Intercom Vol. I 2020 by Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati

Intercom

Volume I, 2020

S I S T E R S

O F

C H A R I T Y

O F

C I N C I N N AT I

A LETTER FROM OUR SISTER

LEADERSHIP

“Love without measure, without cost, without judgment is what all our spiritual practices are meant to develop in us.” - Sister Joan Chittister, OSB Dear Sisters, Associates and Friends,

I CONTENTS FEATURES Celebrating Our First Associate in Mission .............................................9 Remembering the life and legacy of Blasa Rivera.

n her latest book, The Time is Now, A Call to Uncommon Courage, S. Joan Chittister is bold and direct. We need engaged, caring people who want to make a better world. We are challenged to open our eyes – and our mouths – to notice and speak out for those who are unable to speak for themselves or who need the power of our voices joined with their own. Our own Communications Office staff attended the national conference where S. Joan challenged our communications to always point toward the mission of the congregation. They have taken seriously the call to inform, educate and invite us to respond.

Risking a Caring Response ............ 14-15 The impact of the Ignatian Spirituality Project.

In this issue and future issues of Intercom we center on homelessness, to learn the causes, the interventions, the challenges and the struggles of those on the margins. Our Sisters, Associates and collaborators can offer us new insight and inspire us to act. Beyond the stories here, we know many of us are engaged in this issue in other ways either in advocacy, direct service, systemic change or collaboration.

One Step Closer to Home ............. 18-19 Bethany House stays true to the SC spirit it was built on.

We celebrate some of our giants, S. Bernadette Kambeitz, as she passes the century mark and Blasa Rivera, our very first Associate who went home to be with her God this year. We remember all those on whose shoulders we stand.

Tracing Christ’s Footsteps through Time ................................ 26-27 The Sisters of Charity Archives preserves the Community’s history.

In all of the ministries, memories and invitations to join in the mission, let us remember the last line of our Charism Statement “to know the needs of our sisters and brothers and … dare to risk a caring response.”

A Place to Call Home .................... 10-11 Addressing homelessness in 2020.

DEPARTMENTS Moments in Ministry ............................3 San Felipe de Neri, Albuquerque, New Mexico EarthConnection............................... 6-8 Living Lightly on Earth: EarthConnection’s Sister Caroljean Willie

Gratefully,

S. Monica Gundler, SC

OPJCC ...............................................22 Faith in Action: Lenten Almsgiving Timeless Treasures ...............................23 S. Adele Clifford’s portrait On the Cover: As a current board member of Bethany House Services, S. Lynn Heper (standing, right) has had the opportunity to meet and hear the stories of many of the families experiencing homelessness in the Greater Cincinnati area. Disclaimer: The information contained in Intercom is intended for general information and educational purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are the views of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.

IN MEMORIAM Please visit “In Memoriam” at www.srcharitycinti.org for biographical information and reflections on the Sisters of Charity and Associates who have died. May our Sisters and Associates enjoy the fruits of their labor as well as peace with their God. S. Mary Alberta Bodde Dec. 21, 2019

S. Rose Therese Wich Jan. 14, 2020

S. Rosalie Riggio Dec. 25, 2019

S. Julia Mary Deiters Jan. 23, 2020

S. Helen Margaret Cullen Feb. 12, 2020

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Moments in Ministry San Felipe de Neri School, Albuquerque, New Mexico By S. Judith Metz

S. Mary Nolasco Sanchez ministered at San Felipe de Neri on four separate occasions.

1881

Six Sisters of Charity opened San Felipe under the leadership of S. Mary Josephine Irwin. The school consisted of Public School #1 and a select school for girls. One of the few schools in Albuquerque at the time, it served students of all denominations, ethnic groups, and income levels.

1883

The San Felipe Sisters, under the leadership of S. Blandina Segale, opened the Wayfarers’ House to serve abandoned children, sick vagabonds, and “all other emergencies.”

1906

Due to changing conditions in the city, the Sisters withdrew from Public School #1. San Felipe parochial school then opened under the direction of Sisters Mary Renetta Hughes and Mary Nolasco Sanchez. S. Mary Nolasco served four different times at San Felipe totaling 35 years. Noted for her guidance, concern and love for the students, she was a legend in the parish. One former student remembered, “She never got old, remaining youthful looking and vibrant.”

1927

Outgrowing the buildings in Old Town Plaza, the school relocated to the old courthouse a few blocks away.

1954

A new school building on the old courthouse grounds was erected and two years later a junior high school was opened there.

1959

A new elementary school building was completed. When five Sisters, five lay teachers, and 400 children moved, each student picked up his or her desk and belongings and walked to the new building. Everything was transferred by 11 a.m., and the cafeteria served hot lunches for 25 cents that day.

1988

The last Sister of Charity left San Felipe School when S. Ann Reimund moved to a new ministry.

San Felipe’s new elementary school building was completed in 1959.

S. Ann Reimund taught at San Felipe School from 1972-’82 and again from 1985-’88.

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Moving Into Our Future By S. Joanne Burrows

he recent decision to bring the Motherhouse’s Seton Hall down was years in the making but, once made, now frees us to think anew about how our facilities can best serve our life and ministry as we move into our future. The Motherhouse Property Planning Committee (MPPC) has worked throughout the fall to gather information about our facilities and how we use them. We have walked its corridors and tunnels, conversed with Sisters about their ministries here, distributed surveys asking about future living plans, explored staff needs for spaces, tossed around possibilities, and drafted a Request for Proposals for the demolition of Seton Hall. Some conclusions for the next five to 10 years have emerged over the fall. • Our current facilities offer ample space and we do not need to build a new facility at this time. • The Immaculate Conception Chapel and the Dining Room will serve as the core around which our communal life on the campus will be oriented. • As our numbers decrease by half over the next decade, we will vacate Sisters’ residential areas from west to east concentrating residential areas around this Chapel/Dining Room core. The goal is to fully utilize Motherhouse East and Center and discontinue use of Marian Hall rooms for Sisters as need allows. • Moving forward, we need better utilization of the Assisted Living areas in Mother Margaret Hall by Sisters for whom such an environment is appropriate. • After exploring alternate uses of St. Mary’s Hall, the third and fourth floors will remain residential areas. • Regina Hall and McGree Hall (the old laundry) will remain and their future usage reconsidered. Space for overnight guests connects closely with the need for Sisters’ residential areas. Seton Hall, even with its many shortcomings, offered a wealth of hospitality space that we could not recreate. For the next several years, rooms available 4

for overnight accommodations will be limited. We are not accepting reservations for Seton Hall after November 2020. St. Mary’s Hall third and fourth floors will provide 12 rooms with half baths and shared showers for guests. As the 22 rooms with full baths in Marian West become available, they can be used to accommodate Sisters visiting or on retreat. We will be surveying our Sisters in Cincinnati to identify hospitality options in their homes for our Sisters visiting the Mount. Decisions about where offices will be located have yet to be made. The particular needs of the Archives repository pushes determining its location to the front of the line. Structural engineers are helping us identify areas in the Motherhouse that cannot accommodate the collection. We are looking at possible office layouts in several locations on the first and second floor of Marian Hall and Motherhouse Center to see what might fit where and how the areas could be configured to encourage greater synergies among offices. The sequential nature of this process may require some temporary moves. Other moves may be necessitated by the needs of regular day-to-day functioning. The Leadership Council approaches this planning process as more than simply relocating offices. This is an opportunity to rethink our facilities and how best to use them to promote our life together and to continue living our mission. Not everything we do should continue or continue on our campus. Our needs and abilities are changing and our spaces should reflect and support our new realities going forward. The small group process and Spring Sisters Forum are important next steps in the ongoing communal conversation needed for the critical work of rethinking the Mount. Neither the process nor the forum seeks input about what to put where. Rather, the focus of both will be how we live our lives together, what we see as central elements of community moving forward, and how space can best support those aspects of community. We look forward to engaging with all of you as we work together to plan for the Mount’s future. I N T E RC O M

Celebrating a Milestone: Wishing S. Bernadette Kambeitz a Happy 100th Birthday

he secret to living a long, healthy life is a question asked by many. Some will tell you much of it lies in eating well, exercising, or getting plenty of sleep. But for S. Bernadette Kambeitz, the oldest living Sister of Charity in age and in years as a Community member, the key to living a long life can be found in travel, embracing change and building loving relationships. On Dec. 13, 2019, S. Bernadette celebrated 100 years of life. Those who know her can certainly affirm that she has reached this centennial milestone by being her joyful self and sharing that light with all those she has walked with through the years.

In September 1974, after 30 years in the field of education, S. Bernadette began 15 years of service in the Radial Immunoassay Lab at St. Joseph Hospital in Mount Clemens, Michigan. It was there that she met Denise Donahue. The pair quickly became close friends, and as Donahue explained S. Bernadette was close with all of the med-techs in the lab, the matriarch of the group.

Many celebrations took place throughout the Motherhouse in honor of S. Bernadette Kambeitz’s 100th birthday.

Born and raised in Springfield, Ohio, S. Bernadette was the oldest child of Albert and Elizabeth Kambeitz. She and her sister, Martha, attended elementary school at St. Joseph’s and high school at Catholic Central where they were taught by the Sisters of Charity for all 12 years. S. Bernadette fondly remembers riding her bike past the convent as a little girl and witnessing their joy. What they had, she wanted, and following her high school graduation in 1937, S. Bernadette entered the Sisters of Charity at the age of 17.

