President's Letter, August 2025

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ and our patrons, Saints Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, and Elizabeth Ann Seton, as I am writing this the weather is perfect tonight – FINALLY!  It feels especially enjoyable after enduring this last stretch of hot, humid days.  This prompted me to think about ‘endurance’.   I remember learning to P-U-S-H (pray until something happens).  I came upon ChristiansTT website and found the following. 

Are you feeling frustrated? Do you feel like giving up, that you are lacking endurance? I want to let you know that you are not alone. You see, God doesn’t allow us to go through situations that we cannot handle. So even when it seems like all roads are blocked, even when we feel that we are at a tail’s end, God is aware. He has the perfect plan!

So don’t be tired! Just believe in Him and exercise a little faith (the faith of a mustard seed).  Most importantly, go down on your knees and ask Him for the strength to endure, the grace to see past your struggles, and to stay strong always in His presence.

Prayer for Endurance

Lord Jesus, you have always been faithful to me. Even when I go astray, you always pull me back. Many times, I ask myself why you love me so much. I understand now that a good father never leaves the child whether good or bad. Heavenly Father, you have said in your word that we need not be afraid to go through hard times. Instead, we should be thankful for the gift of endurance.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

LCUSA News

Information can be found on the LCUSA website for Assembly 2025 (September 12-13). There will be a Day of Reflection at the Seton Shrine led by Fr. Richard Gielow, CM, Vincentian Spiritual Advisor, LCUSA, on September 11. Please consider attending.  You will be enriched and strengthened in your faith. 

SAVE THE DATE

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 @ St. Thomas More Church, Resurrection Parish, 126 Fort Couch Road, Pgh, PA 15241.  All officers of the local organizations (President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer) are cordially invited to a luncheon, mass and presentations as we welcome our special guests, President of AIC, US Coordinator of AIC, and President of LCUSA.  They will be visiting Pittsburgh – coming here directly from the assembly.  You will be receiving an invitation via US mail. 

Annual Meeting 2025

I hope most of you will be attending the annual meeting scheduled for Saturday, August 16, at Sts. Martha & Mary Parish (St. Richard Church, 3841 Dickey Rd., Gibsonia, PA 15044).  We look forward to our keynote address from Eden Spencer, Program Director at Catholic Charities.  If you are able, please bring a donation for East End Cooperative Ministry.  Items needed are personal hygiene products for men/women, white washcloths, white bath towels or white twin bed size sheets.  We will also be recognizing the 25-year service medal recipients. 

The Spiritual Society of the Unclaimed Dead

If you are interested in receiving a decedent’s name, please contact Mary Jane Jurofcik via our office, 412-456-6924.  We welcome Mary Jane to the board and wish to express our sincere gratitude to Janet Stahlman who did an outstanding job as chair of this committee for the past several years.  Thank you to all who have put an ad in their parish weekly bulletin about ‘adopting a soul’.  We continue to have many reach out to us because of an ad in their parish bulletin.

Twinning Project - Please contact our office if you think your group can benefit from financial help for any project.  All requests will be kept confidential. 

Social media - Sherrie Dunlap Gallagher, social media chair, updates our Facebook page regularly. Please let her know of any activities you are currently doing that she can highlight. She can be contacted at sherrie.e.dunlap@gmail.com.

Junior Ladies of Charity (JLOC) – For more information on JLOC, please contact Mary Diaddigo Rex or Hailey Innocenzo Dube’ or call the LOC office at 412-456-6924.

Nursing Home Network – Please remember that if you have someone that is going to a nursing home outside of your area to contact Cindy Smith so that she can reach out to the local Ladies of Charity to visit.

501(C)(3) – Below is the updated distribution information for the quarterly submission of Treasurer Reports and Bank Statements. The March, April & May 2025 information is due by 6/15/2025. Updated sales tax exemption forms are available by contacting Judy Weismann at weismann2@comcast.net.

DeMarillac Newsletter – It’s always great to see what other organizations are doing. Please remember to email any articles to Peggy Keene or mail them to our office at the address at the top of this letter. A picture is worth a thousand words so a picture or two of the events is welcome. 

August 2025 Rosary Intention - For all students and educators: that the new school year will be one of joy and growth in knowledge and love of God.

Moving Forward

It is with mixed feelings that I am writing this letter, my last one to you as President of ALCDP.  I have been honored to have been your president for the past 2 years and grateful for your support during that time.  “It takes a village” and I had a truly AWESOME one that saw me through my term.  I am very thankful to have had this opportunity to serve such an amazing group of women.  Keep up the good work, ladies!   I believe most of you know Karen Radu, who will be the new president of ALCDP.  Karen has been on the board for many years in every position and has been the Mid-Atlantic representative and served on the LCUSA board.  We are truly blessed to have Karen assume this leadership role. 

Prayer to the Vincentian Family

Lord Jesus, you who willed to become poor, gives us eyes and a heart directed to the poor. Help us to recognize you in them in their thirst, their hunger, their loneliness, their misfortune. Enkindle within our Vincentian Family unity, simplicity, humility, and the fire of love that burned in St. Vincent DePaul. Strengthen us so that faithful to the practice of these virtues, we may contemplate you and serve you in the person of the poor and may one day be united with you and them in your kingdom. Amen.

Mark your Calendars

• August 16, 2025 – Annual Meeting at Sts. Martha & Mary Parish (St. Richard Church, Dickey Road)
• September 11-13, 2025 – National Assembly in Bethesda, Maryland

Miscellaneous Information

• Pittsburgh Website: locpittsburgh.org
• LCUSA Website: aic.ladiesofcharity.us
• Vincentian Family:  http://famvin.org
• FACEBOOK:  Ladies of Charity USA, Association of Ladies of Charity Diocese of Pittsburgh

If you have questions or suggestions, please call and leave a message with the LOC office at 412-456-6924.

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In the Vincentian Spirit,
Karen Tomaszewski, President
Association of the Ladies of Charity, Diocese of Pittsburgh