Faith Afire - Spring 2026

faith afire

DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY PROVINCE OF ST. LOUISE

Spring 2026

Dear Friends,

As I write this letter, I am at the United Nations attending a conference themed, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” This week, we are learning about the myriads of systemic barriers and violent acts committed against women and girls; we also are learning about the great need for equal access to justice. This meeting precedes the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Seventieth! That means it was 1956 when the UN, as a global body, began to officially recognize the cries of women and girls throughout the world.

I can’t help but think that St. Vincent and St. Louise heard those cries much, much sooner. Why else would they have encouraged the early Sisters to teach poor girls and women to read and write, or handicrafts that would allow them to earn a living? Because only then would they no longer face hunger or abuse. Yes! Our founders heard the cries of the poor. They called the first Sisters to be servants of the poor and vulnerable, committed to promoting compassion and justice in the world. This charism is no different today. The nearly 11,000 members of “the Little Company” speak different languages, follow different customs, and eat different foods but are called to be Daughters of Charity for the very same reason … “the cry of the poor.”

Too often in this age of technology and instant news, we can be easily pulled away from our primary work – work that God has ordained. Work “is a gift from God,” (Ecclesiastes 5:19). And so as we (Christians … you, the Sisters, our family, and friends) go out again and again to serve in our vocation, to the place where we are called – caring for children, working on a farm or in an office, serving customers, or providing for elderly parents – we trust in Providence.

In this issue of Faith Afire, we visit many who are called to serve those in need. We share a peek into the lives of our Province Sisters who serve in the Ministry of Prayer; we focus on those learning skills to help them advance in the workforce and on mental health care assistance needed by so many.

“The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Blessed be the Lord!” The psalmist wrote these words more than 2,000 years ago. May we all welcome the Lazarus at our door … the one who cries for assistance … and may we always open the door with care and love.

Blessings,

Blessings this Easter Season!

May the Risen Christ fill your hearts with hope and renewed joy.

The season of Easter – the season of spring, of hope and renewal – has finally arrived, and not too soon. It comes to lift us up in a time of tumult of doubt and uncertainty, and from what seems like unending challenges to the work we do in service to the poor. During this sacred season, we are reminded that even amid suffering and despair, there is always reason to hope: hope grounded in the promise of rebirth, renewal, and new life.

The Easter season reminds us of these enduring truths: the first, no matter what, we are loved by God – and nothing, not even death itself, can separate us from that love – secondly despite all that may suggest otherwise, we belong to one another. As Saint Paul proclaims,

“Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord.” (1 Cor 5:7–8)

I once heard a story about a young boy, deathly allergic to bees, who panics when a bumblebee flies into the car that he and his father were driving in. His father, aware of his son’s fear, grabs the bee in his hand, is stung, and releases it – then showing his son the stinger in his hand tells him: “You don’t need to be afraid. I’ve taken the sting for you.”

This image speaks powerfully of what Christ has done for us. Seeing our fear, isolation, and the power death holds over us, Jesus entered into death itself and removed its sting. Easter proclaims that the brokenness of our world does not have the last word. We are beloved of God, and we are bound together.

It is one of the joys of my role as Director of the Daughters of Charity of the Province of St. Louise to see this witness of resurrection hope in the everyday lives of our Sisters and in their ministry to the poor they serve: bringing healing and hope to lives that have been broken and to communities that have been scattered. In this holy Easter season, we proclaim with Saint Paul:

“Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’” 1 Corinthians 15:51, 53-55

Father Perry Henry, C.M. Provincial Director

On the Cover:

Sisters who live at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Mo., (suburb of St. Louis) join in singing the enterance antiphon while attending mass at the Community’s Marian Chapel. Pictured: back row, Sister Honora Remes (who now lives in Evansville, Ind.); left, Sister Karen Kneaves; right, Sister Marcella Ewers. All three Sisters serve in the Ministry of Prayer. You can learn more about the Ministry of Prayer in the article beginning on page 4.

Faith Afire is published by the Daughters of Charity, Province of St. Louise. Editorial comments or suggestions should be directed to Belinda Davis, Director of Communications, belinda.davis@doc.org or 314.341.5486; or to the writer of the article. Mail comments or suggestions to 4330 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63108. Change of address or subscription notifications should be directed to Nancy Katich, nancy. katich@doc.org or 314.561.4625. Feature Writer: Anna Ross, anna.ross@doc.org; Graphic Designer: Katie Zeller, katie. zeller@doc.org. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission.

A Time of God’s Grace in the Ministry of Prayer

by Anna M. Ross

“It is your prayers, my very dear Sisters, which attract from the goodness of God all His graces.”

St. Vincent de Paul

Daughters of Charity, members of a Society of Apostolic Life in the Catholic Church, dedicate their lives to the service of those most in need. This service takes many forms from social services, prison ministry, education, and healthcare, to the prevention of trafficking, and more.

St. Louise de Marillac and St. Vincent de Paul established the Little Company with what were, in 1633, very “radical” rules: for monastery, only the houses of the sick…; for cell, a hired room; for chapel, the parish church; for cloister, the streets of the city; for enclosure, obedience with an obligation to go nowhere but to the homes of the sick or to places necessary for their service; for grill, the fear of God; and for veil, holy modesty. (CCD, X, p.523)

The Sisters were then and remain today missionary in spirit … ready to be sent here or there … wherever the poorest of the poor live on the margins of society.

What then is a Sister’s mission when being sent “here or there” is no longer possible? When a Daughter of Charity’s service in external, apostolic ministry can no longer continue? It is, in fact, the fulfillment of St. Vincent’s appeal for the Sisters’ prayers for

In 2021, Sister Rosalie Brocato visited with a friend as they enjoyed the beautiful outdoor setting in Emmitsburg.

those most vulnerable. When the time comes, Sisters are missioned to a residence at one of the Province’s four main campuses (St. Louise House, Albany, N.Y.; Villa St. Michael at St. Joseph House, Emmitsburg, Md.,; Seton Residence, Evansville, Ind.; or The Sarah Community in the suburbs of St. Louis, Mo.) to enter into the Ministry of Prayer.

“Each senior Sister is commissioned annually by the Provincial Council into the Ministry of Prayer,” explains Sister Joanne Vasa, Provincial

Assistant. “Every Sister in the Province and every ministry in which the Sisters serve is included in the Ministry of Prayer.”