Travel S. Bernadette earned her degree in education from The Athenaeum of Ohio in Cincinnati, graduating in 1942; thus began her 30-year education ministry teaching chemistry, physics and math in schools throughout the Midwest and West. Sister acknowledged the opportunities the Community provided her in those years, teaching at schools in Ohio, Michigan and New Mexico, and credits those ministries as life-giving as each afforded her a broader perspective of the world and opportunities to create deep relationships with those she met.

Embracing Change S. Bernadette once said that her life has been characterized by a never-ending series of changes, changes that steered her into three different careers. While she certainly met a lot of challenges along the way, the changes, she felt, encouraged her to grow and reach her potential.

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“She was a friend to everyone,” Donahue said. “If you were down at the cafeteria, she would sit down and start talking … She was involved in everybody’s life – in a good way. She treated us like family, and we did the same to her.”

Building Relationships Those who know S. Bernadette can speak on her ability to make a person feel as though they are the most important person in her world. She attributes that character trait to her father, whom she frequently remembers for his joyful, good-natured spirit. As a Sister of Charity, she lives the mission and charism with her compassionate heart and commitment to others. S. Karen Hawver, who knows S. Bernadette from her years growing up in Springfield, had the privilege of living and ministering near Sister in Michigan for more than 30 years. She says that she has never seen such devotion and love as the hospital employees showed to S. Bernadette. In fact Bernie (as she affectionately calls her) would babysit for the children of the hospital doctors. One particular family, the Hauranis, entrusted her with their four children. Following their unexpected deaths, “Bernie stayed with the children through the funerals and many weeks afterwards. She occupied the parent place of honor at every wedding for all of the children in later years. To this day she is very special to the Haurani children and their families.” Compassionate, kind, selfless – the secret to living a long life from S. Bernadette’s perspective is simply living life. She gives herself to others and those who have the honor and privilege of knowing her quickly learn that she values the person they are.

Living Lightly on Earth:

EarthConnection’s Sister Caroljean Willie

ister Caroljean (Cj) Willie is the program director at EarthConnection, an environmental center affiliated with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and adjacent to Mount St. Joseph University in Western Hills. Sister Cj brings to EarthConnection her years of multicultural work experience from working with teachers in developing countries such as East Cebal, Uganda, Guatemala, and Mexico; her Peace Corps service on the island of Saint Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean; and her work for eight years at the United Nations as the N.G.O. representative of the Sisters of Charity Federation which includes 14 congregations working in 26 countries. As an educator, Sister Cj quoted a teacher who said, “Everything you teach has to have hooks on it that attach to something else in someone’s experience,” which has influenced her environmental sustainability efforts to encourage communities to work together. Interview by Kelly Carrigan. Photography by Nicole Mayes.

How did you end up in Cincinnati? I had gone to college here – at Xavier University – and so when I finished my Peace Corps experience, I came back here and met the Sisters of Charity, but then worked at St. Joseph Orphanage where they happened to be so that is how I ended up in Cincinnati.

What led you to EarthConnection and what is their mission? I realized that one of my greatest interests at the United Nations was in the area of environmental sustainability. I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Bonn, Germany, put on by the U.N. Environment Programme as well as attend the Rio+20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro and to serve on the Committee in the U.N. itself. I knew that we had EarthConnection – Sister Paula Gonzalez had started it quite 6

a number of years ago and she essentially started it as a place to learn to live lightly on Earth. I talked to Sister Paula, and she was really excited about the possibility of doing programs. I looked at some of the things we had been working on at the U.N. and looked at how we might bring those back to EarthConnection. I’ve really tried to do a variety of different kinds of programs to appeal to different audiences. Once a month we host a movie night called “Movies that Matter,” and for the last four months we have done one called “Sinking Cities” where we looked at the realities of what was happening in London, New York, Tokyo, and Miami and got people engaged in conversation afterward. I also work on the Sustainability Committee at [Mount St. Joseph] where we’re looking at different ways of engaging students in environmental activities and finding a tremendous amount of interest and support in young people. I N T E RC O M

I also served on the Interfaith Committee at the United Nations, and one of the things that we had done there was have a monthly meeting on spirituality and sustainability. We tried to look at how our spirituality influences our care for creation and we discovered that it was a wonderful way of getting to know each other’s faiths since there was no doctrine involved. I’ve tried to replicate that here at EarthConnection. So far, I’ve had speakers from the Buddhist community, the Hindu community – actually the Hindu monk that I had come for that talk was one of my colleagues at the United Nations and he came from New York and talked about the Hindu connection to the environment, but he was also one of the lead authors on the Hindu document on environmental sustainability. It was wonderful to have him. I’ve had the Zoroastrian community, the Sikh community, and the Catholic community. I am still working on this year to invite the Muslim community, the Jewish community, and a variety of Christian traditions because it is something that we can embrace together.

What other local communities and organizations do you engage in your work? You’ve talked about the ones in Ohio, but what about other ones nationally and internationally at EarthConnection? Internationally, I work with micro-financing partners in Africa, but that takes me to Africa. I work with a number of micro-financing projects there – Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It’s more through the Sisters of Charity than it is with EarthConnection, but that helps me to come back and be able to talk with people about the realities of climate change for people who are suffering far more than we are. For instance, when I was in Tanzania last year, in the Masai territory (for the Masai people, cows are their lives), we were driving along a road and there were six or seven Masai men with a couple of cows. As I watched, one of the cows fell over and died right in front of me, and they just all gathered around and looked because that was their livelihood. The drought was so severe. In India, it was two different things: In the north, there was drought everywhere, but in the south, there was so much flooding. In both cases, you had hundreds of thousands of farmer suicides because they couldn’t feed their families. So these are real issues that are happening out there, and I think it’s important for people here to know about them. I firmly believe that we see from where we stand, so I don’t look at people as being uncaring or unfeeling – they simply don’t know.

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You do outreach with children, too, such as the Girl Scouts – can you talk about that? I have done stuff with the Girl Scouts now at all different age levels. We offer an EarthConnection patch if they come and learn about environmental sustainability even at the 5-year-old level; we have a program for that. What we do is we show them around EarthConnection and show them our geothermal solar energy and what that’s all about. In addition to the patch, what we have Girl Scout troops coming for now is to earn some badges – we do outdoor art, gardening, and flowers. We’ve developed programs around all of those at different age levels.

And then you have your garden here. Are you involved with that? Sister Winnie Brubach, the sister with whom I work here at EarthConnection, is the master gardener. We grow about 800 to 1,000 pounds of veggies each year, and the vegetables go to the Good Samaritan TriHealth Free Health Center in Lower Price Hill. One of our sisters who works there is a nutritionist, so she and some of the other people there wash all the veggies, bag them, and give recipes to the people and so they get fresh veggies every week of the summer.

Could you talk a little bit about how the building that EarthConnection is in has used recycled materials? Sister Paula wanted everything that was used to construct this building be recycled. It began with a four-car garage – that was the original structure that she started with. Then, she decided that it needed to be larger so she asked many builders what the most permanent type of structure was; what would last the longest? They told her timber frame, so the added-on part that has the offices, the resource center, the bathrooms, the kitchen, and everything is all timber frame. There is not a single nail in the entire building. It is all pegs and was assembled elsewhere

and brought here like an Amish barn raising. I wasn’t here at the time, but they said only one hole was 1/8 of an inch off. Everything else fit perfectly. That is pretty incredible. When it came to furnishing the place, they were redoing the dorms at our university across the street, so she took everything they were getting rid of in terms of bookcases, shelves, and tables. The carpeting is made out of 2-liter pop bottles and has held up very well – it’s been here for 20 years. The tiles on the floor were made using recycled glass. The building is also partially powered by both solar and geothermal energy. She was trying to use the building as an experiment because there wasn’t much solar or geothermal in Cincinnati in the early ’90s, but we have solar panels providing some – but not all – of the energy we use for this building.

Please speak to some of the influential female mentors in your life. Well, certainly Sister Paula Gonzalez. In 1969, when we first began to see pictures of the Earth from the moon, she gave up her professorship over at [Mount St. Joseph] and said, “I need to devote the rest of my life to that,” and until the day she died, she did just that – to really help people understand what a critical juncture we were at in Earth’s history. She was one of the founders of Ohio Interfaith Power and Light. It’s now a very strong organization throughout the state that helps different religious traditions and different faith communities to use more environmentally sustainable methods in their parishes and congregations. Michele Bachelet, the former president of Chile, was certainly an influence on my time at the U.N. She was the

first head of U.N. Women, which is a group of different U.N. women organizations that were all doing different things and combined under one to make a stronger organization, and she was a wonderful first leader for that. Mary Robinson, who was the former president of Ireland and just recently wrote a book on climate justice – I certainly admire her work as president and later in working with the U.N. and these days on climate justice. I think people are beginning to see the connection between poverty and justice.

How would you like to make an impact in Cincinnati? I don’t know that I personally need to make an impact in Cincinnati. I simply want to be able to share the experiences that I have had and help people come to an understanding that we are all responsible for what is happening in the world. We can’t keep blaming somebody else for what is happening. We all have to take a look at our own lifestyle and recognize that the lifestyle of the average American is simply not sustainable. It would take anywhere from three to five planets to support our lifestyle if everyone were to live the way we do.

