Servicette “To Serve Rather Than to Be Served” Vol
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Ladies of Charity of the United States of America® Servicette “To serve rather than to be served” Vol. 56, No1 May 2017 Daily prayer. Personal service. It has The is a publication of the 400 Years Servicette been that way for 400 years. It is that Association of the Ladies of Charity of “Us” way today. In the United States, the first as a record of their activities in the USA association was founded in 1857 in St. Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Johnson Louis. Today, nearly 6,000 women serve Editor Kathleen Sieracki in 200 communities in 22 states. It is the Layout & Design Elena Miranda gift of self. It is the gift of time. It is the gift of devotion. It is the gift of sacrifices. Executive Director Ashley Larsen Bishop David A. Zubik It is the gift of perseverance. This is us. Episcopal Chairman Direct all correspondence and inquiries to: Back in my high school teaching Servicette, LCUSA Service Center days, I tried to help my students see P.O. Box 595 Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 new television series has gathered the role our hearts and our feelings play Email: [email protected] A a lot of attention this year. Called in our journey in life. Building on the “This is Us,” the drama tells the story Greek word for feeling, pathos, I wanted MISSION STATEMENT of a family, but in a different way. It’s my students to come to an understand- To provide Vincentian leadership to women an extended story of “triplets”— a twin ing of the difference among three signifi- acting together against all forms of poverty. white girl and white boy, then a black cant types of feelings: apathy, sympathy baby abandoned at the hospital on the and empathy. Apathy is the opposite of VISION STATEMENT day of their birth and taken in by the love, having no feelings for anything or LCUSA-AIC provides Vincentian leadership of new family. anyone at all. Sympathy is the experience transformation assisting persons who are The whole context of the show is fam- of having feelings for someone. Empathy vulnerable to move from marginalization and despair to participation and hope. ily- how we grow together, live together, is the experience of having feelings with love together and support together. someone, to be able to identify with, to “This is Us” is told through a living past, experience in a deep and heartfelt way into our present, looking forward to the what another person is going through. INDIVIDUAL future. Women of empathy, committed to MEMBERSHIP I thought of “This is Us” as we cele- service. Committed to those in need. As brate the 400th anniversary of the begin- St. Louise de Marillac, your co- founder Individual members are supportive of nings of the Ladies of Charity. We grow with St. Vincent de Paul said, “Be dili- the mission and together. We love each other. We show gent in serving the poor. Love the poor, purpose of LCUSA this love in service. We know our story. honor them...as you would honor Christ and participate in the The Ladies of Charity was founded in Himself.” This is God’s call in your life, ministry of the Ladies 17th century France by the patron saint his grace-filled invitation to your pil- of Charity by prayer of all charity, St. Vincent de Paul. The grimage to heaven. This is you. This and/or service and pay dues prescribed Ladies of Charity went about their ser- is us. by the board of directors. vice with humility, searching out the face Enjoy, celebrate and serve in this of Christ in the poor, while the poor saw 400th anniversary of the Ladies of Christ in them. Charity. God bless you! Servicette NEWS DEADLINE The deadline to submit articles and photos for the next issue of the Servicette: Monday, July 31, 2017 Articles and photos can be sent by e–mail to: [email protected] Articles and photos should be sent separately and not within the text document. Please contact us for info. 2 | May 2017 “To serve rather than be served” ing the need for organization, formed celebrating the 400th anniversary of the the first Confraternities, which were charism of St. Vincent de Paul — the approved canonically on December 8, moment he had his “aha” moment and 1617. This group of women rapidly grew knew God was directing him to work from a small group in Chatillon, France, in service to the poor, as well as the 400 Suzanne expanding into Paris and then into Italy years the Ladies of Charity have been say- Johnson and Poland. Under the leadership of St. ing “Yes” to the call of St. Vincent de Paul. Vincent and then St. Louise de Marillac, Though we have made it to 400 years, LCUSA President the women were involved in caring for it is not time to rest on our laurels! We the sick, the poor and the orphaned. In need to think (and act) about how we nd now,” cried Max, “let the wild the United States (1857), Catherine are going to continue God’s work as “Arumpus start.” (Maurice Sendak, Harkins had dreams of St. Vincent de Vincentians serving those in poverty. Where the Wild Things Are) Surely 400 Paul gathering poor, neglected children Though St. Vincent de Paul said, “The years of existence is worth a wild rumpus, from the streets. Catherine’s confessor work of Our Lord is dependent less upon and many of our associations have cho- advised her these were not dreams, but many workers, than upon the fidelity of sen to mark this occasion with celebra- visions, and she should do the same as the few He calls,” I am nonetheless dis- tions. Some associations chose to take Vincent. Thus began the first Ladies of heartened when I say that not so long ago, the opportunity to use the 400th as a Charity in the United States. there were over 30,000 Ladies of Charity time to rededicate themselves at a special Presently, there are almost 6,000 in the United States working in 25 states Mass on December 8th. How will your Ladies of Charity in the United States, in 230 associations. We are down to less association mark this auspicious event? in 57 Associations. We are involved in a than twenty percent! If being a Lady of It’s not too late to start planning, as the multitude of works serving the poor — Charity is meaningful to you, and the official 400th year does not end until from food pantries and thrift shops to work we do is important to you, then December 10, 2017. For more informa- “Getting Ahead” and tutoring young chil- each one of us should be compelled to tion on the 400th celebration, check out dren. Our efforts in the fight against pov- reach out and invite others to join us. the website: aic.ladiesofcharity.us. erty also include advocating for the disen- Especially invite those younger to join Celebrations aside, any kind of a franchised, especially those women and us. This may take some initiative on our milestone year (and surely 400 years children caught up in trafficking. Across parts to determine how to meet and work is a milestone!) is a time to reflect on the globe, there are over 200,000 women with those who are younger, and how to the past, take stock of the present, and in 52 countries participating in AIC (as incorporate their “new ideas” into our plan for the future. What is our past? In Ladies of Charity are known internation- ways of serving. I believe, with the grace 1617, women responded to St. Vincent ally). Their works are similar in form to of God, we can do it. de Paul’s homily by taking food to a our works here in the U.S. Additionally, I am praying that we all experience family that was in poverty and suffer- we collaborate with other members of God’s love in new ways as we journey ing from illness. St. Vincent, recogniz- the Vincentian Family. This year we are into the next 400 years. “To everything thanks also to Bishop David Zubik and there is a season.” Sr. Carol Schumer, DC, who met every deadline. I could always rely on their y season as editor of the Servicette contributions. Mis ending with this issue. It has It has been a true pleasure to interact been a challenging and rewarding six with so many Ladies of Charity and to years. I owe special thanks to my three learn about your activities. Every contact editors-in-chief, Lucy Ann Saunders, has been inspiring. Gayle Johnson and Mary Ann Dantuono I know you will extend the same for their guidance and support, as well cooperation to our new editor, Irene as to Kathy Kavanaugh, Chair of the Siedlarczyk. The Servicette will benefit LCUSA Communications Committee, from her new point of view as well as her for her boundless enthusiasm and cre- Warren Lowe. Elena also led me to the professional skills, as LCUSA continues ativity. Suzanne Johnson has found Associated Press Style Essentials, a won- to move forward in every way. the path to the future. Thanks also for derful resource for any writer or edi- Thank you. critically-needed technical advice from tor. Any errors in style, abbreviation or Elena Miranda, Monica Watson and punctuation have been my own. Special Kathleen Sieracki http://aic.ladiesofcharity.us May 2017 | 3 400th Anniversary Celebration & General Assembly Mary Beth O’Brien LCUSA President Suzanne Johnson receiving the new AIC Charter.