2018 Evening of Hope: Spes Unica award to Honor Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, CSJ of Hour Children

April 3, 2018

On Friday May 4, 2018, The Ladies of Charity at St. John’s University will host its annual “An Evening of Hope” from 7:00-11:00 pm at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, Queens. Sr. Tesa Fitzgerald, CSJ will receive the St. Louise de Marillac Spes Unica Award and deliver the keynote address.
“An Evening of Hope” begins at 7pm and participation will support the charitable works of the Ladies of Charity at St. John’s University. Tickets cost $90.00. The evening will include a silent auction and raffles. To be a sponsor, purchase tickets and register for the event go to: https://conta.cc/2GLCQsd

Sr. Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, CSJ, the Executive Director of Hour Children, was involved in the founding of the organization when she became a foster parent in 1989 to eight children of incarcerated mothers at the convent where she lived. In 1996, when Hour Children became a 501 (c)(3) organization, Sister Tesa extended her outreach to offer supportive services to other children of incarcerated mothers and the mothers themselves. Prior to that, she was responsible for NYS curriculum oversight for Catholic elementary schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn, and both a school Principal and teacher at various Catholic elementary schools. In addition to being an educator, she is a Certified Foster Care Trainer. Sister Tesa has been named a CNN Hero (2012), a White House Champion of Change (2013), the 2014 winner of the Opus Prize, and in 2015 was awarded the Cross Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice.The Spes Unica Award was established by the St. John’s University Ladies of Charity in 2014 to recognize a person who exemplifies the spirit of St. Louise de Marillac by radically improving the lives of others through service. St. Louise de Marillac was the spiritual moderator of St. Vincent dePaul’s lay women’s society, the Ladies of Charity. In 1633 she co-founded the religious order the Daughters of Charity with St. Vincent to address more completely the grinding poverty of 17th-century France. The newly formed Daughters of Charity set up soup kitchens, organized community hospitals, established schools and homes for orphaned children, offered job training, taught the young to read and write, and improved prison conditions.St. Louise died in 1660 and inscribed on the cross at her grave is the Latin phrase ”spes unica,” which means “one hope” or “only hope.” These words reflect St. Louise’s belief that service to humanity through systematic planning, sustainable programming and extensive collaboration is the “one hope” to effectively alleviate the burdens of people living in poverty. Four centuries later, that vision is reflected in the lives of people like Sr. Tesa and previous recipients; it is a vision celebrated by the Ladies of Charity, St. John’s University and the whole Vincentian Family.“An Evening of Hope” begins at 7pm and participation will support the charitable works of the Ladies of Charity at St. John’s University. Tickets cost $90.00. The evening will include a silent auction and raffles.

To be a sponsor, purchase tickets and register for the event go to: https://conta.cc/2GLCQsd

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2011 Annual Retreat

Several members of the Ladies of Charity at St. John’s University spent All Saint’s Day sharing stories, friendship and spirituality at a retreat held on the Oakdale campus.

Spiritual Director,  Fr.  Michael Whalen , C.M. Celebrated mass, and Spirituality Committee Chair, Dr. Marilyn Martone,  offered reflections on scriptures and sacred writing surrounding the vocation of women in their various roles as daughters, sisters, mothers, wives, educators and Church members.  The ladies also reflected, individually and as a group,  on the  virtues of Humility, Simplicity and Charity and the role of these virtues in our continuing formation as a Chapter.

Next year’s Retreat will also be held on All Saint’s Day.  Details are being developed.

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The Haiti Project

The Haiti Project initiative began after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 when we collaborated with the Vincentian family and the Daughters of Charity to rebuild schools in the South. Since 2011, Lady of Charity,  Marie Fouché has worked with the Daughters in the region to develop programs to  rebuild schools in the North. Marie started a NGO, CORA, in the northern Nippes diocese, teaching youth how to develop the tourism trade to build a sustainable local economy and is working with local fisherman through the region to revitalize the fishing industry.     

 

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Dantuono Elected to AIC Executive Board

March 19, 2017

We are delighted to share the news that our own Mary Ann Dantuono has been elected to the executive board of AIC International, this, as part of the larger AIC#400 . Mary Ann was a “founding” member of the LOC at SJU when she was the executive director for the Vincentian Center for Church and Society at SJU.  She has continually helped form the local chapter and served as Chapter president (2013-2015). After “retiring” from SJU, she still chaired the programs committee of our local chapter while also serving as the National LCUSA President (2015-2017).  We have no doubts that her great talents and energy will be put to good use at the International Level, and we are fortunate to enjoy her leadership, faith and friendship.


