Dear Friend,

There are many wonderful little anecdotes about St. Peter guarding the Pearly Gates – all fairy tales, to be sure. A favorite of mine goes like this. St. Peter began to see a number of people in heaven whom he had not admitted and who, he thought, did not meet the requirements to be there. Deeply concerned, he went to Jesus with the problem. How were all these people getting into heaven! After a thorough search of “the premises,” they came upon a window partly hidden from view. There was Our Blessed Mother, busy pulling in people, one person after another. This little story always brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. It gives me hope. It reminds me of Our Blessed Mother’s deep and abiding motherly love and care for her children – you and me.

What a joy to know that the most powerful person in Heaven, after Our Lord, of course, is also our mother, always protecting, guiding and loving us. She assures us of that in all her apparitions. When she came to us as Our Lady of Guadalupe, she told us: “Do not let anything worry you; do not fear sickness, accident or pain. Am I not here, she who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Is there anything else you would need?”

Friend, on August 15, we will celebrate the glorious Feast of Our Blessed Mother’s Assumption, body and soul, into Heaven. It is the celebration of our hope of reaching Heaven after death. While on earth, Our Blessed Mother fulfilled the mission God entrusted to her by taking care of Jesus and by supporting Him in his preaching and teaching. Her mission now is to do all in her power to “pull us into heaven”. And she is busy doing that, even if through a window!

We, Sisters of Charity, have also been entrusted with a sacred mission – to bring hope to God’s poor and needy. Hungry families who visit our Food Pantry. Mothers and children looking safety in our Homeless Shelter. The elderly in our healthcare facilities. Immigrants seeking a home away from home. The children in our schools whose minds and hearts we nurture.

Friend, will you continue to join with us in this great mission?

Your gift, of whatever your means allow, will help provide the resources our Sisters need to keep offering hope to all those we serve.

Your gift matters, no matter the amount.

Your gift will do even more. It will help us provide the spiritual and professional formation our young Sisters need to carry on the sacred mission of the Sisters of Charity. It will make sure our elder and infirm Sisters get the care they need to live out their golden years in peace.Our aged and infirm Sisters are a powerhouse of prayer. They spend their lives in fervent prayer for the needs of the community – and for your needs as well. Is there a need weighing upon your heart? Let our elder Sisters pray for you.

The Masses celebrated in our Motherhouse Chapel beginning on the Feast of the Assumption and ending eight days later, on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, will be for you. That’s August 15-22. So be sure to send us your prayer requests. You can do so here.

Please pray for us. We count on your prayers. We also count on you to help us bring hope to God’s poor and needy. Life is not easy. We see that daily in the lives of those we serve in our ministries. You help us make life a bit easier for so many and for that we are deeply grateful.

As the Feast of the Assumption approaches and our thoughts turn to the hope of Heaven, we ask you to help us keep hope alive in the hearts of those we serve. We ask that you prayerfully consider making a gift to the Sisters of Charity to help us care for them.

You are truly a blessing to us! Thank you for sharing in our mission.