In TERC o M

ConTEnTS

FeaTureS

Unanswered Prayers........................... 6-7 S. Ginny Scherer’s call to teach. Living the Charism of Elizabeth Ann Seton................................................. 8-9 Educators reflect on Elizabeth’s influence. Called to Teach....................................10 S. Mary Alice Haithcoat’s dedicated education ministry. In the name of Love ..................... 16-17 S. Sandy Howe walks with family seeking asylum. Blessings Among Us ...................... 18-19 SC Community gifted with presence of six international Sisters. Carrying Forward the Spirit .......... 20-21 Years after Elizabeth’s death, Cincinnati SCs follow in her spirit.

DeParTMenTS

EarthConnection.................................11 Working Toward a Sustainable Future Timeless Treasures ...............................26 The original oak tree near Elizabeth’s first gravesite. oPJCC ...............................................27 Transforming Racisms at Three Levels of Society

on the Cover: Since 2018, Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Sandy Howe (back, second from right) has ministered as the Community’s Newcomers Transitions Program Coordinator. During this time she has walked with Samuel (right) and his family as they sought asylum and acclimated to a new country. Read more on pages 16-17. 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. “See, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth. The time for singing has come.” - Song of Songs

Dear Sisters, Associates and Friends,

At this writing, the green of spring has not yet arisen, but the birds are singing and the horizon for the end of the pandemic draws closer. Hope is growing! The lines above seem especially fitting after this long year of so many challenges.

As the dormant days of winter seem to indicate an absence of life, we know that deep within is the silent work that prepares life waiting to come forth. This issue highlights a variety of the transforming both inside and out of the Mount campus, as well as the ongoing mission of education that is part of our Charity legacy. The stories illustrate that the journeys, much like the seasons, contain chapters of dying and rising to new life.

Much has happened in preparation for the deconstruction of Seton Hall: offices moved, new spaces and places rearranged and renovated even as doors had to remain closed and distances kept. All this in a building that has housed some form of schools, offices, school again, Sisters, retreatants, etc. over these many years. We are excited to share all that has happened over these months as the cranes have certainly brought an end to any silent waiting!

Sisters Ginny Scherer and Mary Alice Haithcoat, some of our extraordinary educators, are highlighted in this issue. They are part of the rich lineage and legacy of the Sisters of Charity in education as S. Pat Wittberg has so well depicted in her introduction. It is truly a legacy of love.

As you will find in reading about the happenings at EarthConnection, in our Series on Racism, and with our former international guests, there is much continuing in the mission of Charity to move us forward. As flowers appear on the earth, may it be a time for singing for all of us. The journey continues. Blessings,

S. Monica Gundler, SC

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. Janet Marie Wehmhoff

January 4, 2021

S. Jacqueline riggio

January 20, 2021

S. regina Tevis

January 24, 2021

S. Irene Luther

February 2, 2021

S. Marie Patrice Joyce

February 10, 2021

S. Lucien Marie Davis

February 22, 2021

S. Theresa ann Moran

March 8, 2021

S. Carol Bauer

March 13, 2021

S. Kathleen Houck

April 12, 2021

Charity Family

WelCome neW aSSoCiateS

The Community welcomed eight new Associates in Mission on Jan. 3, 2021 in Springhill, Florida. Congratulations to (front row, from left) Iris Ramirez, Janine Poisson, Heather Litton, (back row, from left) Margaret Martin, Jean Leonard, Theresia Griffin, Gail Metcalf and Judith Brooks.

