Ladies of Charity Welcome 45 New Affiliates at Cathedral Mass

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The Ladies of Charity of New York welcomed 45 affiliates, double the number of last year, at a Mass and Affiliation Ceremony offered in the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

“We are very happy,” said Mary Buckley Teatum, president of the Ladies of Charity of New York. “We are involved in a lot of work throughout our deaneries of Manhattan, Westchester and Staten Island. Having more affiliates allows us to reach out to other ministries we haven’t touched yet.”

The Ladies of Charity was co-founded in 1617 by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. Volunteers are laywomen who serve at parishes, hospitals, nursing homes, child care agencies, prisons and soup kitchens.

The organization functions under the umbrella of archdiocesan Catholic Charities.

Cardinal Dolan, the principal celebrant and homilist at the Oct. 22 Mass, discussed the need for mercy in the world and encouraged the Ladies of Charity to commit to being the face of mercy as they serve those in need.

Oct. 22 was the feast of St. Pope John Paul II, and a relic of his was present on the altar.

Concelebrants included Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities, and Msgr. Peter G. Finn, spiritual director of the Ladies of Charity. Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Diocese of Erbil, Iraq, was present at the Mass. The cardinal had visited the archbishop during an April trip to Iraqi Kurdistan with Msgr. Sullivan.

Mrs. Buckley Teatum said the membership increase is due to expanded outreach efforts including bulletin ads and speaking engagements. The new members are a diverse group, ranging in age from 24 to 99, with women hailing from England, Ireland, the Philippines, Syria and elsewhere. “There are so many organizations in need of volunteers. Some new affiliates are already involved in their parishes and in organizations, and if they are not, we can find out where the need is and get involved,” she said.

Barbara Duffy, who joined along with her sister Kate Duffy, met members who were serving at her parish, Epiphany in Manhattan, in the “Parishioners Helping Parishioners” program.

“As I began to work more closely with them, I saw that the Ladies of Charity was a place where I could work to make a difference,” she said. “I think people are seeking out ways to be of service.”