Senior Sisters not only remember Sisters and their service agencies in prayer, but they also connect through a sharing of personal correspondence — emails, letters, cards, and telephone calls. In this way, the Ministry of Prayer Sisters actively “accompany” those for whom they have been commissioned to pray.

There are currently 141 Sisters commissioned in the Province’s Ministry of Prayer. This ministry is, in the short form, the building of community among the Daughters of Charity through prayer; a pledge and promise made by the senior Sisters to pray for their fellow Sisters who continue to serve “here or there.”

It also is a reciprocal ministry, a continuum from days long past, when the senior Sisters had once pledged to pray for them.

The Sisters who are called to the Ministry of Prayer have described it

as “a joy, an honor, a gift of grace, a reward.” They feel blessed by God to further enrich their prayer life.

In addition to the many prayers the senior Sisters offer as part of their commissions, the senior Sisters also receive up to 300 prayer requests each quarter via the Province website or by written notes. Friends, former students, patients for whom the Sisters cared, and even those who only know the Sisters through their online presence submit prayer requests. These requests may be as

simple as, “Please pray for me as I undergo surgery,” to more specific needs, “I appreciate prayers for my grandchild who is struggling in school with algebra.” The prayer requests are collected and forwarded to the Sisters who live at the four residences to add to their many requested prayers.

Faith Afire had an opportunity to talk with five Sisters who currently serve in the Ministry of Prayer, Sisters Marcella Ewers, Kieran Kneaves, and Helen Negri who live at The Sarah Community and Sisters Rosalie Brocato and Andrea Miller who live at Villa St. Michael. Collectively, these Sisters have ministered for 345 years, in healthcare, social services, education, and leadership.

Sister Marcella entered the Community in 1958, serving in Catholic education as Teacher and Principal, President, and Superintendent. She joined the Ministry of Prayer in 2025 and shares, “I consider this ministry an

honor; one God has entrusted to me at this time in my life. There is more time to pray, more opportunities for me to pray, especially those whose house I am praying for in South Carolina.”

“While prayer has always been an integral part of our lives as Daughters, I consider it a privilege to be in the Ministry of Prayer,” adds Sister Kieran, who entered the Community in 1958.“ Our prayers connect us all – those whom we pray for and those they serve with God’s presence and His providence.” Sister served in education, youth ministry, formation in healthcare, and with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Sister Kieran

joined the Ministry of Prayer in 2023.

Sister Helen, who also joined the Ministry of Prayer in 2025, reflects, “I’m praying for Sister Judith Mausser, who serves as the Englishspeaking Translator at the Daughters’ Motherhouse in Paris. “It’s been a joy journeying together in our ministries, sharing our lives as Sisters who care for one another and those in need whom we continue to serve.” Sister Helen entered the Community in 1960, serving children in the mental health field for more than 50 years.

Would you like the Daughters to pray for you?

If you would like to share a prayer request with the Sisters, please complete this online submission www.daughtersofcharity.org/contact/ and mark “prayer request.”

Sister Rosalie entered the Community in 1949. She served as Director of Pastoral Care at St. Catherine’s Nursing Center in Emmitsburg from 2000 to 2021, and joined the Ministry of Prayer in 2017. Sister Rosalie shares that the Ministry of Prayer is “a grace and an honor.” Sister celebrated her 95th birthday this past November, and continues to be active, to be of service, to encourage and accompany those who serve with her. Sister Rosalie served in social work, infant and childcare, parish outreach, and for 21 years as Director of Pastoral Care at St. Catherine’s Nursing Center in Emmitsburg.

With nearly a year of service in the Ministry of Prayer, Sister Andrea comments, “I feel blessed to be in this ministry. I have always been active and busy. Now, I find myself slowing down a bit. I think it’s a luxury to spend time in prayer for those in need!” Sister Andrea embraces her past ministries and continues to keep in touch. She prays with her most recent ministry for the Sisters in Albany. She knows that she will continue to pray for all those in need, for those she has known and with whom she has served because, as she says, “All whose lives you have touched or whose lives have touched you, become a part of you through Him.” Sister Andrea joined the Ministry of Prayer in 2025 following

10 years of service at Allen Health & Rehabilitation Center in Mobile, Ala. She served in social work and social services, counseling, and as a Financial Counselor.

Sister Janet Keim, Sister Servant of Villa St Michael states, “The Sisters take the Ministry of Prayer very seriously and form bonds with those they are assigned to pray for. Some Sisters can only serve in this ministry by their presence and their suffering. This may be their best service yet as a Daughter of Charity.”

“Take good care of the service of the poor ... pray earnestly to the Blessed Virgin, that she may be your only Mother.”

(St. Louise de Marillac)

The senior Sisters who serve in the Ministry of Prayer continue to heed St. Louise’s words to “Take good care of the service of the poor.” They may no longer go out and into the streets of the city, but through their ministries of prayer, they sustain their fourth vow – the vow of service of those who are poor.

Mother Seton and the American Founders

by the Provincial Archives

With the start of the United States Semiquincentennial year, more easily pronounced as the 250th year, we thought it would be fun to look at Mother Seton and her relationship with the Founders. She was born nine months after the Boston Tea Party, and most of her childhood years were spent in the part of New York City and the Hudson Valley that were occupied by British forces. During the height of her family’s wealth and status, she lived directly in the midst of the new federal

government’s infrastructure on Wall Street, barely a block from Federal Hall. Her father grew up with John Jay in New Rochelle, the future diplomat and first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In fact, her father, as the appointed health officer for the city when Jay became Governor, was friendly with many of the early founders, particularly those from New York, despite having fought directly against them in the American Revolution as a surgeon for Admiral Richard Howe.

While Elizabeth would have been familiar with the works, acts, and exploits of far more individuals, and likely met at least a few more of them during her New York years, these are the Founders who definitively survived in the archival record of Mother Seton. While her personal life ended up consuming her as the Seton Maitland Shipping Company failed, her husband’s health deteriorated, and her children needed a home and to be fed, she grew more and more distant from the seat of federal power. She eventually left for Italy for a time to try and restore her husband’s health. Following her return to the U.S., she left New York forever in 1808 to begin the journey of her religious vocation. Still, she remained attuned to the growing pains of a young country whose earliest days she was fortunate enough to witness up close and personal.

