Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill to celebrate bicentennial
The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill will celebrate the bicentennial of the founding of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill with a Liturgy of Thanksgiving at noon on Sunday at St. Joseph Chapel, located on Seton Hill University’s Greensburg campus. The Most Rev. Lawrence E. Brandt, bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, will preside over the Liturgy. The Most Rev. Joseph V. Adamec, bishop of the Diocese of Altoona Johnstown, and the Right Reverend Douglas Nowicki will concelebrate.
At 3:30 p.m., the Sisters of Charity Community Choir will give a presentation of “Look to the Skies,” a choral suite written in honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton by Sister Mary T. Schmidt and Sister M. Cecilia Ward in Seton Hill University’s Cecilian Hall.
This year marks the bicentennial of the founding of the Sisters of Charity in the United States by Elizabeth Ann Seton. She established the order in Emmitsburg, Md., on July 31, 1809. It was the first sisterhood of religious women native to United States.
“We are pleased to be celebrating this historic occasion and acknowledge the good work of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill throughout our region and throughout the world. We live our charism of charity in the tradition of our foundress, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and in the spirit of our patrons, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, serving others in humility, simplicity, and charity,” said Sister Vivien Linkhauer, provincial superior, Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill United States Province. Six Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill serve the residents of Fayette County. Sisters of Charity Mary Philip Aaron, Mary Denise Diethrich, and Annette Frey assist those in need through their work at Rendu Services. Sister Mary Agnese Kirsch is a pastoral associate for the Catholic Churches of Connellsville. Sisters Beatrice Ann Parenti and Loretta Topper work in education ministry. Sister Beatrice Ann is the director of the Extended Care Program and a religion teacher at Conn-Area Catholic School while Sister Loretta is the director of religious education at St. John the Baptist School.