Associates in Mission of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati are women and men, young and old, married, single, widowed, divorced, ordained, who share in the mission and spirit of the community.

These women and men seek to express in their lives, a spirituality of attending to God in prayer, in each other, and wherever God’s love is made visible. Associates in Mission commit to explore a new dimension of Christian life, one that calls for a deeper fidelity to the gospel. Associates commit to a relationship centered upon living and spreading the gospel message, serving the spiritual and corporal needs of God’s people and sharing friendship, faith and action with the Community.

They offer one another, and the Sisters of Charity, mutually enriching relationships with the opportunity to share faith and the awareness of how the gospel impacts our lives and our world.

Who We Are

Where We Are

Ministries

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Who We Are
As of April 2008:
158 Associates in Mission across the United States.
19 Candidates in process of discernment and formation.

In 2007, a total of fourteen women and men made their formal commitment. During the formation process, candidates learn about the founders, history, spirituality and charism of the community.

Mission Statement of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati
Urged by the charity of Christ, we Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, strive to give compelling witness to Christ's active presence by doing justice, expressed as loving trust shaping all our relationships, and as sharing our individual and Congregational resources for the liberation of the oppressed.

Associates in Mission strive to integrate the mission and spirit of the Sisters of Charity into her/his role, position or ministry. Associates try to live in a way that makes visible the virtues of humility, simplicity and charity which are the foundation to the spirituality of the community.

There are as many ways to be an Associate as there are Associates. Each one finds the best way that she/he can share this charism (spirit) with others. This could be through their work in a business setting, educational facility, in health care or a non-profit organization. Associates may volunteer at one of the SC ministries or serve in a parish. Their service may be within their own family, caring for children, a spouse or an elderly relative. A life of prayer may be the way they support the community’s efforts. They may find that advocacy for the poor or work as a full-time volunteer is how they express the Gospel message.

However the choose to serve, being an Associate is more about “being” rather than “doing”. Associates’ lives mirror the way they experience the relationship with individual Sisters and/or other Associates, sharing the love of Christ with others in their every day situations.

Associates pursue avenues with the congregation which encourage personal spiritual growth and development. They receive and give support to other community members by participating in gatherings for prayer, discussion and socializing. They keep informed of community events and functions and respond to and initiate communication with other Associates and Sisters.

 

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Where We Are
Associates in Mission live in cities and rural areas throughout the United States.

We maintain viable communication in several ways - through the community’s bi-weekly Newsletter Update, through Intercom a quarterly magazine and through frequent email, letters, phone calls and personal visits.

We support one another through our communication and through our prayer. Every year, each Associate and Sister receive the name of another member of the community to keep in prayer in a special way throughout the year.

 

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Our Ministries
Shoulder to shoulder Associates in Mission walk with the Sisters of Charity to spread the charism of the community. These women and men - married, single, widowed, divorced, clergy, people of all ages - selflessly serve in cities and towns from Alaska to Florida, from Texas to Michigan and of course, in Cincinnati. They serve in offices, churches, homes, profit and non-profit venues – serving the poor, caring for the earth, advocating for peace and justice, visiting the sick and dying, praying, educating, leading, organizing, listening - all of them committed to forwarding the mission of the community.

Kay Clifton is a professor of sociology at the College of Mount St. Joseph and spends time volunteering her talents at EarthConnection. Kay works extensively with the poor and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati, "I feel much more supporeted in the ministries I am doing," Kay said.

Kate McCord works at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs. She serves as the Chief Nursing Officer. Kate feels being an Associate keeps her centered and gives her a sense of peace and purpose when she gets caught up in the day-to-day business of health care.

Mariela Jaen-Urriola created a volunteer outreach group for Hispanics at The Women's Connection. "Iwanted to do something where I felt I could volunteer every week helping the Hispanic community learn how to live here," explained Mariela. "The Sisters of Charity give me courage that we, Associats, need to pass on to our children, so the mission can continue to the next generation as well."

Associates are teachers in grade schools, Maria Gutierrez and Bro. Gary Sawyer, in high schools, Patrice Harty and in colleges, Mariela Schulten and Kay Clifton. They share their time and talents serving on boards and committees, Carol Herbert and Mary Ellen Williams.

It would be quite a task to name every associate and the ways they share the charism but no matter where they live and work, no matter what they are asked to do, no matter how they are called to serve, associates believe in the mission and vision of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and do all that they can to make it a reality.

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