Alexander Hamilton

After the death of her husband while in Italy in 1803, Elizabeth and her children began staying with friends and family members farther and farther uptown. In 1804, she was living in what is today Tribeca, near the World Trade Center site. She was far away from the heart of the city on Wall Street, but still near enough to hear the bells of Trinity ring for one of the most important funerals of early American history – that of Alexander Hamilton.

George Washington

Elizabeth certainly would have known Hamilton from her neighborhood, as they both lived on Wall Street. He would have walked past her house to go to work at Federal Hall. Hamilton’s own correspondence have mentions of meetings with her father. In a draft to her cousin-through-marriage John Wilkes on July 14, 1804, she described a visit of his brother Charles. Elizabeth described him as “really so affected at the tolling of the Bells for the death of poor Hamilton that he could scarcely command himself – how much you will be distressed at this melancholy event – the circumstances of which are really too bad to think of.” Hamilton had died as a result of his duel with Vice President Aaron Burr, and Elizabeth clearly feels the weight of this event. Charles Wilkes, and indeed Elizabeth’s father-in-law, had both worked for the Bank of New York, of which Hamilton was one of the founding shareholders.

This one is a little more ambiguous, as we are not totally sure if this record refers to William Seton, Elizabeth’s husband, or William Seton, her father-in-law. By the time of George Washington’s second inauguration in 1793, the federal government had relocated to Philadelphia. Nonetheless, balls for Washington’s birthday in 1793 were held in all major cities of the country, including New York. One of the four listed “Managers” of his ball was William M. Seton. If the organizer was William Seton the Husband, then Elizabeth would have certainly attended, and maybe even have done so if her father-in-law was an organizer. Washington himself would only have attended in Philadelphia, however.

Benjamin Franklin

Dr. Richard Bayley inculcated a love of knowledge in Elizabeth. His background in science and medicine put him in touch with the works of the most famous American of his day, Dr. Benjamin Franklin. When Elizabeth was young, she copied passages into a Commonplace book. Among them are two works of Dr. Franklin’s: “Paper: a Poem” and a schoolgirl’s biography of the scientist, including his work on electricity and lightning. The former showed Franklin’s wit as a wordsmith that made him endlessly quotable in Poor Richard’s Almanack. The latter gave him credit for his work in establishing circulating libraries and fire companies in the American Colonies. They are estimated to be written in the early 1790s.

Elizabeth SchuylerHamilton and the Orphan Asylum Society

“Can I show you what I’m proudest of? (The Orphanage) / I established the first private orphanage in New York City (The Orphanage) / I help to raise hundreds of children / I get to see them growing up.” — Excerpt from the song, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story,” sung by the actress who plays Elizabeth Schuyler-Hamilton in the musical “Hamilton.”

Four women — Isabella Graham, Joanna Bethune, Sarah Hoffman, and Elizabeth Schuyler-Hamilton — founded the Orphan Asylum Society of the City of New York, which cared for children without regard to religion, in direct contrast to the standard mode of the day. As cofounder Isabella Graham described it:

“…We had planned a society for the relief of poor widows with small children, [and] the success has been beyond our most sanguine expectations. We have now a hundred and ninety subscribers; at three dollars a year, and nearly a thousand dollars in donations. We have spent three hundred dollars this winter, and nearly all upon worthy objects. The poor increase fast: emigrants from all quarters flock to us, and when they come they must not be allowed to die for want.”

Elizabeth describes her first meeting with the women of the Society, likely in late 1798, which shows her growth and concern for the poor early in her life, writing:

“I have met Mrs. Platt at the Widows Society, and she showed me so many of her sweet Fascinations, that I shall be ten times more careful than ever I was, not to form opinions of people at a distance…”

Elizabeth worked alongside these women as Treasurer of the organization, a post she held until she left for Italy with her husband. Elizabeth Schuyler-Hamilton was, of course, Alexander Hamilton’s wife and early crafter of the American Revolutionary narrative. Many Founding Mothers from the New York contingency were involved with the Asylum as well, including Mary

Stevens-Livingston, wife of Robert Livingston and daughter of Continental Congressman John Stevens. Today, the Orphan Home continues to operate as the Graham-Windham organization.

Robert Livingston

Robert Livingston was one of the hands that edited Thomas Jefferson’s original Declaration of Independence draft into the final version that the Continental Congress approved, although the State of New York recalled him before he could sign the final document. Before the establishment of relatively similar Supreme Courts across the individual States, New York’s government had an office called the New York Court of Chancery, headed by the Chancellor. It was in his role in this office, equivalent to a State Chief Justice, that Livingston administered the first Oath of Office to George Washington in New York City.

Livingston also makes an appearance in the Seton correspondence as a friend of the Bayleys and Setons. Writing to Eliza Sadler (a longtime friend and confidante of Elizabeth Ann) from Long Island on June 18, 1797, she describes visiting the Linvingstons for coffee:

“You may probably recollect a House of Mr. Livingston’s on the East river [sic] opposite the Battery and facing Governors Island [today part of Brooklyn] … we have as yet received nothing but pleasure and comfort from our Establishment and the offering of fresh Bread, Butter, and coffee to the dear well beloved Father of us, after a fatiguing sail in his Health Office employment is a satisfaction of which you can well form an Estimate.”

This pleasant occasion occurred in spite of Livingston running against Governor Jay, Dr. Bayley’s childhood friend who had appointed him to his health officer position.

Thomas Jefferson

We do not know if Mother Seton ever met Thomas Jefferson in person, but letters of hers mentioning Jefferson give a rare glimpse into her political views in the early republic. In a letter to her son, William, in April 1816, she tells him “how you will be shocked to see Mr. Jefferson turned to a Joh[n] Gilpin in the papers.” John Gilpin was a comic character of nursery rhymes and children’s stories, who was always depicted on horseback, losing his wig and his hat in misadventures. In the year 1816, Jefferson had been out of office for almost seven years. Although we do not know exactly what she was referring to in the papers, she obviously disagreed with the way he was being portrayed, and writes “you must allow there is something revolting to see a chief Magistrate treated so – I do not understand politics or characters but have a horror to find our Government can countenance such a press freedom – the children read it to me for fun in our recreation, but my Bayley blood mounted. Do, my Son reflect, and be moderate in these case[s] – always take the side of Order.”

