We invite you to get to know some of the Daughters of Charity

Sister! Sister! "Why did you become a sister?" is the most frequent question I get about my life choice. The most common comment is, "You aren't like any of the sisters from my childhood!" Both the question and the comment are reasonable because for many the vocation to sisterhood is mystifying.

The vast variety in the activities and approaches of the women called "sister" has some basic styles - all of which include a mix of prayer, service and common life. Some women are called to a monastic lifestyle, which focuses primarily on prayer, and are often called nuns; some are called to a lifestyle of apostolic (Gospel-based) service; and some are called to an approach that combines both in varying degrees.

However, the major reason for the variety of types of sisters is similar to St. Paul's description of the body in the first letter to the Corinthians in the 12th chapter. As each part of the body is designed fro a different function, all are needed. Even if they look dissimilar and do different things, each component has a needed role in the functioning of the whole. The same is true of different congregations of sisters and of the individual women within those congregations - each brings a gift needed by the whole Church.

An ever-changing assortment of issues heralded the development of a diversity of approaches to being a sister for those in need in this world, (see Matthew 25:40) and this mixture changes around the globe and throughout the ages. The focus of each congregation is called their "charism" and each credits one or two founders for developing an organization that can live that spirit. Therefore, some groups are worldwide and some are within a diocese; some are teachers, in health care or serving the poor and outcast; some are unique and some are part of large "families" of congregations with similar goals, such as the Sisters of Charity or the Benedictines.

But to come back to the first question, "Why?" Why do women become sisters and how do they know God is calling them to live this particular lifestyle? When the gift of vocation to religious life is accepted, it is a complete package. Your whole life is freed up to focus only on ministry, mutual support of those called to the same charism, and to continually developing your relationship with God. It is a joyful and freeing experience. It does not take you "out of the world," rather it allows you to immerse yourself even more deeply into the world and its struggles as we grow together toward the Kingdom of God.

How does one know she is being called? This is like asking how one knows they are falling in love. It involves awareness and discernment and exploring and lots of conversation with God. It also needs courage to take the first steps. Who receives such an invitation? It can be anyone, usually no one that people expect. The call of God is unique in the life of each individual, and the response of every woman called to be a sister brings her whole personality with its strengths, weaknesses and gifts, as well as the communal support of her congregation.

So, the next time you see a sister, don't think of the past. Today is the time that each of us, including sisters, must be focused on living the best way we can in response to the signs of the times and the gifts God has given to each of us.

- Sr. Mary Louise Stubbs
Sister Mary Lou Stubbs, DC, is the director of Catholic Charities of Arkansas.

This article first appeared in the Arkansas Catholic on February 6, 2010

 

 

 

What I love about being a Daughter of Charity is the opportunities I've had to work with and care for women and infants as a certified nurse and midwife and to teach others to become nurses and midwives. My ministry energizes me because I am able to continue learning and growing and in the process, I am able to mentor other in healthcare leadership. In light of social justice, I am concerned about healthcare for everyone, especially women and children.

- Sr. Pat Elder

 

 

What energizes me about my ministry is the opportunity to be a link of putting someone in need in connection with a service or person who can, and will, help them meet this need. No two stories of those in need are identical and the Poor have touched my life for the past 53 years teaching me...oh...so very much! I have gained far more than I could ever give...they are very rich in faith. This is a thought from a very happy Daughter of Charity Social Worker, graced by many Poor.

- Sr. Annalee Faherty

 

Before Christmas of my eighth year, my family decided to adopt a family and get each child a gift. We chose the gift for the person whose name we drew. I was so surprised to see the name that appeared on the paper I picked out: “Jesus”! I said to myself, "Oh! That's what the Gospel means when it says whatever we do to others, we do to Jesus! I want to do this for the rest of my life!" Our parents passed their outstanding faith to us. Together we attended Sunday Mass and prayed at home. We were involved in school and parish activities.

My two main dreams about my life surfaced when I was in the fourth grade: to live in the country and have 12 kids and to be a Daughter of Charity! It took me until my junior year in high school to realize these did not go together.

What attracted me to the Daughters of Charity who ran the grade school my family attended was that they were so down to earth and real. They not only taught us and disciplined us but also laughed and cried with us, played softball and soccer with us! We could talk to the sisters about anything. We knew them as spiritual leaders, women of prayer, who cared about us and the poor. They involved us in various service activities through the Miraculous Medal Association. I remember they cooked a full breakfast for all 12 of us in our home when my parents celebrated 25 years of marriage. They were there for us when my sister, Alice, was diagnosed with leukemia. She was in a Daughter of Charity hospital for two months where the sisters at the hospital and the school prayed with us for her healing and saw us through when she died nine months later at the age of 21. The semi-cloistered nuns at Ursuline, where we attended high school, also were great educators. As much as I appreciated them, I knew I was drawn to a life of both prayer and direct service of the very poor, the charism of the Daughters of Charity.