Is there anything else you’d like to include? I would like people to know about the programs that we are doing here at EarthConnection, and that we are available to do programs on their site, as well. If you go to our website it lists a number of different topics that we can speak on. And most of all, that we are all in this together, so it is going to take all of us doing our part to make a more sustainable world.

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Blasa Rivera: Celebrating Our First Associate in Mission

t was in 1973 that the late S. Jane Grosheider set in motion a conversation that would change the face of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She proposed to begin a relationship with individuals in the Christian Community that would “provide support and encouragement to persons who share our values and vision of life.” On Sept. 5, 1973, in Pueblo, Colorado, Blasa Rivera answered that call becoming the first Associate member of the Sisters of Charity, and with it the relationship officially began. On Jan. 14, 2020, at the age of 96, Blasa peacefully went home to God. She leaves behind children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many adoring Sisters and Associates that she built relationships with throughout her 46 years as an Associate of the Sisters of Charity. As word of her death traveled, stories and memories of the joyful, committed Associate began to circulate. “Blasa was truly a ‘family’ person,” recalled S. Noreen Ellison. “Her family was prime in her thoughts, prayers and activities. Her SC family in Pueblo was also very special to her.” In 2003 Blasa shared her story: “At a time in my life when I was separated from my husband, raising four children alone in Pueblo, Colorado, I felt like I was floating, that I had no anchor in my life. One of my daughters was in the Spanish Club at school, which was moderated by S. Christine Falsetto. The club was having a fundraiser and my daughter volunteered me to make tamales. Sister and I bonded through music. But she also had a strong spiritual life. I no longer felt alone….” The path was not always easy. She said in an interview that some Sisters were not always accepting of Associates. As the program expanded, however, and more Associates committed themselves to the Community, those feelings changed. Blasa treasured her relationships with the Sisters, particularly Sisters Christine and Emily Anne Phelan. “Both women live/d a faith-filled life and were/are examples of patience, forgiveness and working with the downtrodden. Both women have changed me,” she said. “Blasa was always so proud of being the first Associate for the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati,” remembered former Director of Associates Mary Jo Mersmann. “She valued this relationship with the Charity Family as a priority in her life and participated in meetings and activities for more than 40 years. What a wonderful role model she was for all of us as she embodied the Charity charism and values! We as a VOLUME I, 2020

Blasa Rivera (front) was the first lay person to make her commitment as an Associate in Mission with the Sisters of Charity in September 1973.

Charity community were so fortunate to have her wisdom and her kindness shared with us regularly and for such a long period of time.” Mary Jo does remember a particular story of Blasa – one that she can now look back on and laugh. “It was the first evening of the Associate Convocation, and Associates and Sisters were flying in from all over the U.S.,” she recalled. “The chapel was filled with participants greeting one another and chatting loudly. “It was about 10 minutes before I was to welcome everyone when I got a phone call from the airport saying we lost Blasa! She didn’t arrive on the flight we had been given. At this time, Blasa was in her 80s and traveling alone. My heart went into my throat. How can I welcome everyone not knowing where our beloved first Associate is? “After several phone calls to her family and minutes of sheer panic, we found out that Blasa’s flight number and time of arrival had changed and we hadn’t been notified. What seemed like hours (but only minutes) later, Blasa arrived safely at CVG unaware of all of the commotion. She arrived in the chapel to a round of applause and tears of joy!” Blasa treasured the spiritual support she found through Association. Her journey brought her humbleness, patience and total dependence on God. In 2013, when the opportunity arose, Blasa made her Lifetime Commitment as an Associate. She reaffirmed her commitment saying, “Am I glad I am a part of the Sisters of Charity? With all my heart.” 9

A Place to Call Home:

Addressing Homelessness By S. Patricia Wittberg

ave you ever thought of Jesus as being a homeless person? Well, he was – and evidently several times. When Mary and Joseph attempted to find a place to stay in Bethlehem, “there was no room for them” there (Luke 2:8). And when they fled from Herod, there was probably no home awaiting them in Egypt, either. Later, during his adult ministry, Jesus told his followers that, “Foxes have dens and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 7:20). Every person has a basic human right to adequate shelter. Ideally, in order to have enough money to pay for food, clothing, transportation, medical care, and other necessities, a family should spend no more than 30 percent of its income on housing. Any monthly mortgage or rent payment that costs more than 30 percent of a person’s income is considered unaffordable, and means that person’s family will have to cut back on something else. Currently, two-thirds of Ohio’s poorest families spend over half their income just to keep a roof over their heads. One mishap – a lost job, an illness, a broken car, a landlord who decides to “upgrade” his building – can tip them into homelessness.

According to a 2017 Xavier University study, there is a shortage of more than 40,000 apartments or houses that would be affordable for the lowest income people in Hamilton County. There has been a 73 percent decrease in the amount of affordable housing just in the past 15 years, and rent prices in Cincinnati have increased three times as much as income has. This housing crisis for the poorest of our residents is due partly to a lack in the supply of houses and apartments: rising labor and materials costs make building or renovating affordable houses less economically feasible, while older generations are staying in their homes instead of selling them. And it is partly due to an increase in demand: the youngest generation of adults, burdened by student debt and the rising cost of owning a house, is increasing the demand for rental housing. It is partly due to greed: landlords can make more money by evicting poor renters from their buildings and remodeling them as condos or prestige apartments for wealthier tenants. And it is partly due to the “NIMBY” (Not In My Backyard) problem: cities and neighborhoods prefer to support the construction of large houses for the wealthy than houses for the poor and working class, even as they allow public housing to deteriorate until it is ultimately torn down. 10

“I can imagine Joseph, with his wife about to have a child, with no shelter, no home, no place to stay. The Son of God came into this world as a homeless person. The Son of God knew what it was to start life without a roof over his head. We can imagine what Joseph must have been thinking. How is it that the Son of God has no home? Why are we homeless, why don’t we have housing? These are questions which all of us might well ask. Why do these, our brothers and sisters, have no place to live? Why are these brothers and sisters of ours homeless? … We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing.” - Pope Francis, September 24, 2015

The lack of affordable housing is the single most important cause of homelessness in the United States today. It is especially severe in growing cities where the housing market is especially tight, such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, Denver, or Washington, D.C. But even in Cincinnati, more than 7,000 people were homeless last year. One-third of the homeless are families; a quarter are children under the age of 18; half are white; and 40 percent are African-American. And yet Cincinnati has almost 29,000 vacant houses and apartments that could be developed into affordable housing, but instead are likely to be demolished or kept vacant until they can be sold or rented to wealthier residents. To give just one example, the area around the proposed FC Cincinnati Soccer Stadium currently houses 1,491 renters and 352 homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes as that area I N T E RC O M

The former Drop Inn Center, Shelterhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a mission to provide basic human services for the men and women of the Greater Cincinnati area who are experiencing homelessness, offering a place to stay and helping to find and maintain a permanent place of residence for the future.

is redeveloped. Where will they find shelter in our alreadytight affordable housing market? There are, of course, other causes of homelessness besides the lack of affordable housing. Southwestern Ohio has been hard hit by the opioid crisis: our area has one of the highest overdose rates in the country. Many of those so addicted may end up on the streets. For women and children, homelessness may be the result of their fleeing an abusive family. Mental illness or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a frequently cited cause of homelessness, especially since residential treatment centers for the chronically mentally ill are scarce. But for many, mental issues such as depression or PTSD may be the result of homelessness, not its cause, since living unsheltered is stressful and depressing in itself. The same is often true of physical illness, which is exacerbated, if not caused, by being homeless. Still, authorities who have studied homelessness agree that lack of affordable housing is a more important causal factor than any of these. What is being done to address the problem of homelessness? Obviously, the first step would be to prevent the further loss of affordable housing. Governments and other organizations can work for laws that prevent landlords from evicting tenants illegally or under-maintaining their buildings. Many nonprofit and religious organizations work to rehabilitate and construct affordable homes, and to mentor first-time home buyers. Additionally, of course, we need to care for those who are presently homeless or in danger of becoming so. This means providing adequate financing to the shelters which exist in our

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area, and social services for those who are just one paycheck or one illness away from falling into homelessness. In Hamilton County, there are 12 homeless shelters, and in Northern Kentucky there are six. Many are full or even over their capacity so, while 90 percent of our areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homeless people resided in a shelter in 2017; the rest stayed on the streets, under bridges, or in abandoned buildings. We need to improve our health care system by providing more treatment for persons with mental illness and/or addictions, but also by making sure that those who need treatment for a physical illness can actually afford to obtain it. High and unpayable medical bills are the single greatest cause of bankruptcy in this country, and often the final straw that causes people to lose their homes. The Sisters of Charity have long been active in addressing the varied aspects of the homelessness issue: staffing shelters for homeless women and children, volunteering with area food pantries and parish St. Vincent de Paul Society conferences, establishing and/or volunteering with organizations that construct and rehabilitate affordable housing, advocating with local, state, and federal officials for policies that benefit homeless people, and facilitating retreats for those who, like Jesus, have no place to lay their head. In this and future issues of Intercom, we will profile some of the Sisters and Associates who are serving Christ in the person of those suffering from homelessness.