While this does not necessarily show her approval or disapproval of Jefferson, it seems that she believes there are some reasonable limits on speech and press freedoms, and that Jefferson was treated unfairly. This may be ironic, as Jefferson himself had signed the repeal of the Alien and Sedition Acts, openly encouraging more press criticism of public figures. This was apparently a common sentiment of her family and her father as the phrase “my Bayley blood mounted” implies. Whether the characterization of Jefferson is based on political matters – he was still an active figure in intellectual life in his retirement – or on personal matters, such as his aging, are also unclear.

Henry Knox

In a letter to Antonio Filicchi on September 12, 1804, bidding Filicchi an enjoyable trip with good hospitality in Boston, Elizabeth includes a note, “If you should meet with General Knox, his wife or daughter [ , ] they were kind friends to me before my connection with Seton [her marriage].” It is less clear from where Elizabeth knew the Knoxes. Henry was on hand with Washington when the American forces ousted the British from New York City after the Peace of Paris in 1783. Elizabeth perhaps shared some affinity with Lucy Flucker Knox, his wife, who, like her, had parents who were

employed as Loyalists in the British military. The couple and their family lived in New York City during the New York era of the federal government before moving to Philadelphia and then back to their native Massachusetts.

Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Fittingly, the last American Founder in the Province’s Archival record comes from references to St. Joseph’s Academy in Emmitsburg. Elizabeth Ann’s time as Director of the School and Community were the last era of her life, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the last living member of the Founders, the longest surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. As a delegate from Maryland, he was the only Catholic to sign the document, and several of his grandchildren were students of Mother Seton.

For example, we have record in April 1819 of Elizabeth encouraging young Elizabeth Harper to maintain concern for her extended family and write her grand Papa, “who wrote her last week that Emily and Robert were quite well, sweet Em’s eyes quite restored.” Robert Harper wrote frequent stories “some beautiful place of Papa’s which he copied after Grand Paps’s,” apparently referring to Charles’s home at Carrollton Manor.

Carrollton Manor is now a historic site, which in its active use was apparently visited by Catherine Seton, Elizabeth’s daughter in her young adult years. On May 8, 1820, Elizabeth informed her son that his sister was “now at the Manor with Catons, Carrolls and Harpers [who] caress her as much as is good for the dear creature you may depend, and her letters are so expressive of her pleasure and enjoyment that I cannot but be happy even in our separation.”

In addition to Charles Carroll, you may recognize the last name as that of the Bishop who first approved the community. Indeed, although technically not a Founding Father, John Carroll was the Bishop of Baltimore and frequent contact of Mother Seton, as well as a cousin to Charles Carroll.

Mother Seton’s life doesn’t detail stores of the heroics of the Revolutionary War. But she lived her life in the middle of a new era in North America and moved in all the networks – even after founding her Community – that placed her in contact with many of the movers and shakers of such events!

2026 Jubilarians

Celebrating 1,880 Years of Serving Christ in Those in Need

During January through December 2026, 30 Daughters celebrate jubilees.

80 Years Vocation

Sister Loretto Gettemeier, D.C.

December 2, 1946

A Teacher in the U.S. and Japan, Guidance Counselor, VP of Mission, Provincial Assistant-Councillor, and Local Community Superior, Sister Loretto has served in La., Texas, Iowa, Mo., and Japan, and she now serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Bridgeton, Mo.

75 Years Vocation

Sister Dorothy Lyons, D.C.

December 30, 1951

An Elementary and High School Teacher and Finance Officer and also served as School Secretary in the Bookstore and Library and as a Work Study Program Volunteer, and Local Community Superior, Sister Dorothy has served in N.Y., Va., and Md. Today, she serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Emmitsburg, Md..

Sister Alice Matthews, D.C.

December 30, 1951

An Elementary and High School Teacher, Office Clerk, Alumnae Director, Lifeline Coordinator, Adult Literacy Tutor, Gift Shop Manager, Vincentian Outreach Minister, and Local Community Superior, Sister Alice has served in Md., Mass., S.C., Washington, D.C., Pa., and Fla. She serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Emmitsburg, Md.

Sister Patricia Ann O’Brien, D.C.

December 30, 1951

A Teacher, Campus Minister, Liturgical Coordinator, Bible Study Coordinator, Parish Worker, and Local Community Superior, Sister Patricia Ann has served in Washington, D.C., Md., N.Y., and Del., and today serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Albany, N.Y.

70 Years Vocation

Sister Joanne Cozzi, D.C.

January 25, 1956

Teacher, Principal, Superintendent, Catholic Identity Coordinator, Administrative Asst., Local Community Superior, Director of Religious Education, Sister Joanne has served in Mo., La., Ala., Ill., Miss., and Tenn. Sister currently serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Evansville, Ind.

Sister Rosalind England, D.C.

January 25, 1956

Nurse-Nurse Supervisor, Administrator, Provincial Secretary, Parish-Pastoral Associate, Case Worker, Docent, and Local Community Superior, Sister Rosalind has served in Texas, La., Ala., Ind., Ill., Md., and Tenn. She now serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Evansville, Ind.

Sister Mary Katherine Heenan, D.C.

January 25, 1956

A Teacher, Social Worker, Executive Director, Administrator, Volunteer, and Local Community Superior, Sister Mary Katherine has ministered in Mo., Ill., Texas, La., Ind., and today serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Evansville, Ind.

Sister Lawrence Marie Callahan, D.C.

March 22, 1956

Teacher, Child Care Supervisor, Program Director, Nurse-Nurse Practitioner, and Medical Coordinator who served many years in HIV and AIDS Ministry, Sister Lawrence Marie has served in N.Y., Md., Mich., Fla., Va., and Washington, D.C. She now serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Emmitsburg, Md.

Sister Claire Debes, D.C.

March 22, 1956

Teacher, Principal, Provincial Councillor and Visitatrix, Vincentian Family Coordinator, Ladies of Charity National Spiritual Moderator, and Local Community Superior, Sister Claire has served in Pa., Md, Va., Ill., Washington, D.C., and S.C.. She serves in the Ministry of Prayer and as a Shrine and Archives Volunteer, Emmitsburg, Md.

Sister Joan Keating, D.C.

