Congregation of St. Joseph Auxiliary Presents Annual Gift to Sisters

On Sunday, December 13, 2009, the West Virginia Auxiliary of the Congregation of St. Joseph presented a check in the amount of $20,000 to the sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph as their annual donation. The donation will be used toward the purchase of a new wheelchair-accessible van that will transport sisters to appointments and outings.

The check was presented to the sisters at the auxiliary’s Annual Christmas Luncheon, which was held at the Wheeling Country Club. This is the second year of a two year pledge made by the auxiliary to raise money for the handicap accessible van. Last year’s contribution by the auxiliary was for $20,000 as well, bringing the total raised for the van to $40,000.

“The mission of the West Virginia Auxiliary of the Congregation of St. Joseph includes providing funds for the sisters' special needs at Mount St. Joseph and their ministries in West Virginia," said Judy Szymialis, president of the auxiliary. "Because the sisters are so willing to share their talents, prayers, and love, the members of the auxiliary are more than willing to assist them and take great pride in so doing. We look forward to seeing them travel in a new handicap accessible van. We could ask for no greater reward.”

At the luncheon Szymialis (left) presented the check to Sister Mary Alice Girrens, CSJ, administrator and coordinator of Mount St. Joseph. “With a grateful heart, I accept this generous contribution on behalf of our Wheeling Center. A new wheelchair van will provide comfortable transportation to meet our sisters’ health care needs. It will also improve our sisters’ ability to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation beyond Mount St. Joseph. The auxiliary truly exemplifies a spirit of people helping people,” said Girrens.

The auxiliary is an organization of women and men who work diligently to give assistance and support to enhance the lives of the retired and infirmed sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph, Wheeling Center. The auxiliary focuses its energies on fundraising projects and activities to raise money for the physical and material needs of the sisters as well as two of the Congregation of St. Joseph’s West Virginia ministries. These ministries are Holy Family Child Care & Development Center, Inc. located in Wheeling and A.B.L.E. Families, Inc. in Mingo County. Each year a project is selected by the Auxiliary in collaboration with the leadership of the congregation at the Wheeling Center.