Newly elected Executive Board of AIC, at the 2017 International Assembly in Châtillon, France.

 

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“2020 Vision: End Human Trafficking” Conference

Ladies of Charity at St. John’s  University are one of the cosponsors of this 2020 Vision: End Human Trafficking Conference taking place on Saturday, April 1 from 9 am to 3 pm at St. John’s University, D’Angelo Center 416.   

Registration is in progress and we ask you to register NOW to attend so you do not miss out!  Make sure you indicate your affiliation as Ladies of Charity. There is no fee but seating is limited and registration is likely to close out within the next two weeks.

The Conference features Donna Hubbard, a survivor and advocate, along with educational workshops  on Identifying Human Trafficking; Global Issues; and the Deep Dark Web.  The program also includes a dramatic performance “A Day in the Life” by Katie Capiello and lunch.

Please make every effort to support our work to END all forms of violence against women.

Raising awareness about human trafficking helps to dispel the misconceptions and myths. Human trafficking is essentially modern-day slavery and a crime against humanity. It enslaves millions of men, women, and children for labor, sex, and other forms of exploitation in the US and other countries. Learn about human trafficking and its intersection with migration, conflict, economic crisis, law enforcement, healthcare, service providers, and the world of entertainment and social media. More about the conference on this flyer

You can take action and prevent human trafficking!

Conference co-sponsors:  Coalition of Religious Congregations to Stop Trafficking of Persons, LifeWay Network, University Ministry, UNICEF at St. John’s University, St. John’s CRS Global Campus, and the Ladies of Charity at St. John’s University

Raising Awareness

https://lifewaynetwork.org/2015/12/29/january-is-human-trafficking-awareness-month-2/

Myths

https://lifewaynetwork.org/2016/12/29/myths-about-human-trafficking/

 

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4th Annual Evening of Hope

The Ladies of Charity at St. John’s University are proud to present an “Evening of Hope,” our annual Spes Unica Award dinner and fundraising event. This year we honor Susan Gordan Ryan as the recipient of the Spes Unica Award. The event ticket price of $75 includes, Dinner, Raffles, “Wall-of-wine” and silent auction opportunities. Please note that all net proceeds raise funds for programs/projects that the LOC at SJU sponsor to combat poverty among women and children.

More details to follow! Registration is open, please click on the invitation below to register or follow this link: https://goo.gl/pu6R9E

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Pilgrimage to the Doors of Mercy

St. John’s Prep made a final pilgrimage to the Doors of Mercy, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Astoria. During the Year of Mercy, St. John’s led ongoing visits with groups of students and this was the final group to pass through and receive the plenary indulgence, the second walk sponsored by the Prep’s Junior Ladies of Charity.

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3rd Annual “Evening of Hope”

On April 15, 2016 we held our third annual “Evening of Hope”. Sister Margaret John Kelly, D.C. was the honoree, receiving the “Spes Unica” award. Sister recently retired as the director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society at St. John’s University. She was the force behind our formation into an association, and is our Spiritual Moderator Emeritus. Raffles, silent auction, horse races helped the event be a very successful fundraiser. Anna Rocchio served as the event’s chairwoman.

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Ladies of Charity National Website

The National Ladies of Charity, LCUSA Website  ( aic.ladiesofcharity.us ) has been newly redesigned highlighting News, advocacy, pictures, videos, daily reflections and more.  President Gayle Johnson is encouraging chapters and interested parties to check it out, and subscribe to email updates (via upper-right button) and/or join the facebook group :

[The new site] is filled with fresh news, spiritual enrichment and updated forms that are available for your use.  It is an excellent tool for your associations to keep you up to date with the inspirational work all the associations are doing.  The site offers … spiritual reflections for your personal use or for your association meetings, an interactive association map, connections to your tablets and smart phones.

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Juniors and Ladies Welcomed in 2014 Installation

On January 26, the Ladies of Charity at St. John’s welcomed 22 new members,  and commissioned an executive committee for the newly-formed Junior Ladies of Charity at St. John’s Preparatory High School at a Mass and installation ceremony in St. Thomas More Church on the Campus. Rev. Michael Whelan, C.M., was the presider and homilist at the Mass.  St. John’s, the only Association in LCUSA that is institutionally based in a University, began 5 years ago with the installation of 35 Charter members.  Eight new Ladies added to our number, and we welcome 14 young women with the advent of our Junior Ladies affiliates at St. John’s Prep.

The Association is supporting the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center for Women,  G.L.O.B.E., a micro-lending program in the Tobin College of Business, they are active in University based service opportunities such as University Service Day, Cancer Walks and Clothesline Week which each spring hosts events to raise awareness of violence against women.

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