March 22, 1956

Sister Joan, a Teacher, Principal, Administrator, Provincial Councillor and Assistant, Administrative Coordinator of the Eastern Province Vincentians, and Local Community Superior, Sister Joan has ministered in N.Y., Md., N.C., S.C., Pa., and W.Va., and serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Emmitsburg, Md.

Sister Anne Marie Schreiner, D.C.

March 22, 1956

Sister Anne Marie has served as Teacher, Docent, Parish Minister, Activities Director, Spiritual Director and Intercessory Prayer Leader. She ministered in Md., Ohio, Del., Conn., Ala., Ind., and Washington, D.C., and today serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Evansville, Ind.

Sister Barbara Riely, D.C.

May 19, 1956

A Teacher, Director of Religious Education, Parish Minister, Discharge Planner, Patient Representative, and Local Community Superior, Sister Barbara has served in Mo., Miss., Ill., Ind., Miss., Ala., Tenn., and Mich. She currently serves in the Ministry of Prayer in Evansville, Ind.

60 Years Vocation

Sister Mary Ann Azar, D.C.

March 17, 1966

A Nurse, Nurse-Midwife, Nurse Supervisor, Provincial Councillor, Immigration Caseworker, Social Worker, and Local Community Superior, Sister Mary Ann has served in Md., Washington, D.C., Pa., Fla., W.Va., Ark., and Texas, and now serves in Immigration Outreach, Baltimore, Md.

Sister Nancy Cassidy, D.C.

March 17, 1966

Sister Nancy, a Teacher, Principal, Adult Education Teacher, Executive Director, Parish Minister, Local Community Superior, and Volunteer, has served in in Md., Mass., Conn., N.Y., Del., Pa., and Ark. Today, Sister Nancy assists at the Face to Face Outreach in Philadelphia, Pa.

Sister Ann Mary Dougherty, D.C.

March 17, 1966

A teacher, missionary ad Gentes, secretary at the Daughters’ Motherhouse, secretary at the Congregation of the Mission’s General Curia, Editorial Assistant of the Vincentian Translation Project, Vocation Animator for Caritas, Sister Ann Mary has served in New York, Cameroon (Africa), Delaware, Paris, Maryland, and Rome, where she is presently.

Sister Kathleen Driscoll, D.C.

March 17, 1966

Teacher, Education Coordinator, Catechist for the Deaf, Pastoral Administrator and Outreach Minister, Ex. Director of Catholic Charities, Director of Depaul USA, and Support Specialist, Sister Kathleen has served in Md., Va., N.C., S.C., Ga., N.M., and La. She currently serves at St. Anthony Food Pantry and with Depaul USA, St. Louis, Mo.

Sister Mary Frances Hildenberger, D.C.

March 17, 1966

Sister Mary Frances, Teacher-Principal, Seminary Directress, Chairperson, Local Community Superior, Provincial Councillor and Treasurer, Executive Director, Volunteer, and Tutor, has served in W.Va., Md., and Ga. She now serves as Spiritual Companion for Vincentian Encounter and Campus Formator, Emmitsburg, Md.

Sister Anne Marie Lamoureux, D.C.

March 17, 1966

A Teacher, Vocation Directress, Local Community Superior, Parish and Pastoral Care Minister, Resource Teacher and Tutor, and Volunteer, Sister Anne Marie has served in in Md. and N.Y. Today, she serves in the Seton Heritage Ministries, Emmitsburg, Md.

Sister Margaret Palmer, D.C.

March 17, 1966

A Nurse-Supervisor, Director of Nursing, Local Community Superior, Hispanic Minister, and Volunteer, Sister Margaret has served in Mass., N.Y., Conn., N.J., in Thailand, and Texas. Sister presently ministers at the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, Philadelphia, Pa.

Sister Martha-Héléna Aristizabal, D.C.

May 31, 1966

Sister Martha-Héléna, a native of Columbia, South America, has served in Education, Parish-Pastoral ministries, Ad Gentes Missions, and Hispanic Ministries in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Today, Sister Martha-Héléna serves at the Daughters of Charity (Motherhouse) in Paris.

Sister Catherine Mary Norris, D.C.

June 5, 1966

Sister Catherine Mary, a House Mother, Social Worker, Executive Director, Director of Campus Ministry, Provincial Councillor, Visitatrix, Advocate, Volunteer, and Local Community Superior, has ministered in Texas, Mich., Ala., Ky., Ill., Ga., Ind., and Mo., and now serves with Misericordia in Governance in Chicago.

Sister Carol Schumer, D.C.

June 5, 1966

Elementary-Secondary Teacher, Principal, Assist. Administrator, Parenting Specialist and Facilitator, Pastoral Associate, Spiritual Advisor, and Local Community Superior, Sister Carol has served in La., Mo., Iowa, and Ill. She currently serves as a member of The God Minute Team and as the Archdiocesan Spiritual Advisor for the Ladies of Charity and lives in St. Louis.

Sister Mary Kay Tyrell, D.C.

June 5, 1966

A Nurse, Midwife, Foundation Director, VP of Mission, Community Outreach Organizer, Provincial Councillor, Provincial Secretary, Local Community Superior, and Hispanic Minister, Sister Mary Kay has served in Ala., Wis., Ind., Ill., Tenn., and Mo. Sister presently serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Evansville, Ind.

Sister Mary Walz, D.C.

June 5, 1966

Child Care Worker, Social Worker, Administrator, new ministry planner, Provincial Councillor, Assistant, Visitatrix, Social Worker, Client Advocate, and Local Community Superior, Sister Mary has served in Mo, Texas, Ark., Miss., S.C., and Ill. Today, she resides in Maryland Heights, Mo., and serves as a volunteer in the St. Louis area.

Sister Sharon Haskins, D.C.

August 14, 1966

A Secondary Teacher, Campus Minister, Parish Associate, Spiritual Director, and Local Community Superior, Sister Sharon has served in Mo., Mich., Miss., La., Ill., Ala., and Ind., and she currently serves in the Ministry of Prayer, Evansville, Ind.

Sister Bonnie Hoffman, D.C.

August 14, 1966

Nurse-Nursing Administrator, Assistant Professor, Education Coordinator, Director of Nursing Staff Education, Provincial Councillor, and VP of Mission Integration, Sister Bonnie has served in Mo., Texas, Ark., La., and Ill., and currently serves as Local Community Superior, Evansville, Ind.

50 Years Vocation

Sister Ellen LaCapria, D.C.

