All of us are familiar with ways to be generous. Some of us write checks, others volunteer or offer a listening ear, and hopefully, all of us can pray.
Some people, however, have a sense of generosity towards others that is so profound because it involves the entire gift of themselves. That level of giving can only be inspired by a divine power.
This is the category of generosity in which we place the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy.
For nearly 200 years these religious women have labored in South Carolina, having been established by Bishop John England in 1829. Since then, hundreds of sisters have dedicated themselves to caring for the poor, the sick and marginalized. Giving of themselves is in their spiritual DNA.
As if vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity were not enough, they seemed to take on additional vows of charity and generosity through compassionate ministries among South Carolina’s marginalized communities.
Catholic Extension Society has proudly supported their ministries over the years. A July 1999 article in Extension magazine featured Sister Carol Wentworth, who brilliantly led community development efforts, like rebuilding homes, in impoverished Black communities on the Sea Islands of South Carolina.
Sister Carol was quoted in the article as saying, “I just knew that this is where I needed to be. … We need to do these things. That’s how I look at it. And I just think it’s the right thing to do. I think we’re called to do it as Christians. And certainly our faith calls us to it.”
We have also supported the sisters’ work in Neighborhood House, a ministry founded in 1915. Neighborhood House aims to build equitable communities and empower individuals to reach their potential. Our president, Father Jack Wall, was honored to see this ministry firsthand during a visit in 2012.
The ministry also provides a wide range of needs from food, medicine and clothing to job training, GED preparation and health services.
Today, it is operated with the sisters’ sponsorship, while under new leadership.
“Our mission in moving there was to bring the charism alive to that community. They have been very receptive to us and we to them,” said Sister Mary Joseph, former superior, pictured on the left below with Nashonda Hunter, director of outreach.
Given that their youngest sister is now aged 75, the sisters have transitioned ministries like these to new leadership so that they can be sustained in the future. They also realize that their 200-year stretch of active ministry is sunsetting.
However, they have also realized that their legacy of generosity and charity does not need to end.
A beautiful act of love
Having fought their whole lives and entire history as a religious community for the good of others, the sisters chose to offer an additional outward expression of generosity: to leave a legacy of charity toward others.
Their intention is that when the last sister has finished this journey of earthly life, the charitable spirit of these sisters will remain with us through a legacy gift to Catholic Extension Society.
They have decided that this is their curtain call, capping more than two centuries of service. Thanks to this gift, their legacy of love for the least of God’s people will continue. How humbling is that? How magnanimous is their spirit?
The sisters are already giving to Catholic Extension Society. In December 2025, they committed $250,000 to help support Native American communities. They gave to that particular cause in honor of one of their elderly sisters. For years, she has been contributing $10 a month to Catholic Extension Society to support Native American missions.
Sister Mary Joseph said, “Extension has always been close to my heart even before we decided to offer the grant to you.”
For the past several years the sisters have been downsizing and preparing to leave their legacy. May the rest of us be as courageous givers as these sisters have been. May all of us who learn of their legacy of generosity come to embrace the value of our life’s work, even if its current form is coming to a conclusion. May we trust that God has a plan for the legacy and intentions of our lives to become a foundation for a future filled with promise for those who come after us.
Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America. Like these religious sisters, you can help strengthen our mission by creating a legacy for future generations of Catholics. Donate today to make an impact across America.
