Sr. Grace Hartzog, SC, of ​​the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Executive Director of the Federation of Sisters of Charity, tells us the story of her congregation and then shares her hopes for the future of the Vincentian Family.

With her we continue a series of video interviews called “The Heart of a Leader” which will accompany us on our journey to the meeting in November 2024.

“As we dream together, the dream becomes a reality.” – Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, C.M. Register now at https://famvin.org/en/famvin-2024

Transcript:

Sr. Grace, could you introduce yourself?
I’m Sister Grace, and I am a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill, and our congregation was founded by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American Saint. And Elizabeth Seton founded several communities, and when she needed to create a Rule, she took the Rule of St. Vincent de Paul. So I have been a Vincentian all my life as a Sister of Charity.

Why is it important to work together as a Vincentian Family?
It is so important because we have a preamble that says we collaborate and work together because we can do so much better together than we do alone. And that has been a part of my life, and I see it even more visible and important as we face the future together.

The hope and the challenge for the future of the Vincentian Family, Sister Grace?
The hope is that we will have more opportunities together with ministry to the poor, and to gather together to share those. When we were together in 2020 and we had all the leaders and other people who are branches in the Family come together, there was so much joy, and blessing, and grace-filled moments with lots of hope for the future. And it’s my hope that we not only gather again together but that we continue to work together for the poor and the marginalized, not only in my country the United States, and because I’m on the board now with the Executive Committee, I represent 14 congregations in North America, Sisters in the United States and Canada, and together we work together, and then we work together with the global family of Vincent. And it gives me great hope and joy.

Thank you very much.