More than 400 Daughters of Charity gather in St. Louis
Two hundred years after Mother Seton arrived in Emmitsburg more than 400 Daughters of Charity are converging on St. Louis as they move toward the unification of 4 provinces into one. Through this process which began in 2006 they hope for new energy and make more the optimal use of available resources in service of their mission.
Tags: Daughters of Charity, visioning
Today is September 25–I finally got into my clearwire account ( it is faster). Today, 52 years ago I entered the Daughters of Charity. I walked into those big double doors in front of the Marillac, and met St. VincentdePaul all in marble. I began a journey. There were only two provinces 52 years ago–Emmitsburg and St. Louis. Back then, the membership was growing, growing, growing, and growing. I remember when they split into 5 provinces. And then, stuff happened. Membership inside the community decreased and I was part of the decrease. Somehow, I never saw it as ‘leaving’ the community but as ‘spreading’ the spirit of VDP. It is coming together, home, uniting. I am glad. I am sorry that only 4 of the 5 provinces are part of the union. The union…the union that nothing be lost…that phrase echoes in me from some book or other read to us in the Community. I wish I was there and listening in, knowing what they plan, what they foresee for the future for themselves. There are many of us, on the fringe, on the edge, outside peering in, and wondering. We skiied the outer limits, and yet, never lost our sight of ‘home’. I feel like the little match girl, striking her matching, seeing her visions, and then the match goes out. I hope they share with us on the ‘outer limits’. gh1 Comment
It was a long journey for me. And, I see now, it was a long journey for the Community.
Today is September 25–I finally got into my clearwire account ( it is faster).
Today, 52 years ago I entered the Daughters of Charity. I walked into those big double doors in front of the Marillac, and met St. VincentdePaul all in marble. I began a journey.
There were only two provinces 52 years ago–Emmitsburg and St. Louis. Back then, the membership was growing, growing, growing, and growing. I remember when they split into 5 provinces. And then, stuff happened. Membership inside the community decreased and I was part of the decrease.
Somehow, I never saw it as ‘leaving’ the community but as ‘spreading’ the spirit of VDP.
It was a long journey for me. And, I see now, it was a long journey for the Community.
It is coming together, home, uniting. I am glad.
I am sorry that only 4 of the 5 provinces are part of the union. The union…the union that nothing be lost…that phrase echoes in me from some book or other read to us in the Community.
I wish I was there and listening in, knowing what they plan, what they foresee for the future for themselves. There are many of us, on the fringe, on the edge, outside peering in, and wondering. We skiied the outer limits, and yet, never lost our sight of ‘home’.
I feel like the little match girl, striking her matching, seeing her visions, and then the match goes out.
I hope they share with us on the ‘outer limits’. gh