S. Ruth Ann Rody: Divine Providence for the Mental Health of the Homeless By AJ Keith, Communications intern

hen one considers homelessness, one immediately is concerned for the physical well-being of the people experiencing it, but just as important as this physical health is mental health. Sister of Charity Ruth Ann Rody has ministered at the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati for nearly seven years which has made her aware of the many needs to which each human being is entitled. “Ever since I was a little kid, my parents always taught us that no matter how rich or poor we were, it was our responsibility to help others that didn’t have as much as we did,” S. Ruth Ann says. “I understand that because I never knew we were poor until I was an adult.” Instilled with this concern for others, S. Ruth Ann followed her parents’ advice by becoming a Vincentian Sister of Charity (the Community later merged with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati in 2004). In 1980, S. Ruth Ann ministered with the St. Joseph Ministry to the Terminally Ill in Brentwood, Ohio, where she noticed the unjust lack of medical care that homeless people experienced. “Some of the people couldn’t afford our care because it wasn’t covered by their insurance,” S. Ruth Ann says. “We took care of people who lived under a bridge or in a tent. As the office manager of the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati, S. Ruth Ann Rody is always looking for ways to donate to her ministry’s cause.

While she is currently the office manager of the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati, or HRC, S. Ruth Ann first heard about the ministry when she was studying nursing. S. Ruth Ann was hired to answer the phones, coordinate appointments and interact with the patients. Though the clinic was originally a full health resource center, the HRC has since changed its mission to focus on the specific needs of their clients. According to their mission statement, the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati is, “dedicated to providing integrated care for economically disadvantaged and/or homeless people with mental, emotional, behavioral, or substance use disorders whose needs are not being met by other agencies.” The psychological care of their clients is key to the HRC’s mission, but it also provides material things that they may need. Food and warm clothes are common items given out after people have met with their counselors. The office usually has what patients may need, but the staff notice how God has contributed to the success of the agency. “Divine providence gets me where I’m supposed to be and when I’m supposed to be there,” S. Ruth Ann says. S. Ruth Ann is always looking for ways to donate to her ministry’s cause, which includes taking monthly trips to the grocery store to buy food for the HRC or simply donating her unneeded furniture to one of her clients. When she gave her bed to this client, he was overwhelmed with joy because he had been sleeping on the couch, but he was confused by the sheets because he had never used them. “The next time he came in for an appointment, he said, ‘I’m sleeping like a baby!’” S. Ruth Ann says. Because people never know what others need, S. Ruth Ann encourages all people to donate to the HRC or any charity, whether it be their clothes or their time. The varying degrees of support all contribute to the same goal and every little bit helps. To contribute to helping the homeless community, the HRC accepts referrals as well as scheduled appointments and walk-ins. According to the HRC’s website, their offices are located in Over-the-Rhine and neighborhoods surrounding the University of Cincinnati, easily accessible by public transportation. S. Ruth Ann cannot stress how much she loves her job and how it allows her, “[t]o help those who really need psychological care. The homeless community knows who we are and they know to seek us for assistance.”

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Nuns Build Hope By S. Monica Gundler

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et it be with the strength and met the people who had lost of your arms and the so much who welcomed them with sweat of your brow,” meals and gratitude. instructed St. Vincent de Paul in For the past 10 years, each his encouragement of the mission. November, the week before These words have come to life over Thanksgiving, we did it again. For the last 10 years at the House of the ones who came four times, Charity in New Orleans, Louisiana. they took home a red hammer for For many years it was rebuilding their service. As S. Mary Keefe after Hurricane Katrina, then after used to say, “Nuns Build Hope.” a tornado, then after flooding and The witness of the Sisters has been then for affordable homes. In 2010 alongside thousands of volunteers S. Mary Keefe, OP, was visiting what who have come to New Orleans, (From left) Sisters Joyce Richter, was left of the devastated St. Bernard but SBP always says Nuns Build Sally Duffy and Pat Wittberg Parish outside New Orleans. She is one of their favorite weeks. receive their red hammers for stopped at the St. Bernard Project The young people who serve at offering four years of service (now known as SBP) where a young the sites often talk about the hard to Nuns Build over the years. couple had launched a small but work and kindness of the Sisters growing rebuilding organization and the Sisters in turn talk about staffed with Americorps volunteers the wonderful young people giving a year of service to help trained to lead other short-term volunteers. S. Mary heard others. It’s a match made in heaven. they had a week called “Women Build” and she mentioned that she thought Sisters could do that. Nuns Build was born. With a flyer and a date, religious across the country came to New Orleans to lend a hand, literally, and a hammer. Over the years, Sisters across the Charity Federation joined this adventure. At the same time, as the House of Charity (HOC) was beginning, S. Monica Gundler became the co-chair, eventually leading the team of locals that hosted Nuns Build each year. Associates and friends have joined the Nuns Build team many times as well. The first several years the Sisters at the HOC slept on air mattresses and practically camped at the home on Apricot Street. They met one another over coffee or a dinner at the Knights of Columbus hall opening night and began with prayer and breakfast at the house before heading off to a worksite in a ravaged city. And work they did, in the heat, the cold or the rain to take up the cause. They put in drywall, floors, walls, and insulation. They measured, hammered, hauled and cleaned. They did whatever presented itself, even if the tools were too few and the tasks out of their league at times, they persevered. They bonded over bag lunches, aspirin and second lines. They met their Sisters across the Federation and congregations. They nursed sore muscles and laughed over passing the aspirin and playing fishbowl, cards and a friendly game. They made memories VOLUME I, 2020

Members of the Sisters of Charity and the SC Federation offered a week of service in New Orleans, Louisiana, as part of Nuns Build 2019. The House of Charity hosted Federation Sisters and participants while the group helped in the ongoing efforts in New Orleans.

Risking a Caring Response By S. Regina Kusnir Take a caring heart. Tune it to the “love for the poor” channel. Challenge it to make a difference. Surround it with like-minded volunteers. Ask them to raise money for the cause. And – what do you have? Sisters and Associates who dare to risk A Caring Response.

little-known ministry that makes a significant impact in the lives of homeless and addicted persons is the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP). The Chicago-based international program is in 31 cities across the U.S. as well as in Canada and Ireland. The ISP National Office sponsors the ministry run totally by volunteers who fundraise locally to cover retreat costs. The national office picks up shortfall and assists with some fundraising and grant writing.

S. Teresa Marie Laengle (back row, second from right) initiated the Ignatian Spirituality Project in the area and has been the coordinator in Dayton since 2010.

The ISP provides overnight weekend retreats for men and women who are or have been homeless and are in recovery from any kind of addiction. Retreatants range in age from their 20s to 60s, have been sober for 60-90 days and most are living in transitional sober houses. The retreat is not connected with any religion but attendees have to rely on a higher power, however that is understood. Activities are based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the 12-Step Program, and the Ignatian belief that we are able to “Find God in All Things.” About one month after the retreat a follow-up reflection day is held. Many Sisters and Associates participate in the ISP effort. This article focuses on the perspectives of Sisters Joyce Brehm, Annie Klapheke, and Donna Steffen in Cincinnati and S. Teresa Marie Laengle in Dayton. All have been trained in the ISP.

How Did ISP Retreats Come to Cincinnati and Dayton? S. Donna and three others were invited to work with Fr. Bill Creed, SJ, in 2009 to plan the first Cincinnati women’s retreat which was held at Mount St. Joseph and where annually three of six women’s retreats are held. Follow-up evenings are the second Monday of every month. In Dayton, there are four 14

annual retreats and follow-ups for women. “On weekends we see the team, not as ‘giving’ the retreat, but that we are making the retreat together. I learn about poverty, homelessness, surrender, the desire for wholeness, and the challenge of living and making good choices. I have learned that we all have addictions going on in us, beyond the commonly thought of alcohol or drugs. We are all on the journey to wholeness,” said S. Donna.

In Their Own Words “ISP means a great deal to me,” remarked S. Teresa. “I initiated this ministry and have been the coordinator in Dayton (one of the cities highest in drug use) since 2010. We provide retreats at Bergamo Center in Beavercreek, Ohio. Our teams have four to five facilitators at the retreats. I am privileged to work with women who come to the retreats which provide the spiritual foundation for them to stay on their path of sobriety.” S. Joyce added, “I started with ISP two or three years into its existence. I was blessed to facilitate some of the retreat experiences. But the energy it took to keep up with the schedule became too much so I became the volunteer in charge of recruiting drivers to transport the women to and from the retreats and follow-up meetings. Numerous Sisters and Associates are team members or drivers.” I N T E RC O M

The Blessing of Walking with the Retreatants The women have learned much from their experiences. “The retreatants have taught me about poverty of spirit,” S. Annie said. “Most of the women have experienced hitting rock bottom in their lives. It is from this place that they learn to rely completely on God. This total reliance on God is always an inspiration and a challenge to me. The women are inspiring examples of resilience and courage. I feel like I receive so much more than I give.” Says S. Donna, “Mostly, I am aware that these women have suffered and have surrendered all in order to hopefully build a life for themselves. I often pray to surrender to God. I only have a glimpse of what that means – they know it in their being. I have also learned the resiliency of the human spirit.” S. Joyce looks to their strength: “If I had been born into a different family, a different setting, I would not be able to handle what these women have handled. These are some very strong, gifted women who have been handed some very tough life circumstances. They happen to have addictions that have gotten in the way.” “I learned we are all human, sharing the same desires for love, peace and happiness,” S. Teresa explained. “I am amazed at the resiliency of the human person to do drugs or alcohol, go to rehab, relapse, go back to rehab (for some many times), then become clean and live the sober life every minute of every day. I am overwhelmed at what retreatants have lived through and how they are survivors. It is a constant daily battle!”

was not because I had training or experience. It is like a door of opportunity opening up. This is something I was invited to do. It is something I am able to do.” S. Teresa affirms that their efforts do make a difference in the lives of the women. “Some call afterwards to seek help or just to talk,” she said. “The community that retreats generate is essential to build fellowship and support for each other. Those who have been sober for many years help those new to sobriety. I feel I am a constant in their lives and they know that I love them no matter what their past has been.”

