DELHI TOWNSHIP — It's a class reunion, retreat, conference and family reunion rolled into one, and it brings more than 550 members of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati back to the city.

        Gathering 2002 is a five-day meeting that began Friday for the largest order of Roman Catholic sisters based in Cincinnati. This year, it's also a celebration for their 150th year here.

Sister Rose Cheng (left) performs acupoint magnetic therapy on Sister Rosemarie Gerrety at the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        The sisters, originally founded in Maryland by St. Elizabeth Seton, locally started Good Samaritan Hospital, the College of Mount St. Joseph and several parochial schools. The independent Cincinnati group now ministers in education, health care, pastoral care and social service in 24 states and across the world.

        Sisters will come from as far as Poland and Armenia to participate in prayer sessions, discuss their missions, listen to speakers and celebrate the anniversary.

        Sister Mary Andrea Friedman will return to her hometown from Colorado Springs, Colo., where she's served since 1964 as a teacher and chaplain. Sr. Friedman grew up in Price Hill and graduated from Seton High School.

        “They're trying to make me a Colorado native, but I still claim to be from Cincinnati,” Sr. Friedman said.

        The gatherings, planned every four to eight years at the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse here, often are the only regular time she's able to return to the city. The rest of the time, she and 16 other Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati work in Colorado Springs on various missions, away from the more than 500 sisters in their order.

        “This allows us to reconnect, meet former friends, new associates and new sisters. I think it's very important for us to have an insight into the larger community and its activities,” Sr. Friedman said.

        Sister Martha Walsh, chair of the planning committee for the event, has worked with more than 200 sisters, many of them living in Cincinnati, to plan the event.

        “It really is an opportunity for us to make connections with people we don't often see, and catch up with what others are doing across the country and the world,” Sr. Walsh said.

        Not only will the sisters participate in prayer and reflection, there's also time for more fun and unique activities, such as animal therapy, yoga, music and even Japanese flower arrangement.

        “We leave renewed and refreshed and ready to share our gifts in a way to help the world,” said Sr. Walsh. “A lot of people are aware that the religious communities are getting smaller and older, yet our enthusiasm for our mission isn't. It's growing.”
       

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