Last Saturday marked the ten year
anniversary of the House of
Charity (HOC) in New Orleans, and we at the Future of Charity (FOC) blog want to
celebrate their milestone. We dedicate
this post to our visionary sisters who dreamed up the HOC and have sustained it
over a decade, impacting countless young adults, the city of New Orleans, and
the Charity
Federation – including, in a very special way, us who are newer members of
our congregations.
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| Our first FOC gathering at the HOC, August 2014 |
The FOC has its roots at the House of Charity. The same sisters who dreamed up the
HOC also dreamed of connecting newer members across the Federation, and they eventually did, at the HOC in 2014. Sisters Claire Regan, Mary Lex Smith, Monica
Gundler, and Renee Rose welcomed us with open arms. Our beloved, now-deceased Sr. Janet Gildea led us in reflection on the movie Field of Dreams. Its famous quote, “If you build it, they will
come,” took on special power at the HOC, where more than a
thousand guests have "come" since our sisters “built” it in 2010. In this sacred space, Janet invited us to dream about collaborating
for the Charity mission – and one idea that emerged was this blog,
now more than five years running.
At the end of
the weekend, another dear sister that we’ve since lost, Marie Flowers, gushed, “I
finally feel like I have a ‘band’!” For
those of us who have entered our congregations with few peers, the FOC has been like our “band,” our entrance group, and the HOC has been our our gathering place, our home-base to which we return yearly. This past November, we were blessed once
again by the hospitality of the HOC’s current community, Sisters Monica Gundler,
Peg Johnson, and Vicki Lichtenauer. As always, we were nourished for the present and energized for our shared future.
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| FOC at the HOC, November 2019 |
We are so grateful. And as a small token of our immense
gratitude, we, the members of the FOC, offer tribute here to the amazing HOC:
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In gratitude for being that place that holds the
past of our Charity Charism and the love of our sisters who have laid down our
foundation, the present of who we are in this defining moment, and the future
that might be uncertain yet is laden with a promise of hope and guidance from
God, happy 10th year anniversary, HOC! I am grateful for what you represent for
us women of Charity! ~Romina Sapinoso
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The House of Charity is a wonderful example of
collaboration among the Charity Federation congregations. It weaves
hospitality, community, prayer, and service together for those who stay there. Whether I am visiting with the Future of
Charity or a college spring break service trip, I can feel the positive energy
and hope that emerges from the group experience, impelling all to continue building
the Kindom here on earth. ~Rejane Cytacki
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When I first stayed at the HOC in 2017, I had
already been accepted as a pre-postulant with the Daughters of Charity and knew
I would be living in New Orleans for my first year. Meeting and staying with
the Sisters at the HOC for that first service week was a blessing, as I
continued to be in contact with them throughout my time in NOLA. Being able to
pray, serve, and be involved in their activities added a lot to my year. Thank you, HOC, for your welcoming arms,
hospitable spirit, and atmosphere of invitation to me! ~Josephine
Lomasney
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| Federation Come and Serve, Sept. 2017 |
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Every moment that I have encountered through
gathering at the HOC has provided a source of growth, hope and
faith in the journey as sisters of Charity.
~Hyeon Lee
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The first time that I went to the House of
Charity for the Daughters of Charity Search and Serve in 2016, I instantly felt
welcomed and loved. It was there that I first got to witness the Vincentian
Charism in action. The sisters there have always been so generous and
supportive of anyone who would walk through those doors, and for that I am very
thankful. To this day every time I visit the House of Charity it still feels
like home. ~Carissa Kulpa
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The House of Charity has been an integral part
of my discernment/formation journey. I initially experienced their warm
hospitality when I was first exploring a call to religious life, and since then
I’ve returned numerous times as a sister-in-formation and even as a companion
for other young women in discernment. The HOC is one of many "second
homes" that I am privileged to have, and I'm so proud to be in the Charity
family with the devoted and inspiring women who live and minister there. ~Whitney
Schieltz
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| FOC at the HOC, September 2015 |
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The House of Charity has been a place where we
as younger sisters can gather under one roof and one name, no distribution
is needed. Great hospitality is always offered and a feeling of being at home
is always felt. Thank you HOC for always being there for us as younger members
in the federation. We are truly blessed.
~Carlette Gentle
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I’ve been lucky enough to participate in two
Nuns Builds and be hosted annually for Future of Charity gatherings. My first
Nuns Build, during novitiate, was an enlightening experience for me and the
other Federation Sisters present. After spending the week together, they proclaimed
that Tracy and I were “their” novices, too; we didn’t just belong to the
Cincinnati SCs. That was the first time I really knew it was true that my community
includes all my Federation Sisters. I’m so grateful to the HOC for facilitating
those kinds of encounters and giving the whole Federation a place to call home. ~Andrea Koverman
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I am so grateful for the collaborative ministry
of the House of Charity because it introduced me to the Sisters of Charity
Federation. This house offers a homey,
welcoming atmosphere where sisters from across the Federation can gather to
build relationships with each other and deepen our call to the charism of
Charity. ~Kara Davis
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I first came to the HOC in 2012, shortly after
deciding to take the plunge to become a Sister of Charity. I was still full of questions and,
truthfully, upset with God for asking me to “give up” other life options. That week praying, serving, and playing with
the HOC community was a turning point, reminding me why I was drawn to
religious life and setting my heart afire with courage and joy. Thank you, HOC, for your contagious witness
to Charity! ~Tracy Kemme
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As we celebrate this HOC anniversary, I would
like to pay tribute to the wonderful hospitality offered by the staff! I started
attending Future of Charity gatherings there over 5 years ago to deepen my Federation
relationships, and getting to know the Charity charism lived among us has been
inspiring. The HOC has been a refuge to build support, relax, pray together as
well as to have a lot of fun together. May God continue to abundantly bless the
efforts of this ministry! ~Judy Donohue
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The HOC has always been a place of welcome and
hospitality. I treasure the opportunity to come together with newer
members in different stages of formation to share our dreams and ideas, and to
pray, play and support one another. I am also gifted by the many mentors
throughout the Charity Federation who walk with us and share in the journey of
Religious Life with spirit of Charity.
~Paris Slapikas
Happy 10 years, House of
Charity! We love you!
And we say YES with you to the next ten
wonderful years (and beyond)...
P.S. If you’ve never had the chance to visit the
House of Charity, check out Sr. Monica’s video tour (which she offered as part of the Charity Federation's series of Elizabeth Seton reflections) by clicking right here!