Dreams, Hopes and Inspirations The Sisters hope that attendees join the retreat team, dream that more women experience positive life-changing support, see continuing accompaniment by volunteers going into shelters or churches on a regular basis to share food and spiritual reflection, and desire facilitators who, like S. Annie, are younger. The director of a shelter sending women to the retreats said that typically on return the women say, “What you have told us about, we have now experienced.” “St. Elizabeth Ann Seton said: Faith lifts the staggering soul on one side, hope supports it on the other. Experience says it must be, and love says—let it be. I think the women could identify with the image of being a ‘staggering soul’ in their difficult journey of recovery,” says S. Annie. “Faith and hope are graces that help them to get through.”

St. Vincent de Paul’s call “to meet the needs that God lets us see.” S. Donna says that while we all know that there are homeless people, the experience in leading retreats puts each Sister face-to-face and in conversation with women who are homeless. It helps them to better understand their experiences. “Most of my life I have entered into a ministry because someone needed to be there,” said S. Joyce. “It

VOLUME I, 2020

Many Sisters and Associates have been involved in the Ignatian Spirituality Project through various roles including S. Annie Klapheke (front row, left), Associate Anne Shaffer (second row, second from right), and S. Nancy Bramlage (third row, center).

Dee Mansi: Associate Honors Tradition of Systemic Change By AJ Keith, Communications intern

ay Vincentian and Associate of the Sisters of Charity Dee Mansi is making history in stride with her devotion to eliminating homelessness. While her occupations and volunteer work are many in number, homelessness on all levels is the major collaborative project of the Vincentian Family and her main concern. As a member of one of the 150 branches of the global Vincentian Family, Dee shares in the common goal to care for those on the margins of society, which perfectly harmonizes with the Sisters of Charity’s charism of living the Gospel values and building relationships.

“The Vincentian family of the 21st century will be and must be more collaborative. It will be rich in all its diversity. It will be deeply spiritual. It will help people find new hope that will allow them to start anew. The Vincentian Family will be committed to systemic change and will remain prophetic through her love of creation.”

homeless people on monthly cultural trips. “I kept thinking that I heard every reason for homelessness,” Dee says. “But each time, I would be shocked by how fragile people could be or how precarious life is for the lowly paid. Mental health problems and chaotic mismanaged finances could put a highly educated person on the streets.”

“The issue of homelessness is completely in keeping with the mission and charism of the Sisters of Charity,” Dee says. “The inclusivity of the mission involves the care of vulnerable people.” In February 2020, the Vincentian NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) at the New York United “Accompaniment” is a central tenet of Nations have taken the lead on creating the charism of the International Vincentian a definition of homelessness to better Family and the tenet that first moved Dee understand how prominent the issue is to help the neediest in society. Dee states and to address it as part of the Sustainable Sister Blandine Klein, SC, at the 2020 that her tireless work is concerned with Development Goals of 2030. Dee continues Vincentian Family Leaders meeting offering solutions to systemic problems to to lend a helping hand on local levels accompany people on their life’s journey. to honor the charism and loving global As Dee puts it, she offers the more effective “hand-up” rather relationships for which the Sisters of Charity are known. than a “hand-out.” Dee says, “Home is as much a feeling as a “I am grateful for my family, my home, my friends and structure, and I wish everyone to have this deep-rooted feeling community, and the wholeness of this holy life,” Dee says. of love, acceptance and safety as much as a roof over their head.” Dee has recently returned from the first-ever Vincentian Family Leaders Meeting in Rome, Italy, as a member of the Executive Committee. According to Dee, the meeting took place to, “evaluate progress integrating and developing each National Vincentian Family Council.” Though the meeting covered a myriad of topics, homelessness was high on the agenda, as the FamVin Homeless Alliance, an important initiative of the Vincentian Family, was discussed and their collaboration within their million members to end homelessness. Inspired daily by her wholesome volunteer work, Dee understands the importance of mutuality in her service. She thrives on the co-dependent system of teaching and learning, as she is constantly moved by the lessons that she learns from those she helps. Such is the case when she volunteers at the Saturday Friends Project which accompanies former 16

Sisters of Charity Associate Dee Mansi (center) attended the Vincentian Family Leaders Meeting in Rome, Italy, in January as a member of the Executive Committee. I N T E RC O M

Staving Off Homelessness

by Preventing Poverty By AJ Keith, Communications intern

woman named “Felicia” and her three children were facing eviction from their apartment in Detroit, Michigan. After being turned away by several agencies, the family approached the St. Vincent de Paul Society. At first, Sister of Charity Noreen Ellison and Associate Therese Frye admitted that their conference’s funds could not cover the overdue rent, but Therese persisted to make a payment plan with Felicia’s landlord while S. Noreen stayed with Felicia and prayed. Homelessness is an issue that affects the global community, but working to prevent it from happening is equally important. S. Noreen and Therese demonstrate how a relationship-based organization like the St. Vincent de Paul Society can offer hope to those threatened by homelessness. Though the issue can be overwhelming, these two are given strength by each other’s efforts while combating this issue at its core. Therese first learned about the St. Vincent de Paul Society as a child after her father’s death and through clothing drives at her grade school. She later reconnected with the organization as an adult through her parish, Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan. In 1992, Therese joined the parish’s conference, which she attributes to her spirit of service. “Being a nurse, I have a heart for service and that has helped me want to serve others who experience the different types of poverty,” Therese says.

“Felicia” and her children were recipients of the tireless efforts of Shrine of the Little Flower’s St. Vincent de Paul Society in Royal Oak, Michigan.

S. Noreen was the pastoral ministry representative of Shrine of the Little Flower before she retired from active ministry in 2015. However, Therese convinced S. Noreen to continue her service with the organization as a way to honor the charism of the Sisters of Charity. “I agreed to become the associate spiritual advisor for the Detroit area,” S. Noreen says. “And since Therese has become an Associate, her partnership in our services has been a wonderful gift to me.” S. Noreen and Therese have served side-by-side at various organizations, such as the Blessed Rosalie Rendu Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which serves those in poverty in the inner-city area of Detroit like Felicia. However, the duo also have their own unique ministries: Therese is currently a board member of several councils of St. Vincent de Paul Society and of the Matchan Nutrition Center Soup Kitchen in Pontiac, Michigan; S. Noreen, while still contributing to organizations like these, also keeps the spiritual aspect of the service alive in the volunteers. As the associate spiritual advisor, she encourages volunteers to reflect on their experiences to see where God is calling them in their lives. By doing this, S. Noreen feels that she is adhering to the charism of the Sisters of Charity, but also to the mission of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. “Both organizations have the same charism of charity,” S. Noreen says. “We honor the charism of the Sisters of Charity the Vincentian way.” Felicia and S. Noreen’s prayers were answered when a check arrived to cover her rent and she was offered information for a new job. An anonymous donor of the Blessed Rosalie Rendu Conference wanted to help a family in need, and Felicia’s family was the one who received this gift. S. Noreen says, “After a tearful time of thankful prayer, and a brief visit with the children who had come from school, we drove Felicia to the Management Office where she presented the check, drew a huge sigh of relief and beamed a broad smile.”

(From left) Associate Therese Frye and S. Noreen Ellison serve side-by-side at their parish conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, changing lives and bringing the spirit of the SC Community with them. VOLUME I, 2020

Just as the Sisters of Charity charism is enhanced by their Vincentian service, so, too, does S. Noreen feel enriched by her friendship with Therese. Cases like Felicia’s are happening every day, and S. Noreen and Therese are working tirelessly to make sure that those threatened by homelessness can wear the smile that Felicia wore by the end of her interaction with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. 17

Bethany House Services:

One Step Closer to Home

n November 2019, Bethany House Services in Cincinnati, Ohio, announced that the organization was selected as a recipient of the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund leadership award – receiving a gift of $1.25 million, the largest in its history. The grant’s impact reaches far and wide in the Greater Cincinnati area. As the largest homeless shelter in the area, Bethany House serves homeless families with children. What many may not be aware of is that its beginnings can be traced back to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, their charism of recognizing the needs of their sisters and brothers, and their courage to dare to risk a caring response. In 1983 Sisters of Charity Delia Sizler and Mary Grafe (now deceased), along with the help of Becky Johnson, a social worker and known advocate of the homeless in Cincinnati, decided it was time for change. S. Dee had been ministering as assistant dean of students at the College of Mount St. Joseph and after realizing that there were women who did not have a place to live when the dorm closed for holidays and summers, she felt compelled to act. After much prayer and many discussions and meetings with individuals in the area, the women found a home on Woodburn Avenue in Cincinnati that was being vacated by the Franciscan Friars. With donations of furniture and items for the home, the three moved in and began their work. One of the first important matters of business included a name for the ministry.

One of the original founders of Bethany House Services, the late S. Mary Grafe (left) prepares a meal at the shelter in 1985.

good people; good people who had fallen on hard times. They would join us to eat a meal, helped us with cooking or cooked themselves, and we’d pray together. We had a weekly potluck and we kept in touch with many who had left the house and moved on because we became their support. A few women even came back as volunteers. It really was a community. We had fun together!”

