Ladies of Charity gear up for future

An organization founded in the 17th century is preparing for the 21st.

The Ladies of Charity of the Albany Diocese, a group of women who perform volunteer work to serve the poor, recently held a "restructuring" meeting to boost the variety of activities they currently sponsor.

The Ladies of Charity were founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1617 with the motto "to serve rather than to be served." Today, the Albany Diocese's branch boasts 441 members, including some junior members still in high school or college.

Charities work

Each year, the group raises thousands of dollars to be distributed to the needy through Catholic Charities. Members also visit the sick in parishes; help with child care at various Catholic Charities agencies, Farano Center and St. Catherine's Center in Albany; and help parishes such as St. Mary's in Albany with clerical work and sorting clothes for thrift shops. Some members make baby clothes or blankets for the needy.

However, until recently, those efforts had been less organized than the Ladies of Charity would have liked.

"Unfortunately, we have the reputation of being a social organization, which we are not," said recently elected president Mary Davitt. "We are a spiritual group looking to help the poor on our journey of faith."

Renewing themselves

In order to improve their focus on the poor, the Ladies of Charity held a meeting to elect several new members and come up with initiatives for future projects.

Two committees that had lost volunteers in recent years were reactivated: the "telephone committee," which invites members to upcoming events; and the "remembrance committee," which sends Mass cards to the families of deceased members.

Other activities needed less of a boost: for example, the "St. Louise pen-pals," who visit retired women religious at St. Louise House of DePaul Provincial House in Menands. Thirty-five members presently participate in that group alone.

Ladies of Charity are also active in jail ministry, helping CONSERNS-U to provide Christmas gifts to the needy and raising funds for the poor and elderly through a "Christmas giving letter."

New ideas

New events on the agenda for 1997 include a Valentine's Day tea, a fashion show, a retreat in March and an April dinner with a guest speaker.

On Dec. 8, the Ladies of Charity are inviting all present members to bring a friend to a Christmas tea at the Normanside Country Club in Delmar.

"We invite every woman of the Diocese to become a member -- if not through volunteering, then through prayer," said Mrs. Davitt. "This is a wonderful, deeply spiritual group of women."

(For more information on the Ladies of Charity, call 453-6650.)

(10-17-96) [[In-content Ad]]