S. pat neWhouSe reCoGnizeD

Congratulations to S. Pat newhouse, a faithful volunteer of Haven House in Lansing, Michigan, who raised $25,741 for the organization’s annual Pancake Palooza. A Star Server for the event, S. Pat received the People’s Choice Award for most donors (184) for the sixth year in a row; this year she also earned the Crowd Pleaser Award. All proceeds from the event (a total of $65,204) will go to sheltering and rehousing homeless families.

roCk GarDen roSary

S. Shirley Dix (right) enjoys the newest addition to the Mother Margaret Hall back patio area, a rock garden rosary. Sisters living in Mother Margaret Hall nursing facility, with the help of Activities Team members, completed a beautiful “Rock Garden Rosary” in november 2020. Each stone was thoughtfully painted and together assembled into this garden installation. The garden is located under two trees near the entrance of the MMH back patio. It is the perfect way to have prayerful time while enjoying the beauty of the seasonal weather.

houSe of Charity feeDinG SoulS

Sisters of Charity living and ministering at the House of Charity in new orleans, Louisiana, are finding new ways to continue their ministry of hospitality during the pandemic. S. Monica Gundler (pictured, center) and Sisters Peg Johnson, SCL; Vivien Linkhauer, SC (Seton Hill) and Patty Huffman, DC (St. Louise Province) prepped, prepared and delivered food to Jesus Project Ministries and Hotel Hope during the winter months.

SiSterS, employeeS reCeive vaCCine

Sisters of Charity and employees in the Motherhouse and Mother Margaret Hall received the first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine on campus in January and February. SC President Pat Hayden (pictured) said of the experience, “It was great. This is truly a gift and blessing for the world.”

Sisters in Education: A Long and Influential History

By S.Patricia Wittberg

The belief that teaching children is an appropriate apostolate for women religious is a relatively new development in the Church’s 2,000-year history. It was only in the 1600s that some communities of Sisters adopted teaching as their ministry – and even then they were only allowed to do so in private academies within their cloister walls. In these academies, the Sisters invented the first tools of classroom instruction: textbooks, written exams, and end-of-the-year assemblies where students could demonstrate their academic achievements to their proud parents. For In 1872, S. Blandina Segale was missioned West to teach at schools in Colorado and New Mexico for the next 20 years. children in less-wealthy families, however, community, they followed this pattern, establishing an whatever education they received was given by someone in academy – Cedar Grove – in Cincinnati and academies in their local church, as a charitable work that the pastor himself, other towns where they were sent. When S. Blandina Segale or a seminarian, or local pious women parishioners might arrived in Trinidad, Colorado in 1872, for example, the undertake. (Some of these pious women later became new Sisters who preceded her had already begun an academy religious congregations.) only in the 19th century were state- which educated 12 girls, whose parents were wealthy enough funded public schools established in Europe, usually staffed to give them jewelry for Christmas. The free school was less by ministers, priests, or religious brothers and sisters who were impressive: on first visiting it, she writes: “Today I went to paid state salaries. look at my school room to be; 40 feet long, 14 feet wide,

This was the background that prevailed in the United 8 feet high; two small windows, a low sized door, no transom; States when Elizabeth Seton began her small community. solid adobe walls on two sides, log rafters black as ebony. Public schools did not yet exist in most of the country, and of necessity, ventilation said ‘goodbye’ when the house would not for another 50 years. Unlike Europe, however, was completed.” In these less-than-ideal circumstances, if the Sisters wanted to teach poor children they could not S. Blandina worked educational wonders: by the following expect to be supported by the state to do so. Most religious Christmas, her pupils were singing Mozart at Midnight Mass. communities in the United States, therefore, established By 1901, the Sisters of Charity taught in 49 parish tuition-based academies for wealthier students and used schools and two academies, scattered throughout ohio, the money they earned to support “free schools” for poorer Michigan, Colorado and new Mexico. The Community had children. The first of these academies was opened by Ursuline established a Board of Education to oversee the curriculum Sisters in 1727, almost as soon as they arrived in new and textbooks, and to coordinate the education and orleans, Louisiana. By 1810, various Sisters’ congregations certification of the Sister-teachers. Meanwhile, high schools ran 10 academies; by 1852 there were more than 100. After were developing in the United States, and so parishes began to Protestant-dominated public schools opened in the middle create their own high schools. Around the country, academies of the 19th century, more parishes established their own also shifted their academic offerings from ornamental arts elementary schools; in 1884 they were mandated to do so such as needlecraft, music and the like to a standard high by the bishops. The Sisters then found that their free schools school curriculum. States were beginning to demand that were often stigmatized as “schools for the poor,” and so they teachers in grade and high schools be professionally certified either closed them or merged them with the parish schools. to teach these academic subjects. As with many other women’s

