. I kept going back and forth in my mind, questioning which community I should enter or whether I should enter a community at all.

A Sister told me, "Give yourself a chance and give God a chance." I followed her advice. I applied for Pre-Postulancy with the Daughters of Charity. The councillors, the vocation directresses and all the Sisters I have known and lived with have been great mentors. They have supported me in all stages of my discernment. Their gentle love supports me through whatever might hinder my "yes" to the Lord. Their daily lives are living examples of St. Vincent's and St. Louise's teachings of humility, simplicity, charity and serving the poor. It makes me madly in love with this life! I like to immerse myself in this ocean of love for days and nights. I would like others to experience this special love, and I often invite my friends to Come and See retreats.

Some of my family members don't quite understand what this life is about, but they support me. They are happy when they see how much I have grown over the years and to see that I am happy. Postulancy is a blessing year. I am deepening my faith and my love for God and those I serve through the lives and teachings of our founders: "Be joyous, smiling in the service of the poor." I pray to them and ask for their intercession for my vocation. Also, working in community ministry gives me a better appreciation of how greatly I am blessed. I thank God for all his blessings.

Being Called "Sister"

Sister Mary Louise Stubbs, D.C.

My name is Sister Mary Louise Stubbs, D.C., but I am called "Mary Lou" by those who know me, or Hermana Maria Luisa, or often just "Sister." I think the last one describes me best because it implies the relationship I hope to be in with everyone.

I've been a Daughter of Charity for quite a while and have done a variety of ministries that may appear to be different on the surface (hospital work, community development, etc.), but are all very similar: They are ministries of service to those in the distress and panic of poverty.

My initial impression of the Daughters came as I began to explore what seemed to be a call from God--not a very clear call, but a pretty persistent one. While attempting to find out job requirements for a research position at the National Hanson's Disease Center in Louisiana, my letter ended up on a Daughter of Charity's desk and the information they sent me was a beacon in my darkness. This was one gutsy group of women doing daring and audacious service around the world!

Today my ministry, with International Project Services (IPS), is to work with our Sisters in the developing countries of the world to help them find resources they need to serve the poorest of the poor in impoverished nations. The Sisters in Bolivia, Cambodia, Poland, Tanzania or any of about 55 other countries contact our office because the people they serve need clean water, medicine, education, protection for little girls in danger of female genital mutilation, or disaster recovery, or any of multiple projects that will help people live their lives in safety and grow toward their potential. Our little ministry goes to donors and foundations and finds resources on their behalf and sends those resources to them.

This ministry is simple and direct. Those who want to be a part of mission work in a given country or for certain causes or just be a part of the service team wherever they are needed can do so. Our ministry is to facilitate the assistance and communicate the results back to the donors who are now integral to the mission. Within the past eight years, 663 ministry projects have been funded. See some of the results on our website or Facebook Page.

All I've done is listen to the voice deep in my heart and followed that invitation through a series of amazing adventures in a community of support and a relationship of prayer. I like being called "Sister" because that is who I am to all people, everywhere.

'Seeking a Steadfast Friend and a Bit of Adventure'

The following was written by Sister Mary Zita McLaughlin, D.C., who, after 78 years of vocation, passed away in January. This is her vocation story, and though "times have changed" since 1935 when Sister Mary Zita joined the Daughters, her reflections are relatable to any woman seeking her own vocation story today. 

It is winter and sleeping nature is building up her strength for the glorious spring awakening. It reflects my life at this time – slowing down, quietly peaceful, looking forward to the glorious Resurrection to come.

It has not always been thus. Long ago when I became conscious of an insistent voice saying "come," my rebellious adolescence went into high gear. I pulled out all the stops of my 18-year-old arsenal. "I’m too young, too immature; I need time to explore this wonderful world opening up before me. No religious order would want me at this time…" etc. etc. etc.

God must have laughed. He had heard it all before. "No," came the answer, "I need someone young and strong to care for my suffering ones now. You will mature, time will take care of your youth. You will experience beauty in the world around you – but my needy ones cannot wait." I tried to get His mother to share my point of view, but she must have had His sense of humor, for within two years I was wearing the blue habit and white cornette of a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul.

I must admit I grew up fast and the years had a way of taking care of my youth. Since then, for 60+ years He sent me up and down the eastern seaboard, ministering to His needy ones as a Daughter of Charity, with a master's degree in social work tucked into my apron strings. I cradled babies, counseled frightened teenagers, climbed tenement stairs and supervised foster homes. He even assigned me to Bolivia, South America for 21 years, dispensing medicines in country clinics, supervising street boys in our night shelters, working with mothers’ clubs, bringing food to prisoners in overcrowded cells, tramping the dusty roads, visiting the scattered families. And now that I am old, He has assigned me to smile at people coming to Sisters Hospital, directing them to where they need to go. My job now is to be kind to people, encouraging, listening, telling my Irish stories to my co-workers, helping where I can.