By eighth grade a Serra Club essay contest made me think a bit about what it meant to lay down one's life for a friend. I felt called to lay down my life by serving Jesus in others. Because I wanted to be a nurse, I took and passed the entrance exam to nursing school when I was a senior. I also knew in my heart that I was being called to be a Daughter of Charity. There were questions and uncertainties. I sat down with a pen and notebook; wrote yes on the left and no on the right. I had 23 reasons not to become a sister and only one yes - I believed that that this is what God was calling me to do.

The ensuing years have been full of grace! I served about 18 years as a registered nuns, about the same number of year as a parish minister and seven years working with persons who are elderly, disabled or homeless. Ministries have taken me to various states. My present ministry is working for Bexar County Detention Ministries as chaplain for women and men in the county jail. My call has been the same through these years as it was when I drew Jesus' name that Christmas. It is God's love that energizes us. "The charity of Jesus Christ Crucified urges us" is our motto. There are nearly 20,000 Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul throughout the world. Our founder, St. Vincent de Paul, said, "What greater joy is there than to do as Jesus Christ did on earth."  This has been my experience.

- Sr. Ellen McRedmond

“What’s a farm girl like you doing in the inner-city, first in St. Louis then in Austin and now back in St. Louis?” I have often asked myself that question as I reflect upon my story of becoming a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. It is the story of a surprising journey that continues to unfold even after 34 years in this life. 

I was born in a small farming community in rural Nebraska, the fourth of seven children. Working together on the family farm formed the early experiences of my life. Even as a young child, I realized that my family highly valued the Catholic faith and the concrete expression of that faith in service to others. From this background I was drawn to a career in teaching, specifically teaching special education. I believed this population to be the most in need and I had this strong sense that no matter what else, my life needed to be about assisting those whom others might not want to serve.  

In my high school years I had considered becoming a sister, but I resolved the issue by deciding that my role was to be that of a layperson working within the church. As I was completing my degree at a local community college, I had this nagging sense that my life needed to be somehow “different than” marriage and raising a farm family in Nebraska; I just did not know what the difference would be! 

By this time one of my brothers had entered the seminary, and in dialogue with him and a close fried of his I was introduced to the Daughters of Charity. Something moved within me when I met the Daughters. I had a strong attraction to their simple lifestyle and the sense that I could truly be myself with this group of dedicated women. Little did I know that I would also be stretched beyond my imagining. After a year of soul searching and listening, I knew that I either needed to take a risk, or forget the idea completely. I have never regretted the risk or the adventures that have followed. 

What still keeps me going today is what attracted me in the first place: a desire to serve, a place to share God’s action in my life, and the challenge of going beyond where I’m comfortable. Since joining in 1975, I have met Daughters of Charity from around the world who share the vision of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. I have discovered a gift of listening to the poor and marginalized in a variety of ministries, and have come to cherish the way they reveal God’s presence to me. I found something “different” and in the process fulfilled the dream that God had planted in my heart in the Nebraska soil so long ago. What does God’s dream for you look like?

- Sr. Joanne Vasa

I volunteered at the Marillac House in Chicago when I was in high school. Sisters Jane Briedenbach and Maria Perez were responsible for the Cana Conference parents' children. My sister and I were the baby sitters. The Sisters were an intriguing mystery with their big blue dresses and white sailboat hats and the disappearing act. We never saw them except for their supervision check-up. They were always in the Projects neighborhoods.

What is it about my life that I love? I love the freedom and the desire to help anyone in need and to have the resources available. I love the life of a Daughter of Charity - to give myself to God, with annual vows, in community, for the service of the Poor; to live in community with other women in a common commitment to serve the least fortunate and those with other needs.

Living in community is always challenging with good times and bad times. My greatest support and reliance is prayer. Prayer is the common denominator that unites us. It always results in the right answer.

I am passionate about my ministry at Anna House nursing home where I visit the residents. I listen to their stories and I tell mine. It's an enjoyable sharing. Often, Jesus gives me a message in the telling and the resident proclaims the "Good News" which is very satisfying for both of us. This happens with the staff, also. They are Spirit-filled people who perform their duties (which are sometimes unpleasant) with kindness and dedication.

What impressed me, as a young adult, was seeing Daughters of Charity always on their way and busy about their Father's work but still available. I have visited Daughter of Charity works on three continents, the United States, Europe and Japan.

- Sr. Joanne Whalen