Press Releases
July 20, 2010-
Sisters Share Joy of Ministry During "Come and See" Weekend
The Sisters of Charity recently invited single, Catholic women to “Come and See” the joy of life as a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill. Team members Sisters Karen Cunningham, Kathleen McCauley and Joan Murray accompanied the women who attended the weekend program.
To begin the weekend, one of the women, Maria, arrived at Marian Hall and enjoyed a pizza supper with 
the “Team” and Sister Mary Elizabeth Schrei, who led evening prayer. The group then talked informally while waiting for Yeon, the other weekend attendee, who came later that evening.
The next day, the opportunities for prayer, camaraderie, learning and laughter were plentiful. After Sister Mary Lou Palas led morning prayers, the sisters and Come and See participants went to the Communion Service at Caritas Christi, the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity. They met Sisters Francis Louise Honeychuck, Marie Patrick Sullivan and Marcella Mary Burgunder for conversation in the Theodosia Parlor. All listened intently as the sisters told stories about their ministries at DePaul School for Speech and Hearing, at a variety of places in Pennsylvania and Arizona as well as at the House of Hospitality in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. A letter from Sister Helen Elizabeth McElwain, who was unable to be present, described her early experiences at Etna Commons, a high rise residence for elders. A tour of Caritas Christi by Sisters Miriam Richard Soisson and Mary Lou Palas ended at the Archives where Sister Louise Grundish talked about the early days of the community.
Following lunch, Sister Mary Alma Vandervest gave an informative tour of Saint Joseph Chapel at Seton Hill University. Later in the afternoon, Sister Mary Clark wove significant facts about the life of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton through a story about her friendship with our foundress.
The group returned to Marian Hall to meet Sisters Mary Ann Winters and Grace Hartzog who cooked a delicious dinner. Before the meal, Sister Mary Clark invited everyone to hold a relic of Mother Seton as part of grace. As the relic was passed around the table, each sister and guest honored the foundress and requested whatever blessing was desired from the weekend. The delight in the atmosphere at dinner led to a round of spontaneous singing and hand clapping.
Sister Laura Coughlin, who came for dinner, prepared the evening prayer. A question and answer session followed during which time the sisters, including Sister Lindena Brace, conveyed their vocation stories. The women spoke of how God is working in their lives and asked questions about religious life. The evening ended on a contemplative note at Queen of Peace Chapel in Doran Hall where Sister Marian Madden guided prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
At departure time, Yeon and Maria expressed their gratitude for the Come and See weekend and the beautiful Sunday Liturgy and dinner at Caritas Christi where they were hosted at tables by Sisters Mary Halloran and Laverne Cassidy.
The weekend was a blessing to the attendees and to the community. Both women are obviously open to God’s direction in their lives. Hope filled the experience and deepened our joy at being Sisters of Charity.