President's Letter, February 2026

"I beg Our Lord that in all things He may be your all.”  -St. Vincent de Paul

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Today I will spend some quality time with you, Lord, thanking you for all the gifts and blessings you have given me.

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I want to thank all of you for your gifts and blessings you have and give to those in our Diocese who need help and assistance. I enjoy reading all of the different activities you share on social media. Please continue sharing with us and know that I thank you for all that you do.

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Investiture:

Please encourage all women from your parish who have been participating in Ladies of Charities activities, to be invested at the April 26, 2026, mass at St. Paul Cathedral at 2:30 pm. Whether these women began their discernment this year, or have been participating for more than one year, we ask that they join the Ladies of Charity as Active members. We must all understand that the Ladies of Charity is not what we do; it is who we are. We hope to welcome many women in April as they answer the call to become a Lady of Charity in Simplicity, Humility and Charity. Attached are the guideline and application forms. Please make copies of the form and give to the ladies who are interested in being invested. Return the forms and one check made payable to Association of Ladies of Charity by April 5^th.

A Lenten Day of Reflection:

A Lenten Day of Reflection will be on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at St. Joseph Church, Christ the King Parish, 342 Dorseyville Rd. The theme is “Do whatever He tells you”, presented by Maureen Crossen, PhD. Time is 11:00 to 4:00 with mass to follow if you are interested. There is a $12.00 box lunch fee that you will send in with the registration form when it is sent out. Deadline to register is February 20^th. If there are any questions, please contact Nancy Bianculli at 412-818-1719 or email at nb7510@outlook.com.

Hager Grants:

Along with this letter you will see the guidelines, application and report forms for requesting a Hager Grant from LCUSA. You may apply for a grant if you have not done so in the last 4 years. Your application will be reviewed at the springboard meeting of the LCUSA and we will be notified if you have received the grant money requested and the amount. The money is awarded at the National Assembly in September.

Membership Information:

Please make sure all dues and rosters are submitted as soon as possible. Deadline for dues was December 1, 2025.

The Spiritual Society of the Unclaimed Dead:  

If you are interested in receiving a decedent’s name, please contact Mary Jane Jurofcik at our LOC office 412-456-6924. Thank you to everyone who have contacted Mary Jane to claim a soul.

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 on social media. 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. Call LOC office at 412-456-6924.

501(C)(3) Committee for the Diocese of Pittsburgh:
We would like to call attention to some matters that have occurred while auditing the records of our 37 parishes under the 501c3 status. It is important for the committee, Parish Treasurers, and officers to adhere to the IRS and Diocesan guidelines to ensure continued compliance with the policies established to maintain the 501c3 status. These topics can be discussed more thoroughly at the upcoming May 9, 2026, Officers Meeting.

Terms of Office

Parish Associations should all have Bylaws detailing the Terms of Office for their Executive Board. It is important that individuals do not remain in their respective office longer than specified in the Associations Bylaws and it is recommended that the term does not extend over three years. Parish Associations should be transparent with their administration of duties and encourage members to take on leadership roles. If more information is needed with this directive, please contact the Diocese for details and perhaps arrange for a Diocesan visit to an upcoming parish meeting to offer more information.

Stewardship of Funds

All funds donated to the LOC parish association should be used to advance the mission of the LOC with assistance to the poor, vulnerable and elderly populations at the forefront. Monies should not be used for celebratory luncheons and dinners for association members. Members attending these luncheons should pay a fee to cover the cost of the lunch and any additional expenditures. If funds are donated with the specific intent of paying for a luncheon, then that would be in accordance with IRS guidelines, and should be documented as such. However, for some luncheons, funds can be used to advance the mission of the association and may be used to pay for special guests relating to the purpose of the event.

Gifts to Clergy

The Diocese offers a specific policy regarding gifts and compensation to clergy outlining the dos and don’ts of these gifts. Per 2.18.E Gifts to Priests, organizations are not permitted to give gifts of more than a nominal amount (generally $100 or less) to any individual. The gift cannot be taken from the operating funds of the organization but must be raised separately through personal donations for that specific purpose. Anything exceeding the nominal amount could be taxable.

501(C)(3):

Below is the updated distribution information for the quarterly submission of Treasurer Reports and Bank Statements. The deadline for reporting is March 15 for the months of December, January and February. Updated sales tax exemption forms are available by contacting Judy Weismann at weismann2@comcast.net. Also, please consider joining the 501C3 team by inputting data into QuickBooks. Contact Judy if you would like to begin a training session.

De Marillac Newsletter:

Please share your pictures and stories with Peggy Keene for the next edition of the De Marillac Newsletter. We love to see what everyone is doing. pkeene9@outlook.com.

Dates to Remember:

• February 7:  Rosalie Rendu, Daughter of Charity - Feast Day
• February 14:  St. Valentine's Day - Parton Saint
• February 28:  Day of Reflection - Christ the King Parish

• April 18:  Vincentian Family Gathering (this may change)

• April 26:  Investiture at St. Paul Cathedral

• May 9:  Officer’s Meeting-St. Kilian Church

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

January Rosary Intention

We pray that our leaders maintain the dignity of life in all stages, hear the needs of all people, and put our national needs before any other desires.

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