When Mother Margaret George and her companions religious congregations, the Sisters of Charity began to send began the Cincinnati Sisters of Charity as a separate Sisters to The Catholic University (Washington, D.C.),

In 1920, the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati officially opened the College of Mount St. Joseph, the first Catholic college for women in Southwestern Ohio.

Longtime educator S. Benedicta Mahoney taught at Elizabeth Seton High School in South Holland, Illinois, from 1970 until 1979.

S. Grace Schwietering was the long-time principal at St. Leo’s in Detroit, Michigan from 1970 until 1992.

S. Catherine Lucas served as archdiocesan supervisor of elementary schools for 23 years. Sisters also wrote educational monographs and textbooks for teachers: S. Barbara Geoghegan collaborated on two books of educational psychology, and S. Rita Miriam Robers wrote a picture dictionary for elementary school students. S. Donna Steffen collaborated on the Foundations in Faith series of books for RCIA teachers in parishes. By 1965, 587 Sisters of Charity taught in 79 different elementary schools. Another 313 Sisters taught in 30 high schools. The apostolate of education accounted for the largest percentage of Sisters in the congregation: 65 percent in 1969. The declining number of school-age children after the end of the Baby Boom and the movement of Sisters into other ministries has decreased their presence since then. But Sisters notre Dame (Indiana), and Cincinnati’s own Athenaeum of Charity continue the excellent teaching for which they to complete their bachelor’s degrees. In the meantime, have always been known. S. Ginny Scherer, who won the Cedar Grove Academy had moved from Price Hill to the ohio Academy of Sciences Award as Distinguished Science new Motherhouse in Delhi and the Teacher, continues to teach at Lehman former campus became a school for High School in Sidney. Her proudest day students only. As the 20th century accomplishments include the gold, began, post-high school courses were silver and bronze medals her students offered at the Academy, and in 1920 the have won at the Science olympiads College of Mount St. Joseph was begun. held yearly in Columbus, ohio. Sisters By this time the Sisters of Charity were Mary Alice Haithcoat and Peggy Rein teaching in more than 20 high schools, continue to teach primary school in addition to more than 50 elementary children at Piqua Catholic School and schools. Holy Family School respectively.

But grade schools, high schools It can still be said of our present and colleges were not the only locations day-Sister of Charity teachers what where the Sisters of Charity exercised was said of S. Mary Maude Potvin by their ministry of teaching. They one of her former students: She was also taught particular populations of a lady, with all the dignity, decency students: deaf students at St. Rita School and courage of a deeply spiritual, wellfor the Deaf, children with psychological educated woman … of the legions and educational problems at Springer Institute, orphans who sat before her to learn English, mathematics, history, and expectant mothers at St. Joseph orphanage and St. Joseph geography, and most of all, their religion, there were few who Infant Home. S. Ruth Jonas helped create a “twinned would not place her alongside their mothers as perhaps the classroom” program that linked students at St. Dominic and best possible influence on their young lives.” St. William schools in Cincinnati with students in France and French-speaking African countries.

Beginning in 1935, the bishops had called for the establishment of a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine whereby Catholic students attending public schools could be taught their faith; Sisters of Charity taught CCD classes in the summers for many years thereafter. In 1967, several Sisters began full time work in religious education and adult formation at numerous parishes. Meanwhile, Sisters also began working in full-time campus ministry at various colleges.

Sisters of Charity also helped shape generations of future teachers. Several Sisters taught at the archdiocesan teachers’ colleges in Cincinnati and Albuquerque, among them Sisters Agnes de Sales and Sarita Cordova in Albuquerque and S. Concetta Papania in Cincinnati. In Cincinnati,