SALT LAKE CITY — When Intermountain Catholic writer Christine Young went to cover the first meeting of the newly formed chapter of the Ladies of Charity in Bountiful, she thought she was simply going to investigate a story of interest to Utah Catholics. By the time she left, though, she had become a Lady of Charity herself. "We need to love our brothers and sisters, and to help the poor is to help God’s people. From scripture, we have the Beatitudes and other instructions and examples for how to give ourselves to those who need us most. I really didn’t plan on becoming a Lady of Charity. I just thought it would make a great story for the Intermountain Catholic. I didn’t even leave the first meeting before filling out the applications. How do you say no to God’s poor? I have the energy, and I can find time to help them," Young said. The Ladies of Charity were founded in the early seventeenth century by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac to serve the needs of the poor. When it soon became apparent the charism embodied by the Ladies of Charity of daily prayer and personal service to the poor would benefit from a more structured religious life, the order of the Daughters of Charity was founded. The Daughters of Charity is the largest congregation for religious women in the Church today. "The Ladies of Charity do so much to enhance the quality of life for people who are on the brink of having basically nothing. If we supplement families with food they can pay bills and eventually get back on their feet. Often they’ll turn around and want to become Ladies of Charity and help others, because they know what it feels like," Young said. Each chapter of the Ladies of Charity is guided by a Daughter of Charity and supports itself financially. Any woman can become a member of the Ladies of Charity. In the time Young has worked with the Ladies of Charity in Utah, she has helped provide food and clothing to the poor, become vice president and now president-elect of both Utah chapters, and, at the Sept. 8-9 convention of the Ladies of Charity of the United States of America in Buffalo, N.Y., was elected to the national board of the Ladies of Charity. Young anticipates serving her four year term on the national board of the Ladies of Charity by helping with their communication strategy to increase awareness of the Ladies of Charity and their mission nationwide. "Even if you help the poor today," Young said, "tomorrow they are still going to be hungry." Across the country, 73 chapters of the Ladies of Charity are responding to the needs of the poor by distributing food to low income, homeless, or unemployed women, providing contact to social workers, assisting with medical expenses, providing vouchers for food, clothing, and rent, and many other courses of service to many needs. From assisting those in prison to responding to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the Ladies of Charity show the truthfulness of their name. "Being a Lady of Charity is to be in contact with the needy. In the Vincentian spirit of service, we assist the poor. For me, it is a way to help with a personal and caring touch, and that is very meaningful," said Young.
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