Continued support and donations came in – as well as families. And just as they were getting settled the Sisters were informed that their house had been sold and they would need to find a new place of residence. Being homeless themselves, God’s providence was at work, and eventually they were able to secure a new home in Mount Auburn. Sisters Dee and Mary continued to live in the home with the families.

It was at one of those potluck dinners that S. Mary Stanton, RSM, joined the Sisters and families and fell in love with the ministry. Eventually she was named director of Bethany House. A few years after the organization was more established, S. Dee would leave Bethany House for other ministries. S. Mary Grafe followed a couple years later. S. Mary Stanton stayed on for 30 years. As the organization continued to grow, it began acquiring new properties and staff support to help offer the services needed for its families. Today Bethany House serves 50 percent of homeless families and 62 percent of homeless children in the region. The organization provides housing, education and assistance to homeless families while holistic services, emergency shelter, housing, comprehensive case management, post-shelter support and permanent affordable rental housing address a family’s current needs and seek to prevent repeat episodes. In addition Bethany House provides child/parent and life skills programming. From its early beginnings the organization continues to grow and make an impact.

“Living with the families was a beautiful thing for me,” S. Dee recalled. “I grew so much spiritually. The women were

As she reflects, S. Dee says, “It was God’s work – to help the people that weren’t being helped. Those of us blessed

S. Dee recalls: “I was sitting in the little room we had for our chapel and I was trying to figure out what to name the house. I opened my Bible and it said Bethany – in relation to the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. I came to understand in that prayer period that we were the same distance from Fountain Square as Bethany was from Jerusalem. Our house was a house of hospitality; we were taking people in that needed to be refreshed, to find their way. That’s pretty much what Martha, Mary and Lazarus did for Jesus and his people. It was a fitting name and everyone else agreed.”

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with family upbringings and the life tools needed to be successful, we take those for granted. Being able to help those brought up in poverty, those never given the opportunity to develop their talents and succeed or to have a happy family – that was a real blessing. It was a beautiful chapter in my life. …” As a current board member of Bethany House and member of the development and executive committees, S. Lynn Heper puts a human face to the organization with her many stories and accounts.

organization to serve more families every year and provide the best quality care and access to a full range of services. The Bezos Day 1 grant will go toward the cost of this new facility. With more than 1,400 homeless families in Greater Cincinnati each year, the regional homeless system is at capacity and struggling to meet the need. Says S. Lynn, “I didn’t realize the number of children affected by homelessness. We have got to help people in Cincinnati to realize it is up to us to get these people off the street. If you care about people, you show it. I hear these stories of our families and they break my heart. I really want to help these people get out of where they are. I want them to do good and I want their children to see a better life. It doesn’t have to be like this. We as citizens need to help break the chain.”

“A lot of our parents have lost their job, and are living in their car. We had a dad last year who came with a 2- and 4-year-old and they had been camping out at Burnet Woods for two months. He didn’t Community members, like S. Lynn Heper’s godson, Dominic even have a shirt on but he had (pictured), have the opportunity to volunteer at Bethany this jacket. A staff member asked if House’s two locations by hosting a dinner for its clients. he needed clothes, and he told her that he had torn up his shirt for the children to use as toilet paper. Every case is different. When A modern, consolidated, communal-style facility will you think about the homeless and you see the pictures from enable Bethany House to drastically enhance efficiency and downtown, you never see the children because Job and Family maximize resources; improve the quality of the emergency Services would take those children away. So they hide. We shelter facilities; and ensure all families have access to the had another mother with three children who would hide in services and care they need. S. Lynn says it’s truly amazing to different places at Children’s Hospital because she didn’t have see how few return after leaving Bethany House and credits anywhere to go.” that to programming and services provided to its guests, including adult education and mentorship, support groups S. Lynn explains that in order to fully meet the needs and counseling. of the community Bethany House is embarking on a $16.5 million capital campaign to create a consolidated family shelter and service center. The new facility will enable the

S. Delia Sizler (right) says founding Bethany House Services in 1983 was “God’s work.” VOLUME I, 2020

Giving back and getting involved have been life-giving to S. Lynn and she is incredibly proud to share those moments with her 13-year-old godson, Dominic. She brought Dominic and his mother with her one morning to serve breakfast at one of Bethany House’s homes. Seeing firsthand the children and families and their appreciation for this small effort touched their hearts and prompted them to do more. “It was a good learning experience,” added S. Lynn. “I don’t think young people today know what homelessness is. I had no idea before I became a board member of all the integral things involved.” From its small beginnings to currently being the largest provider of emergency shelter and housing programs for families experiencing homelessness, Bethany House Services is leading families one step closer to home. Care and comfort, community and support, encouragement and inspiration, the organization continues to stay true to the Sisters of Charity spirit it was built on.

Faith in Action: Lenten Almsgiving By Debbie Weber, OPJCC director

The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women at Shelterhouse offers 60 beds to homeless women in the Greater Cincinnati area.

“Almsgiving helps us to experience giving freely, which leads to freedom from the obsession of possessing, from the fear of losing what we have.” - Pope Francis, Homily, March 5, 2014

uring the liturgical season of Lent, we are asked to focus our efforts on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving by renewing our compassion for our sisters and brothers who experience hunger, homelessness, marginalization and exploitation. The Office of Peace, Justice and Care for Creation (OPJCC) has partnered with Cincinnati-based Shelterhouse to provide a unique opportunity for almsgiving. Shelterhouse provides shelter, food, clothing, toiletries and social services for those who experience homelessness. There is a short-term center for men, a short-term center for women and an evening shelter that is available for women and men. Staff work to empower each resident with holistic case management, health services, and employment services while helping them to secure permanent housing. 20

A typical bedroom in Shelterhouse’s women’s center.

When asked what items Shelterhouse needs to care for their residents who are experiencing homelessness, staff were quick to answer: they need liquid laundry soap! There are 60 beds in the Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women, 150 beds in the David and Rebecca Barron Center for Men, and 200 beds in the evening shelter for men and women. That’s a lot of bedding to wash. Residents may also use the laundry facilities to wash their own clothes. Residents in the women’s and men’s centers not only work to secure permanent housing for themselves, but they also have daily chores. For example, some residents choose to keep the kitchen or common areas clean; some choose to do the laundry. I N T E RC O M

How Can You Get Involved? The articles related to the issue of homelessness are meant to inspire and encourage others to join the Sisters of Charity and so many others to improve and transform the lives of homeless people while encouraging structural change. Below you will find a small listing of organizations in Cincinnati and beyond that are working toward this common goal.

The laundry facilities in the women’s center of Shelterhouse.

Liquid laundry soap is rarely donated to Shelterhouse, so the Charity Family and friends are generously dropping off their donations of laundry soap to the OPJCC in the Motherhouse during Lent. Shelterhouse staff will pick up the donations after Easter. The runner-up to liquid laundry soap on the “needs” list is toothbrushes. Shelterhouse and their residents are always grateful for toothbrushes and the Charity Family and friends have been most helpful with that donation too. The uncommon, and very specific, request of liquid laundry soap and toothbrushes is a unique almsgiving opportunity for the Charity Family. It is a concrete way of sharing the experience of God’s unconditional love for our sisters and brothers in need and those who serve them. Homelessness is a tragic social reality locally, nationally and globally. Places like Shelterhouse provide hope and respect for those they serve.

VOLUME I, 2020

Bethany House Services Cincinnati, Ohio Transitional housing, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing. https://bethanyhouseservices.org 513-921-1131

Lighthouse Youth Services Cincinnati, Ohio Emergency shelter and hotline service for youths. https://www.lys.org 513-961-4080

City Gospel Mission Cincinnati, Ohio Hot meals, overnight shelter, outreach, transitional housing. https://www.citygospelmission.org 513-241-5525

Shelterhouse Cincinnati, Ohio Emergency shelter, food, emergency clothing items, basic toiletries and safety. http://www.shelterhousecincy.org 513-721-0643

FAMVIN Homeless Alliance Vincentian Family initiative on homelessness. https://vfhomelessalliance.org/eng Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Cincinnati, Ohio Working to eradicate homelessness. https://cincihomeless.org 513-421-7803 Health Resource Center of Cincinnati Nurse-managed clinic providing affordable health care. http://www.hrcci.org 513-357-4602 Ignatian Spirituality Project Offering men and women who are homeless and in recovery from addiction the opportunity to change their lives. ignatianspiritualityproject.org 312-226-9184 Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati Family shelter, day center, emergency shelter, child enrichment, pet support program, aftercare, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing. http://ihncincinnati.org 513-471-1100

SBP: St. Bernard Project Nonprofit, disaster relief organization. https://sbpusa.org 504-277-6831 St. Joseph Catholic Worker House Cincinnati, Ohio Emergency shelter for singles. http://www.catholicworkercincinnati.org 513-381-4941 St. Vincent de Paul Society Cincinnati, Ohio A network of neighbors, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need. https://www.svdpcincinnati.org St. Vincent de Paul Society Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan Meet and respond to those in need of food, clothing, housing, and other essentials. www.shrinechurch.com/christianservice/saint-vincent-de-paul-society 248-765-4895

Shelterhouse: Housing. Help. Hope.

