What does “sponsorship” mean? The Spring-Summer edition of VISION, the newsletter of the Sisters of Charity of New York is available online. It features, among other things, an article by Sr. Karen Helfenstein, SC on Sponsorship and what it means for the Sisters of Charity of New York.

Vision Spring/Summer 2014 (PDF)

Some excerpts…

From 5,000 then to over 1,000,000 now…

“Under the guidance of Mother Elizabeth Boyle, our first Mother Superior, the Sisters of Charity served 5,000 orphans, most of whom were the children of immigrants. From this first sponsored work to the sponsored works of today we have consistently served immigrants over the years. The Spring/Summer issue provides our readers with a look at the great number of people served by our Sponsored Ministries.”

“Together we have discovered the amazing number of lives touched by he services provided through the sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Charity. That number exceeds 1,000,000 in any given calendar year. This story is a summary of the life-giving and life-saving work that goes on every day as our lay colleagues do extraordinary things, in our name, for those in need.”

The following graphics provide an insight into some of the works they currently sponsor. Visit the SCNY site to read the article and see other charts.

“The disciples of John the Baptist were sent by John to ask Jesus, ‘Are you the one who is to come or shall we wait for another?’ In reply Jesus told them, ‘Go, and tell John what you see: the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, and the poor have the word of God preached to them.’ So the disciples of John went back to him and together they became aware of all that God was doing right before their eyes. Today, many may ask our Sisters, ‘As you grow older and fewer, is this all there is to your mission or will these good works continue?’ In reply we can say, ‘Look around you and see that children live in safe homes, elderly people have affordable housing, the sick are healed, the hungry are fed, the homeless have the word of God revealed to them, new immigrants find community and relief of some of their burdens, and blessed are we who eat of the fruit of the fields of our farm.’ God is doing new things today.”