The Development Office of the Daughters of Divine Charity was started in 1989. Sister M. Maureen Meehan and Sister M. William McGovern saw a need to construct an elevator in the converted academy building at St Joseph Hill convent. The Sisters who lived there were getting older and the stairs to the fourth floor that they had to climb as many as five times a day was becoming a real burden. Faced with a daunting task of raising funds for this project they turned to you, our very loyal donors. The Sisters sent letters to the alumni of the schools where the Daughters of Divine Charity taught, they called on friends and relatives of the Sisters and wrote to numerous foundations and corporations. The response was overwhelming, the elevator was built and the Development Office was created!
Over the years, the Sisters have raised funds for a van for the wheelchair bound Sisters, a generator for the convent in Arrochar, major renovations to the building when a broken water main under the structure was discovered after many years and many other items to provide our older Sisters with a comfortable retirement including food and medical care.
The Development Office continues to come to you, our loyal friends with the needs of the Sisters and our mission remains “to create a sustainable process to provide a safe, comfortable and dignified living environment for aging Sisters of the Daughters of Divine Charity in order to ensure their continued spiritual, social and physical well being.”
One of the functions of the Development Office is to maintain the Saint Joseph Prayer Guild. Members of the Guild enjoy the benefits of a remembrance in a special Mass celebrated each week in the convent Chapel at St. Joseph Hill. In addition, the members of the Guild are remembered in the daily prayers of the Sisters as well as in their good works. Any person, living or deceased can be enrolled for membership in the Guild for up to three years at a time. It is a wonderful way to remember a loved one at the time of their passing or to celebrate the special events in one’s life such as a birthday or anniversary. Often a loved one will enroll someone in the Prayer Guild who may be facing a physical or emotional problem. Should you wish to order Prayer Guild cards, please contact Beth Johnsen in the Development Office. She may be reached at [email protected].