The Ladies of Charity have a year-long season of giving

Intermountain Catholic

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Rita Galster smiles as she wraps toys for children in need Dec. 6. The Ladies of Charity served 95 families in need during this Christmas season. ?If you do what God wants you to do, He will give you what you need to do it,? said Sister Germaine Sarrazin, a Daughter of Charity and sister moderator of the St. Olaf chapter. photos courtesy of Jackie Harover

BOUNTIFUL — The mission of the Ladies of Charity is simple and noble: to respond to the needs of the poor. This organization was founded in the 17th century by Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Mariliac in France, but has been in the State of Utah for only five years.

"It has come a long way for a new organization," said Silvia D’Ausilio, president of the St. Olaf Parish chapter in Bountiful.

"It is the tenacity of the women that keeps it going," she said.

The Ladies of Charity are women who have noticed a need and have taken action to help in any way they can.

In Utah, there are two chapters of the Ladies of Charity – one in Bountiful and another one in Salt Lake City – that have taken the task to deliver food to an average of 65 families who are referred by an at-risk school on the west side. The need is present year-round, but it is more apparent during the Christmas season. D’Ausilio said the organization serves about 30 more families during this time. To prepare, the Ladies of Charity at St. Olaf start with a barbecue in July and have a bake sale in Thanksgiving to raise funds for Christmas.

"We have a bake sale and a Christmas boutique sale to raise money and continue the project to help the poor," said Jackie Harover, president of the Our Lady of Lourdes chapter in Salt Lake City.

Harover said this year’s Christmas program was a "big project" that ensured that approximately 250 children received toys, hats, socks, and gloves.

This requires a lot of work "but it’s worth it," said Harover.

"It is an opportunity to bring joy to the people who have very little," said Louise Lochhead, member of the chapter at St. Olaf.

Lochhead said the Ladies of Charity go beyond getting food on the table of families in need by trying to provide them with a traditional and memorable Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, which include a large box of supplemental food, ham, bread, and even a bottle of sparkling cider.

"If you do what God wants you to do, He will give you what you need to do it," said Sister Germaine Sarrazin, a Daughter of Charity and sister moderator of the St. Olaf chapter.

"We receive food from the Utah Food Bank on a monthly basis and we were fortunate to receive donations this year," said D’Ausilio.

Harover said the Our Lady of Lourdes chapter decorated a tree with sponsoring cards that included a child’s age and sex. The community there sponsored 140 children, and the seventh and eighth graders for Our Lady of Lourdes joined forces to sponsor a family of six children. Harover also said one lady knitted 100 hats for these children, and that a generous, anonymous donation was used to give each family a gift card.

Additionally, the organization received the help of at least twice the number of regular volunteers, said Loretta Horton, secretary of the St. Olaf chapter. These volunteers helped wrap the gifts and assure there was a gift for each child. They also helped with the sorting and distribution process.

"There was an intense feeling of happiness," said Horton.

"We made it into a party," said Harover about the gift-wrapping event.

"We had coffee, cookies, turkey soup, Christmas music, and a fun atmosphere. You couldn’t help it. It was exciting to see all the gifts for the children," she said.

Although feeding the hungry is one main concern for the Ladies of Charity, they also take care of other needs. Some members are homebound and pray for the success of the mission of the Ladies of Charity and other women visit the sick, said Harover.

There is also the religious order of the Daughters of Charity, which is the largest congregation for religious women in the Church. A Daughter of Charity moderates every chapter of the organization.

Besides the sisters’ guidance, the Ladies of Charity also have the support of men – husbands, brothers, and sons – who devote their time for the organization.

"We help lift heavier stuff for them," said Daniel, D’Ausilio’s son.

Horton said she has not met a mother who volunteers her time and has a family who does not support her.

The Ladies of Charity have their main source of motivation in their perspective of the world.

"We see Christ in the poor. When we serve the poor, we serve Christ. And, this is not just during Christmas, but all year long," said Sr. Germaine.