Blandina Segale’s personal motto, “Do what presents itself …,” has been a source of inspiration for many Sisters of Charity. With those words close to her heart, five years ago S. Katharine Pinto found herself joining the board of Shelterhouse, a nonprofit organization in Greater Cincinnati that provides a refuge of care and compassionate assistance for women and men experiencing homelessness with a goal of moving them into permanent housing.

have given S. Katharine the opportunity to see firsthand the appreciation and gratitude individuals have for the services provided as well as inspired her to involve more Charity Family members.

In January Advisory Committee members for the Sisters of Charity Office of Peace, Justice and Care for Creation took a tour of the (Back row, from left) Associate Rita Wesseling, S. Katharine Pinto, (front row, Esther Marie Hatton Center. from left) Associates Jan Metz, Debbie Weber, Patty Broughton and Irene Associates Debbie Weber, Diesel visited Shelterhouse’s Esther Marie Hatton Center in January for a tour. director, and Rita Wesseling, Patty Broughton, Irene Diesel and Jan Metz learned more about the services provided and the facility’s mission. As a member of its program committee, S. Katharine says Described as inviting, peaceful and safe, the group enjoyed her time with Shelterhouse has opened her mind to just how seeing how helpful and uplifting the environment was for its many people in the Greater Cincinnati area are homeless. “I guests. The staff is committed to helping their guests learn to was not aware of how vast the problem is and how easily one help themselves through a community-minded approach. circumstance in your life can change you from having a home “I was grateful for the experience,” said Patty, “but I was to being homeless – a medical bill, an addiction, a divorce, a also overwhelmed by the need for a shelter like that. It makes mental illness; various things can abruptly change a person’s your heart ache because of all these women. You look at living situation. In addition there is a lack of affordable them and they smile, but you have no idea the horrors that housing that makes it difficult for people to get into more they’ve gone through or why they’re there. But you know they permanent housing.” are desperate. And the number was overwhelming to me. It Shelterhouse has two facilities: the Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women and the David and Rebecca Barron Center for Men, which now has been expanded to include a yearround emergency shelter for additional overnight guests. Programming is also offered to assist clients with housing, case management, medical care and mental health services. Part of S. Katharine’s responsibilities include talking directly to the clients to learn more about their concerns and how the organization can improve. “Because it is important to have input from our residents, the board members take turns conducting monthly resident council meetings and then reporting back to the board and director the information gathered from these meetings so that we can meet the needs of our residents to the best of our ability,” she said. Her passion for serving the homeless has only grown as she now also volunteers twice a week at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry on Bank Street. There she walks with visitors through the pantry, helping them to select the appropriate groceries for their family. Both service experiences 22

brought back the idea that we need to do something – and we can do something.” The visit inspired committee members to think of new ways to help, which will include a Lenten collection of laundry detergent and toothbrushes. Irene added, “The experience hasn’t left me. I’m still thinking about it. It’s not something that you can go to, see and walk away. I think that our responsibility as members of the OPJCC Advisory Committee is to tell our story to as many Associates as we can.” S. Blandina’s words continue to touch the hearts of those who follow in her footsteps. Advisory Committee members were quick to point out that they were moved by the plaque they saw hanging in the entryway of the women’s shelter. It is a tribute to S. Blandina Segale and the Sisters of Charity. Seeing that plaque, and knowing the courageous and dedicated S. Blandina, the women were energized and open to new possibilities to serve others and do whatever God presents. I N T E RC O M

Timeless Treasures By S. Judith Metz

Adele Clifford’s portrait, created by S. Augusta Zimmer, confirms the testimonies of her colleagues. One spoke of her as “a woman of keen intelligence, remarkable ability, and thorough dedication to her vocation and profession: a woman of faith, of prayer; a woman of action and courage, shrouded in apparent meekness and gentleness.” A Sister-companion called her “a true friend, gentle, concerned for everyone she met, and gracious to all.” Another described her as “quietly, unobtrusively, meekly, courteously – as on tiptoe – she went through life.” S. Adele did live an unobtrusive life until she was thrust into the spotlight by succeeding S. Maria Corona Molloy as president of the College of Mount St. Joseph at the age of 61. Educated by the Sisters of Charity at St. Mary’s Elementary and High School in Chillicothe, Ohio, Mary Clifford then attended a year at the College of Mount St. Joseph before entering the Community in 1925. She spent her early years teaching at schools in Cincinnati, Cleveland, S. Adele Clifford’s portrait hangs in the Clifford Room of the Seton Center at Mount St. Joseph Springfield in Ohio, and Royal Oak, Michigan, University. before teaching mathematics at Mount St. Joseph On the academic side, S. Adele oversaw major curriculum Academy. In 1942 S. Adele joined the faculty of the changes, appointed a director of continuing education, and College of Mount St. Joseph where her students admired and approved the establishment of degree programs in religious sought to emulate her “highly professional teaching,” and studies and early childhood education. Looking to the future, credited her with having a great effect on their own careers. she approved the installation of a computer terminal facility All the while she was pursuing an undergraduate degree in that provided all students with the option of learning basic mathematics, and advanced degrees in biology from Fordham computer programming. University in New York. She also did post-doctoral research at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, After five years in the president’s office, S. Adele was ready Massachusetts. to return to her beloved biology lab. When asked what she would do on her last day as president in 1972, she replied, Appointed president of the college in 1967, S. Adele “I think I’ll probably get up from my desk, walk out the assumed leadership in an era of student unrest, spiraling door, and close it very slowing behind me.” Her response expenses, and declining enrollment for many private liberal exemplifies a tribute written at the time of her death, when arts colleges and universities. Helping the college meet these challenges, she appointed the Mount’s first lay academic dean, retired professor Thomas Seibert said of her, “She always seemed independent of the positions she held and of the and reorganized the admissions staff. In addition, she set successes she achieved. … She was unfailingly kind, always new directions in financial management, formed a tri-partite willing to listen to other people, always genuine in her council of student-faculty-administration to advise her in support and positive in her suggestions – and of course, setting directions for the college, and established an associate always ready with a smile.” board of lay trustees.

VOLUME I, 2020

Charity Family S. ANNIE KLAPHEKE RENEWS TEMPORARY VOWS Members of the Visitation House hosted a small group of Sisters, including the SC Leadership Team, on Dec. 1, 2019, for the renewal of temporary vows of S. Annie Klapheke (front row, right). The group gathered in prayer and a shared meal to celebrate the occasion.

ST. JOSEPH ORPHANAGE CELEBRATES SISTERS OF CHARITY St. Joseph Orphanage (SJO) recognized the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati on Oct. 24, 2019, during SJO’s “A Night Under the Stars” Gala. The gala celebrated SJO’s 190th anniversary and also honored the Sisters of Charity, who founded the organization in 1829, and as a result of their efforts, thousands of children over many decades received (From left) Sisters Cookie Crowley and Mary the care and education they needed to Catherine Faller hold the sculpture and garden tile thrive. During the presentation presented to the Sisters of Charity at St. Joseph Orphanage’s October 2019 gala. St. Joseph Orphanage CEO Eric Cummins presented a glass sculpture to S. Mary Catherine Faller, chair of the SJO Board, that is inscribed: “Thank You, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. Founding a Haven of Hope for Children in Crisis.”

S. PAT HILL NAMED SPECIAL CAREGIVER BY ARCHDIOCESE S. Pat Hill was honored by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati at a special caregiver recognition Mass, called the White Mass, at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral on Nov. 17, 2019. The White Mass is an annual celebration honoring those who work or volunteer as caregivers in our community. S. Pat has volunteered for many years at St. Clement Parish where she serves the homebound.

(From left) S. Barbara Busch, executive director of WIN, and S. Sally Duffy at the Working In Neighborhoods Hall of Fame dinner.

S. SALLY DUFFY HONORED S. Sally Duffy was one of three inductees into the Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) Hall of Fame on Nov. 18. As co-chair of the Cincinnati Child Poverty Collaborative, S. Sally was recognized as a WIN collaborator in the elimination of child poverty. For 41 years WIN has empowered people to make informed choices for themselves and their neighborhoods through community building, home ownership and economic learning. In January S. Sally also received the 2020 Exemplar Award from the Notre Dame Club of Greater Cincinnati at its Family Mass and Brunch. According to its newsletter, “[B]efore discerning her vocation with the Sisters of Charity, [S. Sally] served as Notre Dame’s second women’s basketball coach while a graduate student at the University. She went on to a stellar career providing resources, strategic vision/guidance and spiritual leadership to many initiatives both locally and across the country that have improved conditions for the most vulnerable and underserved populations …” I N T E RC O M

S. JUDITH METZ RECEIVES ST. ELIZABETH SETON MEDAL The Mount St. Joseph University community honored S. Judith Metz on Nov. 6, 2019, with the St. Elizabeth Seton Medal. The honor was established in 1996 to recognize the educational legacy of the Sisters of Charity and is presented annually to a woman who has made outstanding contributions to theology. The award presentation included a lecture by S. Judy, titled “Elizabeth Seton: My Heart Stirred for the Word of God.” S. Judy is a historian and writer; her ministries have included archival/historical research and writing, instructing, board appointments and community service.

(From left) S. Patricia Hayden, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati president, S. Judith Metz, Dr. John Trokan. Photo courtesy of Don Denney.

