Today marks the first ever university-based unit of the the Ladies of Charity USA (LCUSA) affiliation of some 35 administrators, faculty and staff of SJU as members of the LCUSA. See the Vincentian Encyclopedia for more background on the Ladies of Charity and the international group  (AIC) of which it is a member.

PROPOSED ACTIVITIES:
Following the directives of St. Vincent de Paul (1617), the association will conduct activities to assist the ill, poor and disadvantaged, giving spiritual and material help as needed to empower the recipients.

The group at St. Johns seeks to establish this Association of the Ladies of Charity at St. John’s University because:

PURPOSE:
To provide linkage, leverage and direction for university and community women acting together against poverty in the spirit of St. Vincent, St. Louise and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Our members will:

• Perform personal and communal acts of charity for people who are ill, poor, or disadvantaged with an emphasis on the needs of women and children
• Advocate for effective public policies for the needs of women and children who are poor, ill or marginalized
• Fundraise for selected charities and projects
• Pray individually, collectively and with the poor
• Study Vincentian history and tradition
• Attend renewal days and retreats
• Link efforts with the Ladies of Charity USA (for example determine if their national focus (i.e. reading enrichment in families) is appropriate in our area, and other Vincentian collaborators
• Attend Association meetings, Vincentian gatherings and Ladies of Charity USA National Assemblies