Federation Has Big Presence at the History of Women Religious Conference

The Sister of Charity Federation was well represented at the Sixth Triennial Conference on the History of Women Religious, “Crossing Boundaries: Comparative Perspectives on the History of Women Religious,” held June 27-30 in Atchison, Kansas. 

Daughter of Charity Betty Ann McNeil presented a paper on the Daughters of Charity in the Civil War, while Sisters of Charity of New Jersey Kathleen Flanagan, Mary Ellen Gleason and their co-worker Carol Rogers reported on the oral history project they are conducting to preserve the charism of charity.

Sister of Charity of Leavenworth Marie Brinkman gave two presentations arising from her work on the history of her congregation. Sisters of Charity of New York Regina Bechtle and Ellen O’Connell gave presentations on Elizabeth Seton and Spiritual Direction, and the Associate movement respectively.

Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Pat Wittberg and Judith Metz gave presentations on religious congregations in China and Elizabeth Seton’s benevolent work respectively.

Other scholars who presented papers on Federation topics were: Mary Beth Fraser, who spoke on the Cincinnati Santa Maria Institute, and Elizabeth McGahan, who did a study about the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception.

Other Federation members in attendance were Sisters of Charity of Halifax Marie Gillan and Marjory Gallagher, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Mary Ellen Doyle and Mary Collette Crone, and Sister of Charity of Leavenworth Kathleen Mary Connelly.