“I am satisfied
to sow in tears
if I may reap
in joy.”

The membership of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati came together on Saturday, Oct. 9 to let their service shine! The day of service was part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Archdiocese and was coordinated by women’s and men’s religious communities. A wide variety of service opportunities were offered at various organizations and parishes within the Archdiocese. The Sisters of Charity, under the leadership of S. Georgia Kitt, collaborated with numerous organizations (including Bayley, Price Hill Will, Working In Neighborhoods, St. Leo’s parish, and the Recycling Hub, among many others) by giving of their time, hard work and passions. A huge thank you to the religious planning committee, the many site coordinators and to all the volunteers who partnered to make a difference in our community through service!

Sisters of Charity joined with others across the country to stand in solidarity for the abolition of the death penalty. In El Paso, Texas, S. Andrea Koverman joined others on World Day Against the Death Penalty (Oct. 10) calling for justice with mercy and praying for all murder victims and their families as well as those on death row. In Cincinnati, and as part of the Archdiocesan Day of Service on Oct. 9, Sisters of Charity at the Motherhouse added their signatures to a petition calling for an end to the death penalty.

Fall Congregational meetings were held Sept. 17-18, 2021 at the Motherhouse. Vaccinated Sisters gathered in-person while Associates used livestream and Zoom to participate. The weekend theme was “Meeting our Grace for this New Moment.” The gathering began with an evening prayer service on Friday. Saturday’s activities included initial discussion and planning for Chapter 2023. This reflective pause gave members opportunities to deepen awareness of changes they are living through as well as review questions raised at the end of Chapter 2019.

The Sisters of Charity Community celebrated the 100th birthday of S. Mary Loyola Mathia on Sept. 14, 2021.

In celebration of Elizabeth Seton’s Birthday on August 28, Sisters of Charity employees donned their blue ‘Hazard Yet Forward’ T-shirts. In addition on August 27 employees were treated to ice cream on the Mother Margaret Hall patio.

A group of Sisters of Charity attended the Aug. 15 ground blessing for the Casa del Sol Ministry Center. Site work and groundbreaking at the new ministry center, located at the site of the former La Casa del Sol on the corner of Bender Road, is scheduled to begin in the next several weeks.

The Sisters of Charity Community honored those Sisters celebrating 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, and 80 faith-filled years of service with a Mass and luncheon on Sunday, Aug. 15 in the Motherhouse chapel. Thank you, Sisters, may your Jubilee year be one of special grace and blessings.

The weekend festivities continued on Saturday, Aug. 14 as Sisters of Charity enjoyed a riverboat cruise down the Ohio River. More than 150 Sisters, including many from Mother Margaret Hall nursing facility, had the opportunity to gather together for a meal, fellowship and to celebrate the 2021 Jubilarians and S. Andrea Koverman’s final vows.

Congratulations to S. Andrea Koverman, who professed perpetual vows during a prayer service on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021 in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse.

Smiles filled the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse on Saturday, Aug. 7 as the Sisters of Charity welcomed Associates to the Motherhouse campus for the first time in 16 months. Associates were treated to an Ice Cream Social and tours of the new locations of the Congregational Offices on the first and second floors of the Motherhouse and Marian Hall.

The House of Charity, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Federation in New Orleans, Louisiana, hosted the Newman Singers from Iowa in July. The group was in town for the National Pastoral Musicians Conference. During their stay the group was kind enough to perform a concert at the HOC the night before they left.

Sisters of Charity living in Mother Margaret Hall celebrated the month of July with multiple seasonal activities. Sisters shucked corn to make homemade salsa; residents and employees were able to enjoy the salsa while viewing the dedication of the Sister Blandina Gardens in Trinidad, Colorado. In honor of the 2020 Olympics, Mother Margaret Hall hosted its own MMH Olympic Games, which included activities for everyone and medals.

The Sisters of Charity Spirituality Center welcomed Sisters for a July Retreat with Jan Novotka and Marie Larkin on July 18-24. While the new space is not completely finished, it is slowly beginning to re-open for Sisters and vaccinated individuals with spiritual direction and Centering Prayer returning this month.

On Sunday, July 18, 2021, the people of Trinidad, Colorado celebrated the dedication of the Sister Blandina Wellness Gardens, a community wellness park in tribute to S. Blandina Segale. Created by Pueblo-born sculptor Fred Darpino, a 5-foot, 4-inch life-size statue of S. Blandina is the garden’s focal point. Sisters and Associates were in attendance for the celebration in downtown Trinidad which included Mass, live musical and theatrical performances, trolley tours of Trinidad.

The EarthConnection garden is flourishing! Nearly 78 pounds of produce has been harvested so far this year, including lettuce, squashes, cabbage and garlic. S. Winnie Brubach and her team of garden ladies are looking forward to more as the season continues.

Each year the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati honor employees celebrating special milestone service anniversaries. This week Human Resources hosted three events to celebrate the honorees. All honored employees were invited to a luncheon program where there were individually recognized. Congratulations to those employees and a heartfelt thank you for your dedication and service to the Sisters of Charity!

Over the weekend Sisters of Charity gathered together as a whole for the first time since before the pandemic began more than a year ago. Those living away from the Motherhouse campus or out of state had the opportunity to visit Mount St. Joseph and take part in a number of activities throughout the weekend. Included in the weekend agenda were a Memorial Mass remembering the lives of the Sisters lost since April 2020, a picnic dinner in the Motherhouse dining room, drum circle led by S. Shirley Le Blanc, special Mass to honor the 2020 Jubilarians and an evening of karaoke. A highlight for all was the opportunity to tour the newly renovated spaces in the Motherhouse and Marian Hall where the Congregational offices were relocated following the demolition of Seton Hall.

As ministries gradually begin to hold in-person events, SC EarthConnection recently hosted the Cincinnati Vincentian Volunteers for a morning. The group learned about environmental sustainability and helped in the EC garden with its more than 20 raised beds.

Did you know one of the most popular activities scheduled in Mother Margaret Hall nursing facility is Wii Bowling? A weekly activity for the Sisters, the virtual bowling game has been a hit, enabling residents the opportunity to socialize and have fun together – all in the competitive spirit.

Throughout National Nursing Home Week, Sisters of Charity employees were celebrated for their hard work and dedication to the SC mission and Sisters of Charity. Activities were planned throughout the week, including a blessing of hands, patio grill-out and Bingo.