Discernment Weekend at House of Charity

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Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC Cincinnati’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Projects Elizabeth Bayley Seton - Collected Writings Discernment Weekend at House of Charity The House of Charity in New Orleans is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Federation which is based in our common Charity Charism. The Sisters who staff the house and the volunteers who come there, are a Charity presence to the people of New Orleans.

The focus of the House of Charity is a hospitality that offers an experience of community (shared prayer, meals, service) to the volunteers it welcomes. Sister Monica Gundler, SC Cincinnati, Sister Claire Regan, SC New York, and Sister Renee Rose, Daughter of Charity, Evansville, are the pioneer members. The weekend of September 3rd through September 6th was a first, as they hosted a “Come and Serve” weekend for women discerning the call to apostolic religious life in the 21st Century.

In the spirit of Vincent, Louise and Elizabeth, Sisters from five Federation Congregations and seven women from Montana, Texas, Kentucky, Massachusetts and New York integrated prayer, service, reflection and shared searching. The “Come and Serve “ theme was lived out as the gathered community met with a representative of the Saint Vincent De Paul Society in Saint Bernard Parish who identified a home needing rehab, providing instructions and necessary supplies.

The discerners and Sisters were graced to meet the elderly owner of the house, and his wife, and to hear their stories of Katrina. Their faith and trust in God was evident as they kindly supplied their volunteers throughout the day with goodies, even bringing some famed New Orleans local fare, delicious “PoBoy” sandwiches! Because the weather was moderate for New Orleans the physical work accomplished was impressive. Even more significant was the gift of community building which was evident throughout the remainder of the weekend.

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Among the many highlights during the “Come and Serve” weekend was Sunday breakfast and prayer at the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. All were invited to spend time with Jesus walking by the water…listening to the invitation to put out into the deep … being with Jesus as he calms the storm… responding to Jesus’ invitation to walk on water.

Praying these scripture passages and sharing about the experience was truly moving. Other highlights included: sessions on Call, Discernment,and Spiritual Topography; insights into the call stories of Vincent, Louise and Elizabeth; and a general overview of the development of the various branches of Sisters of Charity. In the Vincentian spirit, the “Come and Serve” discerning community gathered for Sunday Mass at a local parish church. Practical question and response sessions indicated that the women participating in the weekend are truly grappling with the meaning of being an apostolic religious in the today’s world.

A session using the Vincentian Questions about joy, clarity, and how to move into the future, helped to gather the movements of the heart in preparation for returning home to continue the discernment about apostolic religious life in the context of everyday life. The ending blessing was especially powerful as in silence each greeted and prayed for the other. The women came with the expressed intention to discern about God’s call to religious life.

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They found the intensive program, planned by the Company of Charity Formation Personnel (CCFP), challenging and hope-filled. Pray that the women discerning may continue to awaken to God’s presence; that they may continue to engage with others in knowing God’s will; that they may in the spirit of Vincent, Louise and Elizabeth, attend well to the grace of the moment, trusting in God’s providence. Sister Charlotte Raftery, SCNY

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