It has been a beautiful life – despite its ups and downs – and He has always been there, bearing most of the burden, showing His unconditional love every step of the way. He has a way of making you feel you did Him a great favor by agreeing to help His hurting ones. To anyone seeking a steadfast friend and a bit of adventure, nothing can beat being a Daughter of Charity. Believe one who has been there!

Sister Mary Zita McLaughlin with two children at
St. Vincent Hospital for Women and Children
in Philadelphia, circa 1940.

Why did Sr. Meg decide to be a Daughter of Charity??

From Sr. Meg Kymes!

While I was a Vincentian Service Corps volunteer in St. Louis, MO, I felt called to be a Daughter of Charity. From the moment I met them I felt drawn to their joyful spirit. I heard this little voice inside of me say, “You could be happy like that.” At first I was shocked and a little scared. I tried to push the little voice away and say NO! But, the voice got more and more insistent and I had to at least see what was drawing me to the Daughters of Charity.

That was 5 years ago, and today I still feel as called as I was then. Now, I am a Seminary Sister (know to other communities as a novice) in Evansville, IN. Today, looking back it was not just the Daughters joyful spirit that kept me coming back to them during my discernment, but other aspects as well.

There is a saying in the community that states, “If you’ve seen one Daughter of Charity you have seen one Daughter of Charity.” I have found this to be true. Among us you will find we dress the same and many do similar works, but underneath the works and blue and white habits you will find many different personalities, interests, and backgrounds which makes life much more interesting! There is truly room for everyone at the table of Vincent, Louise, and Elizabeth Ann!

I also saw a great openness and flexibility in them; my vocation directress told me over and over, “A Daughter of Charity, if nothing else, is flexible.” Vincent would call this obedience; he told the first Daughters they would go where they don’t want to go and do what they don’t want to do not because of themselves but because of God’s will. While going where we don’t want to go and doing what we don’t want to do seems like a bad thing, it isn’t always. I visit a sister at our retirement home that went from growing up on the streets of Chicago to spending 55 years in Japan. She tells me she wanted to go to China, but God had other plans for her. She stayed in Japan all that time happy to follow God’s will for her. I have found myself in places I never imagined doing things beyond my wildest dreams because of being open to God’s will. I spent last year in New Orleans. Now, I was born in raised in St. Louis and until meeting the Daughters had no intentions of ever leaving St. Louis. However, my last year in New Orleans was one of the happiest times of my life. I fell in love with the city, the culture, and the people. If I was not flexible and open I would have never had that experience like the retired sister who had the opportunity to serve the poor in Japan for 55 years.
Most of all, I was continually drawn back to the Daughters of Charity because their love for the poor. Louise implored us in her Spiritual Testament, “…above all take good care of service of the poor.” Vincent told us, “Let us love God, but let it be with the strength of our arm and the sweat of our brow.” While a relationship with Jesus is central to a Daughter’s life, all of our prayers, daily Mass attendances, spiritual readings, and Rosaries are done to give us the spiritual energy to go out to those living in poverty. Most of the Daughters I have met say what makes a Daughter and true Daughter of Charity is love for the poor. Their eyes light up when they speak about their current ministries or their past experiences of serving those living in poverty.

So, why am I drawn to the Daughters of Charity? I fell in love with the poor and decided to follow Christ’s call to by being given to God, in community for, their service.

Sr. Pat Connolly's Vocation Podcast

De Paul University has been doing a series of podcasts for their Office of Mission and Values. Here is the link: http://mission.depaul.edu/podcast/scarchive.asp Included in the series is an audio sharing by Sr. Pat Connolly, DC of her vocation story. Sr. Pat Connolly is currently working at the United Nations with the Daughter of Charity NGO (non-governmental organization). The purpose of our NGO is to encourage governments which are part of the U.N. to understand the situation of those living in dire poverty and dangerous situations and to take action. Since we have Daughters of Charity throughout the world, we are able to provide first hand information from areas of great distress. Here is a link to the NGO website of the Daughters of Charity and our brother community, the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians): http://www.cmdcngo.org/become-involved.html .

Here is the audio clip of Sr. Pat!---Ok so I'm learning how to embed a podcast and this will take some experimentation. So, click on the link to get to the podcast. Once there you will see a list. Click on Sr. Pat's.