Ladies of Charity  & Junior Ladies of Charity

Denise Brafford - Primary Phone No. 254-423-0292
Junior Ladies of Charity, Rosanna Brown - 254-258-8695

WELCOME to the Ladies of Charity
"To serve rather than to be served"

Our mission is to serve the poor of our community and help support established charity organizations.

The purpose of the Association is to imitate the Divine Savior in serving the poor, particularly the sick poor, and in bringing them corporal and spiritual nourishment."
(Manual of the Ladies of Charity of the United States of America)

 
There are three recommended types of membership in the Association:

• Active  -  Catholic (attend meetings and participate in ministries)
• Associate  -  Catholic/non-active (give prayer, witness, financial aid)
• Participating  -  Non-Catholic
   

The Ladies of Charity meet the second Saturday of the month at St. Paul Chong Hasang Catholic Church (except during June and July) We have Mass at 9:00 am with the monthly meeting following in the Parish Center. Dues for membership are $13.00 a year. Active members are required to perform at least four hours of approved charitable work in the Ladies of Charity ministries or a charitable organization of the member's choosing 

Please feel free to attend any monthly Mass and/or meeting. Visitors are always welcome and we encourage interested ladies to attend our meetings if you have any questions about the organization.

Our main ministry is the operation of a non-profit thrift shop. We also support  Nursing Home ministries, Pro-Life Activities, hold an Annual Bazaar to raise funds, support St. Paul social ministries through receptions, CCD, Comfort Committee, Altar Society, Eucharistic Ministry and as Lectors (to name some of our current activities).

Our Ladies of Charity Thrift Shop is our main source of income which provides the community with low priced items, etc. It is located at 1005 S. Ann Blvd., HH.Proceeds from the sale of items at the Thrift Shop are donated back to the community through established charity organizations. Some of the organizations we support are: Harker Heights Food Care Center, Killeen Food Bank, Home & Help Shelter, Mission Soup Kitchen, Families in Crisis, Hope Pregnancy Center, and the Hill County Community Action Association. The ladies of Charity only accept donations for the Thrift Shop on Wednesday's only from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

If you are not sure you want to join The Ladies of Charity, but would like to help in the Thrift Shop, please contact Joanne Gelsthorpe (254-702-1271). Members must be in compliance with the Ethics and Integrity Ministry as required by the Diocese of Austin.

Once you join our association, you will be initiated into the Ladies of Charity at a Solemn Reception. You will receive a crucifix, LOC pin, and the LOC Manual. The manual will provide you with the guidance and inspirational teachings for this good work.

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The Junior Ladies of Charity meet after the 9:00 am Mass on the fourth Sunday of each month for one hour. Do you know a young lady who would benefit from networking with others in a Christian environment? Young ladies age 10 and above are eligible to participate. Meetings include topic sessions, activities, event planning, service projects and much more. Jr. Ladies is a wonderful extension of our Ladies of Charity. 

Contact Rosanna Brown @ 254-258-8695 for more information.

"The year 1617 was a turning point in the life of Vincent de Paul, paving the way for two of his foundations of charity. In both of these, women played a decisive role. At that time Vincent was serving as chaplain to the family of Count de Gondi, an owner of a galley of slaves. In 1617, Vincent turned away from the household to become a parish priest of Chatillon-les-Dombes. A friend, Francoise Bachet, who a few weeks later discovered a family so ill that none could care for the others, reported their needs to Vincent de Paul as he was vesting for Sunday Mass.

His heartfelt sermon on charity led to an afternoon meeting, followed by such an outpouring of charity that the family was overwhelmed with food and visitors that day.

St. Vincent realized that it is not enough to be generous and personal; it must be organized. On August 23, 1617, he called a meeting of the women in the parish. They agreed to form an association in which each would take her turn in serving the sick and poor, both corporally and spiritually.  

Vincent had a passion for the poor and a genius for networking and organizing others to meet the full range of needs, both material and spiritual, of those who live on the margins of society. St. Vincent De Paul (1581 - 1660) was not only the founder of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) but also the Daughters of Charity, the Confraternities of Charity, and Ladies of Charity (1617).

A man of deep faith and enormous creativity, he is known as the 'father of the poor,' and 'Universal Patron of Charity.' His contributions to the education of priests and services for the poor shaped our church's role in the modern world. Our vocation is to go not into one parish, nor into only one diocese, but throughout the earth. And to do what? To inflame the hearts of men. It is not enough for me to love God if my neighbor does not love him as well." (May 30, 1659 - SV 12:262) 

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