How we are making a difference globally . . .
Sisters of Charity at the United Nations
The Seton Hill Sisters of Charity, along with twelve other “Charity” communities who comprise the Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition, support an NGO Office at the United Nations.
The purpose of the NGO Office is to educate and involve Sisters of Charity in issues of global justice and peace, with a focus on poverty-related issues particularly as these affect the lives of women and children.
The NGO Office is directed by a full-time Sister of Charity from one of the Federation congregations. At the U.N., she participates in various commission meetings, working with other religious communities to ‘be the voice of the poor’ at the U.N.
The NGO representative leads a group of liaisons, each representing a Federation congregation. This group of liaisons works with Federation leadership to identify the area of focus for the year’s work and develops a plan for implementation.
Most recently, sisters have participated in the Jubilee U.S.A. Campaign for Debt Forgiveness for the world’s poorest countries and have been focused on ensuring that the world’s poor have access to clean and affordable water essential to their survival. Countries who obtain debt relief are able to invest these funds in basic health care, education, and social services for the poor. The Federation has supported sustainable development in Haiti, specifically through funding a water project that will bring potable water to about 800 villagers, enable the village to establish small business enterprises, and give infrastructure needed for the survival of a small agricultural college in the village.
The Sisters of Charity recognize advocacy for justice for the poorest of the poor on a global scale as an effective way of continuing the work of charity in today’s world. “The Charity of Christ impels us.”
Makaya Water Project—Fondwa, Haiti
Working with Partners in Progress and the Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill raised $25,000 toward making the Makaya Water Project a reality. To raise this money, the sisters chose to forego giving material Christmas presents—instead making small monetary donations from their own stipends in the names of loved ones to this project.
The project took form in 2006 and was completed in 2007. The Fondwa (Haiti) Peasants Association sought help in eliminating the need for villagers to trek two to three hours daily to retrieve water from a spring. Through the Makaya Water Project, potable water is now available to the village of Fondwa, Haiti.
In a day and age when we take safe drinking water for granted, this simple project is expected to have huge implications on improving the quality of life for these villagers. It will make it possible to sustain small business endeavors and will support the medical clinic, orphanage, and school. It will also make it possible for the newly formed agricultural school, the University of Fondwa, to accept more students. Students attending the University of Fondwa are from rural areas and learn the skills needed for community organizing and sustainable agricultural practices.
Sisters of Saint Antoine—Fondwa, Haiti
This year, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill are collaborating with Partners in Progress and the Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition to help the Sisters of Saint Antoine in Fondwa, Haiti.
Construction began in 2005 for a new motherhouse and formation center for this young religious community, and the ground floor is completed. Phase II of the construction will complete the first floor, providing housing for 10 sisters with space for teaching, dining, cooking, and laundry.
The effect that this motherhouse will have in the village of Fondwa may not be obvious until you look at what the Sisters of Saint Antoine can begin to offer the villagers, primarily in the form of education and social services.
Sisters of the Holy Family – New Orleans, Louisiana
When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in August 2005, the Sisters of the Holy Family experienced major losses to their property—primarily their motherhouse and the facilities in which they operated their ministries. The sisters continue to work against great odds to reclaim their home and rebuild their ministries to the poor of New Orleans.
Our own connection to the Sisters of the Holy Family extends back to the 1920s when our sisters traveled to Louisiana to both teach in Catholic schools there and teach the Sisters of the Holy Family. Jim Crow laws prevented the Sisters of the Holy Family—whose members are predominantly African-American—from attending colleges and universities in the South. Financial limitations prevented them from traveling north for their post-secondary education. A cooperative teacher exchange in the 1960s enriched the education of students in schools of both congregations. Today, the Seton Hill University community is blessed to have Sister Alicia Costa, SSF, serving on its faculty.
Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill began collecting gently used clothing from their own closets to share with the Sisters of the Holy Family. Christmas 2006 saw Sister Alicia returning to New Orleans for the holiday with a trunk-load of slippers and goodies, all donated by the Sisters of Charity. This Christmas, the support continues in the form of small monetary gifts, made by individual sisters from their stipends, in honor of friends and family members.
How we are making a difference locally . . .
The ministry stories shared in other parts of this web site show you the effects that Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill are making through their ministries to those in need. Here we share with you other projects that are making a difference locally.
Meadow-Reclamation Project
The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill have committed to returning 18 acres of land to natural grasses and wildflowers. The reasons for returning this land to natural meadow or prairie are three-fold:
- First to provide a natural habitat for grouse, pheasants, and small field birds native to this region of Pennsylvania;
- Second to reduce costs related to regular mowing of this land;
- Third to reduce the use of gasoline and the emissions of a gasoline-powered tractor—one small step toward reducing global warming.
This property was used for raising horses prior to its acquisition by the Sisters of Charity. Hence it was planted in cool season grass that is harvested for hay or used for grazing horses. This grass is not native to our area.
Our mission is to continue the mission of Jesus. What it means to carry out the mission of Jesus must evolve as we come to a deeper understanding of the world, our place in the world, and the Gospel values as seen through the lens of our time. We, in our time, are coming to realize that Earth is a living organism and that health and continued life depends on respectful inter-dependence of the ecosystems that comprise Earth. Returning these 18 acres to natural meadow and welcoming those creatures who would call such meadows a home is a way to lesson our footprint on the earth, to lessen our contribution to global warming, and to bring the message of peace and love to all people through building right relationships with all creation.
The Sisters of Charity are working with the non-profit organization Pheasants Forever to begin the transformation. Our own maintenance staff will do the required spring cuttings for the first few years. They will maintain the 20-foot fire safety corridor around the meadow fields. If the meadow successfully takes hold, no maintenance of the fields themselves will be necessary.
A grant received through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and natural Resources is funding this transformation. Initial preparations of the ground took place in October 2007 and will continue in March 2008. Planting is expected to take place in April or May 2008. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2010.
The idea for the meadow reclamation project was conceived by the Province’s Social Ministry Land Use Task Force. Sister Catherine Meinert, SC, Provincial Council member, and Sister Mary Elizabeth Lawrence, SC, Eco-Justice Coordinator, oversee this project.