Ladies of Charity are grateful for bishop's support

Intermountain Catholic

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Ladies of Charity in Chapter 1 are installed May 2, 2004 at St. Olaf Parish to serve the poorest of the poor. They were able to form two chapters in Utah as a result of Bishop George Niederauer's support.IC file photo

BOUNTIFUL — "Thank you for allowing the Ladies of Charity to form a chapter in the Diocese of Salt Lake City to serve the poor in Utah," said Ladies of Charity (LOC) president Jane Hipley. "Archbishop-designate George Niederauer once lived with Vincentian priests, and he knows their mission, and he knows they serve the poor. The Ladies of Charity formed in September 2003, to serve the poorest of the poor. We will miss him and his spiritual guidance, but we congratulate him on his new appointment."

"My observation over these last five years is Bishop Niederauer’s coat of arms says it all," said Daughter of Charity and LOC Sister Moderator Charlotte Marie Clark. "He is here to serve not to be served. He walks the talk. He does what he says he is going to do. He is a good listener and does not prejudge people, or have a boxed answer. When you talk with him, he thinks about what you have said and his response comes from his heart.

"Personally, I did not know the bishop until I came to Utah five years ago," said Sister Charlotte. "Since coming, I have heard a lot of very good things about the bishop. He is familiar with the Vincentian Family mission because he taught in the Vincentian seminary, in Camarillo, California.

She said it is through Bishop Niederauer the LOC, which is a Vincentian ministry founded by Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac to help the poorest of the poor, were able to form a Utah chapter.

"When I asked him if we could start the LOC in Utah, he was very grateful and supportive, and has been for the past four years," said Sr. Charlotte. "It is sad to see him go because he has been a good spiritual influence here in Utah. Our loss is the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s gain. I am sure he will do a wonderful pastoral job there."

"He is a priest’s priest, and in this case, a bishop’s bishop," she said. It is sad for the state of Utah to lose such a great person, but God has other plans for him. As he himself said when we first found out about his new appointment, ‘A funny thing happened on the way to retirement,’ said Sr. Charlotte.

"God calls us to serve in many ways, and God is calling the bishop to serve in the Archdiocese of San Francisco," she said. "The LOC’s call is to serve the poor."

She said the LOC now has 43 members in chapter 1 at St. Olaf Parish, Bountiful, and 16 members in chapter 2 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Salt Lake City.

"The recent death of Benedictine Sister Jeremia Januschka, assistant moderator of chapter 2 has created a hole for the LOC. As Father William Flegge, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes said, "We have lost a treasure, but we have gained a legacy with the generosity, hard work, and kindness of Sr. Jeremia. We will miss both Sr. Jeremia and Bishop Niederauer very much."