COLORADO GOVERNOR RECOGNIZES S. PATRICIA HAYDEN Congratulations to Sisters of Charity President S. Patricia Hayden, who was honored by the State of Colorado for faithfully serving its people for more than 27 years as an educator, chaplain and hospital administrator. Colorado Governor Jared Polis proclaimed Nov. 20, 2019 as Sister Patricia Hayden Day, saying Sister acted as a beacon for Colorado communities and inspired lives led in service of others. S. Pat most recently ministered as the vice president of mission integration at St. Anthony Health Campus in Westminster, Colorado, before being elected to serve as president of her Community. WELCOME NEW ASSOCIATES The Sisters of Charity welcomed Agnes Patrick and Patricia Traver to the Community as Associates in Mission. The Colorado Springs community of Sisters and Associates celebrated the occasion with a commitment ceremony on Jan. 5, 2020 in the chapel at Penrose Hospital.

GIVING VOICE HOSTS WEEKEND RETREATS

Giving Voice 20s and 30s Retreat Sisters Tracy Kemme, Annie Klapheke and Whitney Schieltz joined Catholic peers in their 20s and 30s for a weekend of community, prayer and relaxation. This year’s Giving Voice 20s and 30s Retreat, held in Phoenix, Arizona, focused on the theme “Friendship With God: A Sending.”

Giving Voice 40s Retreat Fifteen Sisters in their 40s from 11 congregations and 12 countries came together in Seal Beach, California, for the Giving Voice 40s Retreat. Sister of Charity Romina Sapinoso joined the women for an energizing weekend filled with wisdom and love.

(From left) Associates Agnes Patrick and Patricia Traver VOLUME I, 2020

Tracing Christ’s Footsteps through Time By AJ Keith, Communications intern

ark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme,” and the history of the Sisters of Charity has always been defined by its compassion and capacity for good to others. This history is preserved by the Sisters of Charity’s Archives, which has been praised for its organizational skills and service-oriented team of volunteers that cover a variety of topics. The SC Archives has a thorough work ethic to remember the Sisters that laid the groundwork for what the Congregation is today, which benefits the Community daily and remains an uplifting place to serve. In the past, managing the Archives of the Sisters of Charity was the responsibility of the Secretary of the Congregation, but only to monitor the missions and achievements of its members. When the position (Front row) S. Joyce Brehm, (Back row, from left) Veronica Buchanan, S. Pat McQuinn of Archivist was formally created, it was succeeded by notable Sisters throughout time, including S. Judith Metz and S. Sheila Gallagher are a few of the valued members of the Sisters of Charity Archives. who retired in May 2016. Not only was she renowned in their work. Former English educator S. Victoria Marie by her peers in the office, but S. Judith was even Forde’s work researching S. Blandina Segale, whose cause for commended by many others for her work as the Archivist sainthood is currently open in Rome, eventually landed her for the Sisters of Charity. “Dan Hurley, a journalist at a position in transcribing the oral histories of the Sisters. In WKRC in Cincinnati, Ohio, was the convener for a panel addition, S. Joyce Brehm has been offering her services to the that I attended and when he was introducing me, he stated office for more than a decade. Her work initially involved that the SC Archives was one of the best in the region,” finding the ministries of deceased Sisters by looking at their S. Judith says. file, but she had noticed that there were some things that While it is atypical to have multiple people working in needed to be done beyond that. She is currently involved with one Archives office, the retired Sisters of Charity who serve there do so because of their desire to help. Because many of the downloading video and audio into a digital form, a project that she undertook when she considered the benefits of doing it. workers in the office are Sisters retired from active ministry, the “staff” is actually made up mostly of volunteers, each with their respective responsibilities. The only current employee of the office is Veronica Buchanan who originally worked for the Archivists for Congregations of Women Religious, or ACWR, in 2013. After three years of seeing the Sisters twice a week, Veronica became enamored by the ministries and atmosphere of the Community. Veronica has been working for the Sisters of Charity for two years and is grateful for the volunteer staff’s work. “Everyone in the office encompasses a role,” Veronica says. “They’re doing oral histories, artifact inventories and processing photos. It’s rare to have this many people on board and we’re lucky to have everyone.”

Other Sisters in the office, such as S. Sheila Gallagher, apply skills that were required in previous ministries. S. Sheila’s work in an alumni office at Holy Name High School in Parma Heights, Ohio, taught her to organize files and navigate computers. This greatly aided her in transcribing a list of the missions of each Sister of Charity in each year of the Congregation’s existence. S. Sheila began this project when she was researching the names of Sisters who used to minister at Holy Name, then was asked to assemble a list for other schools. She eventually decided to make an exhaustive list for each Sister of Charity since the Congregation’s beginning. “I’m currently on the year 1932,” S. Sheila says about her progress.

Volunteering in this office does not require any historian or archival background, but this does not deter the volunteers from achieving the utmost quality and professionalism

The methods of documenting the ministries of the Sisters of Charity have evolved as rapidly as the Sisters have taken up new services. Taking note of these services has

I N T E RC O M

Archivist Veronica Buchanan leads the staff of Sisters in preserving the history of the Sisters of Charity.

been documented carefully by S. Mary Lucia Dudzinski, who gathers documents and sorts files for the Archives to make them readily available. In addition to this method, it is only natural that Archives took the next step to trace the Sisters in time: digitizing their materials. S. Pat McQuinn is at the forefront of this effort as she is in charge of scanning photos to make them digitally accessible, which has become vital to the success of other parts of the Congregation. “Before I knew it, I had boxes and boxes of photos to scan!” S. Pat says.

This group has made the Archives a pillar of the Congregation because of their constant updates to their materials and their partnerships with the other offices of the SC Motherhouse. Collaborating with the SC Communications Office has been one of the functions of the Archives, as their materials can offer story ideas for both print and electronic media. The creation of social media has allowed the offices to collaborate and make weekly posts such as Memory Monday, Throwback Thursday or Flashback Friday. “I frequently collaborate on projects with Archives,” says Michelle Bley, the graphic designer of the SC Communications Office. “They are always ready to help and share their knowledge with me. Our combined skills produce a more successful outcome.” Preserving the past acts as a preferred method of ensuring a sound future, the rich history of the Sisters of Charity is one of many ways to honor the memory and spirit of the Sisters who have died. Because of this, the office has found its way to pay tribute to the late Sisters. Perhaps S. Joyce’s favorite part of her service is compiling past footage of Sisters with dementia or depression. Sisters with these afflictions tend to respond to these videos happily as seeing themselves in video and pictures of their ministries creates a feeling of nostalgia. “I’ve made six videos in a month for Sisters who have dementia,” S. Joyce says. “They can be seven or eight minutes long, but it means a lot to them. Seeing them perk up and smile is worth it.” To the staff of the Archives, the most admirable quality of the previous Sisters was their strong faith. In fact, Veronica felt so inspired by these women that she eventually became an Associate of the Congregation. Not only has the office been a source of inspiration for Veronica, but it has also been a source of great joy to them due to the energy and rapport of the entire volunteer staff. “We used to go to national meetings for Archives,” S. Victoria says. “One year the materials we received stated that the Archives of each congregation trace Christ’s footsteps through time. That really put into perspective for me the gravity of what I was doing in Archives and something that we all live by.” The Congregation can rest assured that preserving the history of the Sisters of Charity is a responsibility placed in capable hands. History is being made each day by the Congregation and the Archives staff is careful to document it so as to inspire future Sisters of Charity the same way that they were inspired. VOLUME I, 2020

S. Judith Metz, the Congregational historian, is known for her dedication and service to the Sisters of Charity Archives.

Intercom is the official magazine of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. This apostolic Catholic women’s religious community exists to carry out the Gospel of Jesus Christ through service and prayer in the world. Approximately 245 Sisters are joined in their mission by 204 Associates (lay women and men). Sisters, using their professional talents as ministers of education, health care, social services and environmental justice, live and minister in 18 U.S. dioceses and in two foreign countries. They also sponsor institutions to address education, health care and social service needs, with particular concern for direct service to the poor.

Intercom Staff Editor Erin Reder Graphic Design/Layout Michelle Bley Director of Communications S. Georgia Kitt Executive Council Liaison S. Monica Gundler Advisory Board Members: Veronica Buchanan S. Mary Ann Flannery S. Tracy Kemme S. Joyce Richter Debbie Weber Vicki Welsh Letters to the editor, articles and photos are welcome. The staff reserves the right to edit for space and readability. Make submissions to: Communications Office 5900 Delhi Road Mount St. Joseph, OH 45051 Phone: 513-347-5447 Fax: 513-347-5467 Email: erin.reder@srcharitycinti.org Subscriptions: $15 per year

5900 Delhi Road Mount Saint Joseph, OH 45051 www.srcharitycinti.org www.facebook.com/ sistersofcharityofcincinnati 27

5900 Delhi Road Mount Saint Joseph, OH 45051 http://www.srcharitycinti.org www.facebook.com/sistersofcharityofcincinnati

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S. Bernadette Kambeitz (center) celebrated her 100th birthday in December alongside many close friends and Charity Family.

S. Joyce Richter (left) is one of the many Sisters of Charity and SC Federation Sisters attending the November 2019 Nuns Build in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Archives volunteer S. Pat McQuinn has spent many years making the Archives photo collection more digitally accessible.

Intercom Vol. I 2020

Articles inside

CONTENTS

Timeless Treasures S. Adele Clifford’s portrait

Moments in Ministry

OPJCC Faith in Action: Lenten Almsgiving