“Following Vincent with Humility, Simplicity & Charity”
St. LOUIS, MO-(August 29, 2004)—LCUSA will meet for their Fourth National Assembly in Memphis, TN, September 8-12, 2004. There will be a keynote speaker, Reverend Richard Gielow, C.M. who will do a presentation over three days on the theme
of “Following Vincent with Humility, Simplicity and Charity.”
Registrants of the assembly will have the opportunity to choose from 12 different workshops, choosing three of their choice held at AutoZone Park. Topics will be on Nursing Home Patients Rights, Sandy Smegelsky, Hospice, Dr. Joseph Weems, Alzheimer’s, Sheryl Ludken-Smith, Special Children, Jo Ann Hinkle, Madonna Day School, Reading Enrichment, Mary Shepard, Women Prisoners, Chaplain Gladys Horton, Refugees, Efua Appah, Twinning, Doris Hoag & Mary Ann Morovitz, Vincentian Spirituality on the Internet, Fr. John Freund, C.M., How to Approach your legislator, Douglas Rice, Director of Housing & Development Policy Catholic Charities, Junior Ladies of Charity, Dr. Mary McDonald, Secretary of Education- Superintendent of Catholic Schools & Margaret Kelly, Junior Ladies of Charity Moderator.
Participants of the assembly will be attending a Mass on Friday, September 10 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with celebrant’s Bishop J. Terry Steib, S.V.D. and the Most Reverend Howard J. Hubbard,D.D., Bishop of Albany, NY & Episcopal Chairman of LCUSA; with visiting Congregation of Mission Priests and some Memphis Diocesan Priests.
The meeting will have four tours of the city seeing Graceland, St. Jude, Sun Studio, Wonders Exhibit: Glory & Genius of the Medici Family, Civil Rights Museum and many downtown historical churches.
The assembly will conclude with a banquet an Invocation by Reverend Richard Gielow, Spiritual Advisor, LCUSA and with musical selections of Evelyn Palmer and a blessing by Fr. Ernie De Blasio, Spiritual Moderator of Memphis Association.
There will be in attendance of over 200 participants including Ladies of Charity, Daughters and Sisters of Charity, and Vincentian Priests at the downtown Radisson Hotel. The Memphis Diocese of Sisters & Daughters of Charity, along with Reverend Mike Joyce, C.M. has been graciously sponsored by the Saint Vincent De Paul Society of Memphis in being able to attend the assembly at no cost.
This occasion of the forty fourth anniversary of the Ladies of Charity of the United States of America, in the year 2004, we dedicate this assembly to our Founder, Mrs. Catherine Harkins, a woman of strong commitment and vision in the continuing the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac in the United States of America and all of the Ladies of Charity who for 147 years have served rather than be served.