"At times when I might have
been met with difficulties,
Providence suddenly placed
in my path people who could
help me.”

St. Louise de Marillac

 

Elizabeth the Nurturer

On August 28 we celebrate the birthday of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the founder of the first American congregation of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity. Elizabeth was many things to many people – a wife, mother, widow, nurturer, founder and educator. In this article, written by S. Judith Metz in 2015, we learn more about Elizabeth nurturing relationships.

“Remember how many look up to you for comfort in this world … take care of yourself for our sakes.” This heartfelt comment, written to Elizabeth Seton by her sister-in-law, Rebecca Seton, suggests the expanse of Elizabeth’s loving and supportive reach among her family members, friends, and the larger society.

Besides caring for her own children, and her husband’s younger siblings, Elizabeth developed nurturing relationships with many adult family members and friends. Whether it entailed writing letters late into the night, or sitting with the sick and dying, no price seemed too high for her to pay. Even in the midst of her own family’s declining fortunes Elizabeth poured herself out for others. Her outreach extended to her active involvement in the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children, one of the first benevolent societies formed in the United States.

One dear friend, Julia Scott, reminded Elizabeth, “When I was in distress – were you not my friend, and the friend of my little ones? And were I now again in distress would you not do all that heaven gave you the power to do?” At another time Julia told her: “Do you know I have often wished that when my last hour arrives I might behold you at my bedside.”

Instances of Elizabeth’s nurturing relationships could be multiplied by exploring her life in Maryland as she worked with the clergy, encouraged and supported the parents of her students, cherished and challenged the young people in her schools, and attracted women to join her in forming the Sisters of Charity in the United States. Elizabeth, by the force of her person, her ideas, and her values inspired and encouraged those around her. Her special gift of accepting and valuing each person for who they were, yet challenging them to strive to achieve their best selves, her loving nature, her inner peacefulness and integrity were gifts that she freely shared with others. We often refer to Elizabeth as “Mother Seton,” and nothing could be more appropriate, for that is the title her contemporaries used, not as an honorific, but as a designation of their relationship with her. As director of the schools in Emmitsburg, Maryland, she described herself as “living as a mother surrounded by her children,” and such she was regarded by those young women as well as the boys from Mount St. Mary’s. Rev. Simon Bruté wrote, “You whom I like to call a mother here, as I call one in France, … you have helped me to better know … my happiness and desire.” And even before she joined the Sisters of Charity, Margaret George referred to Elizabeth as her “mountain mother,” and later wrote of her years at Emmitsburg, “I love to recall those happy gone by days.”

Paraphrasing Elizabeth Barrett Browning, we could say of Elizabeth: “How do I nurture thee? Let me count the ways.”

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Directed Spirituality Retreats
Jun 4 @ 4:00 pm – Jun 10 @ 12:00 pm

S. Judith Bonini, IHM, has been involved in retreat/spiritual direction for more than 20 years. Presently she is pastoral services director at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse in Monroe, Michigan. Her deep love is spiritual direction and retreat ministry. S. Judith invites the person to name God’s invitation, to reverence and to respond to this mystery as it unfolds in one’s life experiences.

S. Maureen Heverin, SC, received formal training in spiritual direction at the Jesuit Renewal Center in Milford, Ohio, in 1990. Her ministry experience includes elementary and adult education, social service work, spiritual formation, and leadership in the Sisters of Charity. Presently, S. Maureen’s ministry in the Spirituality Center includes spiritual direction, directing retreats and facilitating various spiritual programs.

S. Mary Ann Humbert, SC, participated in the summer Institute in Spiritual Direction out of Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, and studied in the Christian Spirituality program at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska. She completed her internship in retreat and spiritual direction at Milford Spiritual Center where she subsequently worked as part of the internship training team. She has conducted prayer classes, retreat opportunities and adult educational sessions for men and women from diverse religious traditions. She is trained in bio-spirituality and focusing and has been journeying with others as a spiritual director since 1973.

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S. Marie Vincentia Roney

Sister Marie Vincentia Roney died June 1, 2023 at the age of  90 in Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility for the Sisters of Charity, Cincinnati, Ohio. Sister Marie Vincentia was born on July 8, 1932 to Edward M. and Josephine (Lerch) Roney in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was one of 13 children, six girls and seven boys. She was a Sister of Charity for 71 years. READ MORE.