April 6, 1976

Secondary Art and Religion Teacher, Acute Care and Home Care Nurse. Art Therapist in Adult Services, Vocation Minister, HealthCare Mission Integrator, Digital Graphics Specialist, Provincial Councillor, and Local Community Superior, Sister Ellen has served in Md., N.C. Washington, D.C., Ill., and Mo. Today, Sister ministers in Vincentian Formation in Kenya, Africa.

Sister Nora Gatto, D.C.

June 3, 1976

Parish Minister, High School Theology Teacher and Chair, Vocation and Postulant Directress, Director of Religious Education, Principal, Executive Director, Provincial Councillor, Campus Minister, Pastoral Assoc., Director of Mission and Ministry, and Local Community Superior, Sister Nora has served in N.Y., and Mo. She now serves as Pastoral Associate, Bayside, N.Y.

Sister Kathy Overmann, D.C.

July 12, 1976

Social Worker, Senior Citizen’s Program Assistant, Care of Senior Sisters, Coordinator and Outreach for Seniors Minister, and Local Community Superior, Sister Kathy has served in Mo., La., Texas, and Ill. She currently serves at Rebuild Center, St. Joseph Parish in New Orleans.

25 Years Vocation

Sister Cheryl Ann Hillig, D.C.

July 16, 2001

A Teacher, Vice Principal and Principal, Sister Cheryl has served in Wilmington, Del., Brooklyn, N.Y., Philadelphia, Pa., and, since 2014, as Principal at St. Peter Claver Catholic School in Macon, Ga.

Correction from Fall 2025 Faith Afire

Sister Mary Jean Doyle, D.C.

June 27, 1965

Dietitian, Social Worker, Trafficking Victims Assist., Administrator, Childcare-Community Outreach, and Local Community Superior, Sister has served in Md., S.C., Fla., and D.C., and now serves in Catholic Charities-Immigration & Refugee Services, Hyattsville, Md.

Hotel Hope: A social work intern from one of Hotel Hope’s service delivery partners

“high-fives” a guest during a family enrichment activity.

MMI: Making an Impact

Through the Province’s Mission and Ministry Impact (MMI) granting arm, the Sisters promote systemic change by providing financial assistance to organizations working to address the root causes of complex, large-scale problems … not just their symptoms!

MMI was established in 1997. Today, MMI staff members Jeanne McAlister, Kaitlyn Mathias, and Andrea Tice work in concert with the Sisters and under the guidance of a Provincial Advisory Committee to advance the mission and priorities of the Province through collaborative initiatives, financial assistance, and support services — all to create a lasting impact on the lives of those who are served.

MMI has recently, at the Sisters’ request, proactively focused on two transformational efforts — workforce development and mental health services. MMI’s proactive grantmaking approach allows it to intentionally identify high-impact opportunities within its priority areas an invest in organizations that align with its mission and values.

Workforce Development

MMI’s Workforce Development Grants support programs including skills training, certification courses, job placement assistance, mentorship, and wraparound supports to ensure participants have the tools needed to achieve sustainable employment and economic mobility.

Organizations which MMI has supported include:

PAR Recycle Works, Philadelphia, Pa.

The Hope Program, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Gerard Place, Buffalo, N.Y.

Covenant House, Chicago, Ill.

Family Advancement Ministries, Macon, Ga.

Project Quest, Inc., San Antonio, Texas

Mobile Interfaith Conference, Mobile, Ala.

Caroline Friess Center, Baltimore, Md.

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.

Momentum Advisory Collective, Dallas, Texas

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc., Niagara Falls, N.Y.

“When we began to think about workforce development, we looked at a spectrum of measures of successful programs,” shares Director of MMI Jeanne McAlister, who joined the effort in 2019. “They included key characteristics such as life-skills training, case management and other wraparound services to help individuals be successful in the workforce. We also wanted to be certain the geographic locations we selected and the agencies we chose to support were successful, organized, and here to stay.”

Meet Kahlilah Eli, a Caroline Center Participant

When Kahlilah first heard about the Caroline Center’s BuildHER program, she was struggling to break through a pay ceiling and feeling stuck in a repetitive cycle. Things aligned, allowing her to leave an unfulfilling career in finance and pursue the exciting challenges offered by the trades. Kahlilah currently works in the sheet metal trade and is a proud member of SMART Local Union 100 (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation). She continues to face challenges, but is pursuing continuing education, advanced certifications, and deepening her trade knowledge with the long-term goal of master craftsperson. Ultimately, she hopes to become both a business owner and union contractor. Kahlilah is the first graduate of Caroline Center’s BuildHER program.

Zuleima “Lulu” Rosario, a Gerard Place Participant

LuLu moved to Buffalo from Miami looking for a better life for herself and three sons. “When I moved to Buffalo, I promised myself I would work towards my GED and get a certification in the medical field so I would not lose more time out of my kids’ lives,” she explained. Lulu earned her GED in August 2022 and a certification for Sterile Processing in November 2022. She credits Gerard Place with providing the support, program, and encouragement she needed to move forward. Amanda Hibbard, literacy program coordinator for Gerard Place, describes Lulu as resilient, respectful, and grateful. “Even though she faced many barriers, like housing and bus issues, she showed up and was here every day. Now, she is volunteering and helping other students in the GED program.”

Mental Health Services (MHS) Grant Program

This proactive grant program has been initiated but has yet to select grant recipients. In November 2025, Pope Leo’s prayer intention called for, “the prevention of suicide,” drawing special attention to those living in darkness and despair. The Provincial Councillors affirm the need to support mental well-being. Recognizing the current mental health crisis, lack of services, and the many experiencing psychological, social, and spiritual distress, this new MMI grant program debuted. The new grants are available to assist an organization in addressing one or more of these goals: 1) improvement to access and inclusivity of mental health services, 2) integration of essential services with mental health care, 3) advancement of mental health staff, 4) improvement of software and data systems for mental health services, and 5) expansion of services. Kaitlyn, Senior Grants Manager who also joined the MMI Team in 2019 after working for the Province in other capacities, adds, “The MHS Grant Program aims to strengthen and expand mental health programs by increasing access, enhancing quality of care, and supporting innovative approaches that respond to emerging needs. We look forward to receiving our first round of applications this spring, to reviewing them, and making the funding announcements this July!”

