We commit ourselves to participate in this mission

As we remain in awe of the resurrection of Our Lord during this Easter season, and are inspired by the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, this will be our last segment on Vocation and the uniqueness of the calling for an associate or partner in mission. On this occasion, we want to share the vocation story of Jennifer Melke-Marks, a member of the Leadership Collaborative team and an associate of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.

by Jennifer Melke-Marks, Administrative Coordinator, Leadership Collaborative, and Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Associate

I first came to know the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati as a young girl. The principal of my grade school was a Sister of Charity, and she made a lasting impression on me. She was so down-to-earth and approachable. I remember thinking that I wanted to be like her.

As an adult, I began ministering in a parish with strong ties to the Sisters of Charity. While working on the school’s Mother Seton Committee, I became familiar with our foundress, Elizabeth Seton’s story, as well as the mission and charism of the Sisters of Charity. During that time, I was invited to an associate meeting. I was immediately drawn to the charism and to both the sisters and associates. I remember thinking, “Wow! These are such faith-filled, strong, intelligent, wise, and forward-thinking women. I want to be like them! I want to be part of this!” These women were kindred spirits, and I felt that I had finally found a spiritual home. Becoming an associate is a call from God, and I knew that I had been called and led by God to this community. I became an associate in 2010. (Since that time, I have also met many wonderful male associates who contribute so much to the community.)

Our associate mission statement says, “We commit ourselves to participate in this mission through our individual life situations.” For me, this is central to the call of an associate (or partner in mission). Each person discerns the best way that he or she can share in the congregation’s charism and mission within their everyday life, while remaining connected to and supported by the community of sisters and fellow associates. There are as many ways of being an associate as there are associates, as we live out the charism through our work, in our parish, within our families and circles of friends, and in the wider community.

As an associate of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, I am called to reflect the charism of St. Elizabeth Seton and St. Vincent de Paul in my daily life. Through personal prayer and participation in associate gatherings, I am continually called back to a life rooted in the virtues of simplicity, charity, and humility. Often, this is lived out in small ways, such as buying only what I need, reusing when possible, or offering warmth, patience, and kindness in my daily interactions. At other times, this call requires greater intentionality, commitment, and effort. For example, making time to build meaningful relationships, especially with those who are marginalized, through my volunteer and social justice ministries. I strive to live more deeply in the spirit and example of Mother Seton in other ways as well. Her deep, intimate love for God, and her awareness of God’s presence in everyday life, inspire me to reflect on where God has been present in my own day. Her love of nature reminds me to be a good steward of the Earth and to continually deepen my ecological spirituality.