Friday, September 26^th, 2008

By Kim Salerno

LITTLE ROCK - On the evening of Friday, September 26, 2008, a new local association of the Ladies of Charity celebrated its first Solemn Reception of Members Mass in Morris Hall Chapel at the Diocese of Little Rock in Arkansas.  The Mass marked the beginning of a special annual celebration welcoming new members into the Diocesan-based Ladies of Charity of Arkansas.

Mass was celebrated by Fr. Dan Borlik, CM, Provincial of the Southern Province of his community.  Assisting Fr. Borlik was Fr. Tom Stehlik, CM, Pastor of St. Anne Church in North Little Rock.  Fr. Stehlik also serves as the Spiritual Advisor for the Arkansas association.  Other clergy members celebrating Mass were Fr. Jim Ward, CM, Fr. Carlos Lozada, CM, and Dc. Arnold Hernandez.

Twenty-four of the thirty-five new members were in attendance.  Those present processed forward and were called by name and given a special blessing by Fr. Borlik and then presented with a silver Ladies of Charity crucifix, a Ladies of Charity lapel pin, a Ladies of Charity manual, and a St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac medal.

Also in attendance were Mary Ann Morovitz, the President of the Ladies of Charity of the United States, Sr. Mary Lou Stubbs, DC, Director of Catholic Charities who also serves as the Ladies of Charity of Arkansas Sister Moderator, and Sr. Doris Moore, DC.

The officers of the Arkansas Chapter were also introduced.  They are Kristy Eanes, President; Sandy DeCoursey, Executive VP; Jan Brass, Secretary; and Jacqueline Kaufman, Treasurer.

Following Mass, members attended a light reception and listened to special words and congratulatory remarks from Mary Ann Morovitz, Fr. Stehlik, and Kristy Eanes.  It was a great time for everyone to meet other members and learn more about upcoming projects.

The Ladies of Charity of Arkansas current projects include:  a yearly daytime Art Camp for foster children and children from lower income families; a layette project and homemade quilts for the disabled and homeless; lunches with the homeless at a local stewpot.  Future projects include:  urban agriculture for at-risk youth, immigrants, and those who are disabled; Plaza Comunitaria or similar learning computer lab for Hispanic immigrants; projects to assist the elderly.  More information is available online at http://www.lcark.org.