Sr. Whitney Schieltz, SC, Professes First Vows

Congratulations to Sister Whitney Schieltz who professed her first vows with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati on August 24th! The celebration Mass focused on the themes of baptism and the call to gospel living. 

Whitney processed in carrying her original baptismal candle that her parents had saved from 1988, and her program cover featured an original design depicting the Jordan River.

It was a beautiful celebration with her community, family, and friends! Please continue to hold Whitney, and all the members of Future of Charity, in prayer as we continue in our initial and ongoing formation in the Sisters of Charity Federation.

The Cincinnati Novitiate House community with the five sisters they've accompanied.

Other young sisters from within and beyond the archdiocese celebrated with Whitney.

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

By Sr. Kara Davis, Daughter of Charity Under 10 Years Vocation

Click HERE to learn more about Sr. Kara
Click HERE to learn more about the Daughters of Charity

It so happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1)

More shootings.  More acts of violence rooted in hate.  We respond, “Enough is enough! Pass me that petition!  I will write yet another letter to my representatives.”  We show up to vigils, to protests, uniting with our brothers and sisters with one voice:  Enough is enough!  We write posts on social media.  Our Facebook news feed is flooded with messages of solitary and thoughts and prayers for various communities struck with the most recent devastation of violence.  We will not stop uniting our voices, reaching out in solidarity, or taking action in various ways.  And we most definitely will not stop praying.  


In all of this, I find myself turning to God, but lost for words.  I ponder, What is my prayer?  Then I echo the disciple's words to Jesus pleading, "Lord, teach us to pray."

When our hearts are broken and we can’t find the words,

Lord teach us to pray.

When noise overpowers the stillness of silence,
Lord teach us to pray.

When destruction is rampant and peace can’t be found,
Lord teach us to pray.

When lies and confusion distort the truth,

Lord teach us to pray.

When the darkness of sin casts a shadow on the goodness of humanity,
Lord teach us to pray. 

When despair blinds our eyes of faith,
Lord teach us to pray.


When doubt darkens our flame of hope,
Lord teach us to pray.

When hate hardens our hearts made for love,
Lord teach us to pray.

Teach us to pray with words,
with silence,
with action,
with pondering.

Teach us to pray with friends,
with strangers,
with adversaries,
with advocates.


Teach us to pray with the witness of our lives,
with the choices we make,
with the places we show up,
with the people we meet.

Lord teach us to pray with the events of our day,
as we discern your way:
a response of love,
an act of justice,

all rooted deeply in a life of prayer.

Lord teach us to pray.