Andrea, Grant Operations Manager, who has worked for the Sisters in other roles before joining MMI in 2024 reflects, “We are never standing still. We are always looking for the next, best opportunity to support like-minded organizations.” You can read more about MMI on the Province website by clicking the Vincentian Family tab at the top www.daughtersofcharity.org When asked how it is working with the Sisters, Jeanne quickly replied, “We love it!”

What is systemic change?

MMI defines system change as “engaging people living in poverty in ways which enable them to emerge from their poverty; tackling root causes and looking at whole systems and sets of circumstances which result in poverty, disempowerment, and extreme disadvantage.”

Daughters of Charity Pray, Fast, and Advocate for Justice

by Rachel Moccia

Where might Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton see hope?

In the midst of deep polarization, dehumanizing rhetoric, and increasing violence in our nation and world, women religious have been continually discerning how they can live as signs of hope and healing. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) has urged its members to be, “bearers of love who refuse to relinquish our moral authority nor languish in despair…[who] wholeheartedly embrace the call of the church to be people of hope and live this call with all our being for the sake of the world and its future” (A Response from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious to These Times).

As a concrete manifestation of this commitment to being people of hope, LCWR has invited its member congregations to devote one out of every 100 days to prayer, fasting, and advocacy for justice. There have already been two cycles of these “100 Days of Prayer,

Fasting and Advocacy,” which have engaged more than 200 congregations in prayer, learning, dialogue, and action. More than 1,000 letters on issues ranging from immigration to racism and care for our common home were hand-delivered to members of Congress and many more were submitted electronically.

The Daughters of Charity participated in both cycles of the 100 Days campaign, first in August 2025 and again in January 2026. In August, the Daughters of Charity Interprovincial Advocacy and Social Justice Committee created a guide to help the community pray, fast, and advocate in light of current events and the Daughters of Charity charism. The Sisters fasted while contemplating stories of real people who are suffering from hunger due to government cuts to SNAP and foreign assistance. They prayed alongside St. Catherine Labouré for those who are suffering in their communities. Finally, they advocated for justice by making phone calls and sending emails in support of the Modern WIC Act (H.R. 1464), which would modernize the way people apply for and access WIC funds, making the program more accessible and efficient.

Sisters marked the day of observance with their local communities and with staff at their ministries who joined them in prayer. One Sister, reflecting on the experience shared, “It was powerful, and the fact that all of LCWR was doing this through these days, felt like a really important movement. I was happy to be part of it.”

For the second cycle of the 100 Days effort, LCWR encouraged congregations to think about how they could engage broader networks and collaborate. To that end, the Daughters of Charity joined with the Sisters of Charity Federation for a virtual gathering called Fasting from Indifference, Acting in Hope. United by the charity

What would Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton say about what is happening in our world?

charism, more than 130 Sisters, associates, affiliates, staff, and friends from across the United States and Canada gathered by Zoom to share the intentions that were on their heart, lament the suffering in our world, and be consoled by God’s hope. On the heels of the Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the prayer service invoked her intercession and her example of hope, inviting participants to lean on divine hope and consider how they might embody that hope in their own lives.

During the gathering, participants also learned about a ray of hope in response to the climate crisis: the movement to develop a global treaty to phase out fossil fuels through a just transition to renewables. Participants acted in hope by committing to sign on in support of the effort.

Following the service, one Sister expressed her appreciation that the gathering, “called on the power of the Spirit that stirs when we share our pain, anger, and frustration, and reminded [us] of the hope to which we are called.” Another shared that she sees, “a real need for this so that we remain in solidarity and advocacy in each of our communities.”

The Daughters plan to continue engaging in future cycles of the 100 Days campaign, as a way to anchor themselves in hope and join contemplation with action. To watch a recording of the January gathering, scan the QR code that accompanies this article. If you’re interested in participating in the Daughters’ future 100 Days efforts, email Rachel at rachel.moccia@doc.org

In Memory

“Remain faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life.”

Revelation 2:10

We remember the 7 Daughters of Charity who, in recent months, have gone to their Eternal Home.

You are invited to read the Sisters’ complete obituaries online.

Sister Kathleen Shannon

January 6, 1955

August 20, 2025

49 years vocation

Teacher, Administrative Assistant, Business Office and Operations Manager, VP Mission Integration, Outreach Coordinator, Tutor, and Local Community Superior

Sister Betty Gunselman

October 29, 1934

November 30, 2025

39 years vocation

Hospital Pastoral Care Associate, Outreach Services for St. Vincent’s Center, including Betty’s Boutique Shop for Children and Families

Sister Dorothy Ann Pyle

March 28, 1936

August 8, 2025

58 years vocation

Elementary and Special Education Teacher, Program Director, Administrator, Provincial Councillor, Development and Community Relations Director, Hispanic Ministry, and Local Community Superior

Sister Veronica Tinseth

Sister Catherine Kline

Sister Gertrude Levy

November 15, 1919

January 5, 1933

September 27, 2025

March 27, 2022

88 years vocation

70 years vocation

Teacher, Taiwan and Chongqing, China Missionary, Volunteer

Elementary and Secondary Teacher, House Mother, Home Life Supervisor, Development Director, Mission Coordinator, Director of Volunteers, Community Ambassador, and Board Member

Sister Hermana Hoelscher

December 22, 1936

February 3, 2026

69 years vocation

Child Care Worker, Staff Nurse, Clinical Charge Nurse, Hostess, Teacher, Pastoral Assistant, Caregiver and Director

August 18, 1946

October 15, 2025

58 years vocation

Nurse, Home Care Coordinator, Hospice Director, Hospital Administrator, Vice President of Mission Services, Assistant Seminary Directress, and Pastoral Care Minister

Sister Donna Franklin

May 15, 1950

March 11, 2026

50 years vocation

Social Worker for homeless mothers and children, re-entry for prisoners, Executive Director for Catholic Charities, and Local Community Superior

Public Statement

Released February 2, 2026

Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, USA Statement on Immigration Enforcement

As Daughters of Charity our mission is to serve those who are most in need, thus we cannot be silent in the face of the violence that is being inflicted on communities across our nation through inhumane immigration enforcement. We witness firsthand its resulting suffering and fear. In the faces of our distressed neighbors, we see the face of Christ, who told us, “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Our Catholic social tradition teaches that nations have a right to control their borders. At the same time, nations have a corresponding responsibility to ensure that the immigration policies they enact are humane and protect the dignity of every person. For the sake of the Gospel and our neighbors we state clearly that recent enforcement methods — racial profiling, intimidation, physical violence, family separation, lack of due process, and deplorable detention conditions — do not live up to that responsibility, and, instead, violate the sanctity of life.

