NEW YORK FDC ASSOCIATE GROUP
At the community Mass celebrated by Father Bill Damroth, the Sisters of St. Joseph convent welcomed one new associate and witnessed the renewal of commitment of fourteen other associates of the New York FDC Associates group.
This ceremony took place during on March 22 at the convent chapel at St. Joseph Hill on Staten Island. During the service Sister Mary William McGovern, Provincial Superior received the promises of the women, and presented Patricia Warunek with an Associate pin and a copy of The Christian Prayer Book. Pat McGinn Warunek, a graduate of St Joseph Hill Academy is a professor at FaIrleigh Dickenson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. She and her husband David reside in North Brunswick, New Jersey. When asked about her desire to be a Divine Charity Associate, Pat responded that she has always felt a strong bond to the Sisters and to the charism of their foundress, Franciska Lechner. "Being an associate is a special gift and I know that I am a member of a talented group of lay women who make the Sisters work visible to the world."
A celebratory meal followed in the Sisters’ dining room at which the Associates and Sisters shared fellowship and their enthusiasm for the Associate program.
CALIFORNIA FDC ASSOCIATE GROUP
On February 14, in the presence of the local FDC community, a group of four women made their initial commitment as Divine Charity Associates at the convent chapel of St. Therese Parish in San Diego, California. Sister M. William McGovern witnessed the commitment of Marianne Bilyck, Elizabeth Keresztes, Laura Brenner Mikos, and Kathleen Moore and presented each woman with an Associate pin signifying her commitment to follow the charism of the FDC’s, "To show God’s love to the world." Sister M. Damien Peters accepted the call to be the FDC Associate liaison for the California group.
Marianne, Elizabeth and Kathleen are all former members of the Congregation and Laura is the eldest of the four Brenner sisters who attended high school at St Joseph Hill on Staten Island in the 1970’s. Each of the new associates professed a strong sense of identity with the Sisters and felt that she was giving back and solidifying a relationship with a group of women who have helped shape the person that she has become. After the short ceremony a light collation was shared during which all reminisced about their common past and shared their hopes for the future.
NEW JERSEY FDC ASSOCIATE GROUP
The New Jersey group of FDC Associates held their quarterly meeting and commitment ceremony on Sunday, April 19, 2009 in Washington, New Jersey. Sister M. Caroline Bachman and Sister M. William McGovern witnessed the renewal commitment of 16 women at a ceremony in Washington, New Jersey.
This group was initiated by Sister M. Estelle Boytis when she was at Villa Madonna in Allamuchy, New Jersey. Sister Caroline took over as facilitator of the group in 2008.
If anyone is interested in the Associate program, please contact Sister M. William at (718) 720-7365, Sister M. Caroline at (718) 727- 5700 or Sister M. Damien at (619) 287-1320. Sister William may also be reached by email at sisterwilliam@gmail.com