CCS to celebrate sisters for their charity to community

Courtesy photo/St. Benedict's Foundation

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The sisters of Saint Benedict Monastery, shown here in a publicity shot for a fundraiser for their foundation, continue to be involved in charitable work in northern Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY — From Utah’s frontier days to the present, women from Catholic religious orders have aided the poor, the needy and the downtrodden. Two orders – Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and the Sisters of Saint Benedict – will be honored at the annual Catholic Community Services Humanitarian Awards Dinner on Nov. 10.

The Sisters of the Holy Cross first arrived in Utah in 1875, establishing hospitals and schools not only in Salt Lake City and Ogden but also in the mining towns.

"The Holy Cross sisters were tremendous angels of charity throughout the diocese," said Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus of the Diocese of Salt Lake City and co-author of "Salt of the Earth: The History of the Catholic Church in Utah, 1776-2007."

In addition to providing health care and education, the sisters helped in other ways in the days when there was no such thing as government assistance. "In convents throughout the state, the poor would often come to the kitchen of the convents and the cook would give them food," Msgr. Fitzgerald said. "The sisters took great care of the poor."

The Sisters of St. Benedict arrived in Utah in 1946 at the invitation of Bishop Duane Hunt, who asked them to establish a hospital.

Then, "They extended themselves, as Benedictines do, in all kinds of good works in the parishes in the north, as well," Msgr. Fitzgerald said.

As time went on, the hospitals were sold, but the sisters remained in Utah. Some of the Holy Cross sisters work in local Catholic schools, others are involved with Holy Cross Ministries, which was formed in 1994. Holy Cross Ministries helps with immigration issues, particularly those involving women who are victims of domestic violence. They also provide prenatal classes, after-school and summer programs for elementary school children, a school-readiness program for children about to enter kindergarten, grief counseling for elementary school children and health screenings at parishes.

Some of these programs are done in conjunction with other organizations, such as CCS and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"There are so many needs, but the more we can work together, the more we can serve and build the organization capacity that’s needed to do that," said Holy Cross Sister Suzanne Brennan, president and executive director of Holy Cross Ministries.

In northern Utah, four of the six Benedictine sisters remain involved with the hospital, but their main corporate ministry is St. Benedict’s Foundation, which supports 21 organizations that offer services for women and children.

"We touch over 8,000 women and children every year through the foundation," said Benedictine Sister Danile Knight, spokesperson for the monastery.

The sisters also sit on the board of directors of various community organizations, including United Way and Ogden Rescue Mission Clinic, as well as being involved with ministry at the local parishes.

"In both communities of the sisters, the power of them is the power of their presence," Msgr. Fitzgerald said. "That presence is tremendously important. Both groups give witness to the marvelous mission of the Catholic Church to continue serving the poor."

Both religious communities are great partners for CCS because they all have the same mission, said Jose Lazaro, CCS director of development and marketing. "We’re trying to assist those who are less fortunate in our community. Historically, all three organizations have cared for the same individuals … and today, the Sisters of St. Benedict are some of our biggest supporters of in northern Utah. In fact, they’re the primary funding source for our St. Martha’s baby layette project."

Meanwhile, "Holy Cross Ministries allows us to refer individuals that we may not be able to help through our immigration department, specifically women who are dealing with domestic violence issues," Lazaro said, adding that Holy Cross Ministries also helps fill the gap in services to areas where CCS doesn’t reach, such as Wendover.

The Sisters of St. Benedict and Sisters of the Holy Cross will be honored along with Jon and Karen Huntsman, LDS Welfare Services and the CCS Unsung Hero, Katherine Mahoney, at the Humanitarian Awards Dinner on Nov. 10. For tickets, call 801-428-1231.