 We call on enforcement agents to cease these tactics immediately.

 We thank those members of law enforcement who work hard to de-escalate tense situations and keep communities safe.

 We call on our leaders and lawmakers to commit to the work of building a truly humane immigration system — one that provides safe and legal pathways for migrants and honors their God-given dignity.

To our migrant sisters and brothers, we echo the U.S. bishops in saying, “you are not alone!” We stand with you. We are mindful of our own history when Daughters of Charity were forced to flee their home during the French Revolution and who then relied on the welcome of the Church and communities as they sought to reestablish themselves. May we always strive to extend such welcome to others.

As Lent nears, we pray that God may soften our hearts and that we may experience a season, nationwide, of repentance and a renewed commitment to peace.

Daughters of Charity Province of St. Louise Daughters of Charity Province of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 4330 Olive Street 26000 Altamont Road St. Louis, Missouri 63108 Los Altos Hills, California 94022

Province News

On the occasion of her 35th year class reunion from medical school at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., Sister Mary Felice was honored on September 19 with the Humanitarian Award for her service as a Daughter of Charity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the past 19 years. Photo, left to right: Mantosh Dewan MD, HS, University President; Sister Mary; Lawrence Chin, MD, FACS, Dean; and Barbara Anne Morisseau, MD, President of the Alumni Foundation.

In October, leaders from Mount St. Mary’s University along with Daughters of Charity and community representatives gathered for the ribbon-cutting of the University’s Timothy E. Trainor School of Health Professions on the Daughters’ Emmitsburg campus. Named after the university’s President Emeritus Timothy E. Trainor, the school has been in the process of completion for several years. The first class of physician assistant students began courses in January 2026. University leaders shared, “the school is a result of dedication by the university’s staff, generous donors, and collaborative partnerships, including the Daughters of Charity.”

Honors have come to the Province through the mission of MMI. For each award, Sisters of the Province have accepted the accolades. The most recent honor took place on December 10. Project QUEST, a workforce development program in San Antonio, honored the Daughters of Charity at a luncheon which Sisters Patricia Huffman and Denise LaRock accepted the honor. MMI awarded Project Quest a significant multi-year grant through MMI’s relatively new proactive grantmaking program for their amazing workforce development program.

On October 24, St. Augustine High School in New Orleans honored the Daughters of Charity for the many MMI grants made to the school over the past two decades. Several sisters attended the St. Augustine Honors and Hall of Fame Gala. Sister Louise Busby accepted the award and offered a few words.

At their end of the year 2025 celebration, O’Hair Park Community Association in Detroit, awarded Certificates of Appreciation. Sister Therese MacKinnon received one for her work with the Association and for the contributions that O’Hair Park was awarded from MMI.

The dedication and blessing of Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg’s new St. Joseph’s Chapel were held earlier in December. Archbishop Lori of Baltimore blessed the new chapel. The gift of the chapel was donated by Thomas and Donna (Fitzgerald) Demmon, MSS ‘63, in memory of their son Christopher J. Demmon, also an MSS alum, Class of 1988. Chris died unexpectedly in 1991 as a result of a car accident. The new addition extends from the front of the current building and is visible from Creamery Road. This private chapel will accommodate seating for one classroom and will provide a sacred space for teachers and students to use for Mass and other prayer activities throughout the year.

Sister Claire Edwards (New Orleans) was recently honored with the Service Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), presented by ACHE and the Louisiana Chapter of Healthcare Executives in recognition of her “commitment to healthcare management excellence.” Sister Claire became a Fellow of ACHE in 1996 and was named a Life Fellow in 2016. A longtime leader in Catholic healthcare, Sister Claire has provided executive leadership by promoting and integrating mission, vision, and values across health systems. Her responsibilities have included oversight of spiritual care, ethics, advocacy, care of the poor and community benefit, ministry formation, and employee recognition. She has also directed primary care services for the uninsured and supported program development, fundraising, and community relations.

Sister Claire previously served as Vice President of Mission at Catholic Health in Buffalo, N.Y. and at Seton Health in Troy, N.Y.; Administrator of Occupational Health Services at Carney Hospital in Boston, Mass.; and as Executive Director of freestanding family service agencies. Sister Claire has dedicated herself to various roles in volunteer parish ministry over the years. Currently, she serves with great dedication at St. Joseph Church in New Orleans continuing her mission of service and compassion.

A prayer vigil, “Prayer-Filled Advocacy: You Are Not Alone,” found Daughters of Charity and members of the Vincentian Family present on a rainy Saturday. More than 200 people huddled together on a rainsoaked cement pad across the road from the ICE Detention Center in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri on March 7. Hosted by Abide in Love, an immigrant support group and sponsored by nearly 20 Catholic congregations and organizations, including the Daughters of Charity, the diverse gathering shared hope-filled songs, thoughtful sharing, and intense times of prayers.

Never forgetting the suffering of the detainees across the street or the distress of their families, speakers drew the crowd into even closer understanding of the situation. Father Scott Jones, Episcopal Vicar; Father Thomas Greene, SJ, Provincial Superior of the Jesuits; Reverend Sara S. Brown, United Methodist Church; and communications shared from the immigrant detainees via their Abide in Love “pen pals” brought deeper insights. The crowd responded with a deep communal lamentation and a loud singing of “Amazing Grace.”

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Faith Afire is printed with the environment in mind. In addition to domestic made recycled paper, the energy used to produce this magazine has been offset 100 percent with Missouri wind energy credits procured from the Ameren Missouri Pure Power program. The print facility is one of fewer than 50 SGP certified printers in the US and uses only printing inks that are solvent-free, low V.O.C. and soy based.

Sister Josephine Makes Vows for the First Time

November 29, 2025, on the Foundation date of the Little Company, Sister Josephine Lomasney made vows for the first time, ratifying her total gift of self to God in service to those in need. At Holy Name Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas, Sister Josephine was surrounded by fellow Sisters, family members, ministry partners, and Vincentians as she made her vows. Congratulations, Sister Josephine!