The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul have been in the High Point area for 26 years. They serve as educators at the De Paul Academy preschool, accountants and nurses, among other roles. (Lisa M. Geraci | Catholic News Herald) HIGH POINT — The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (SCV) recently welcomed three sisters to the national motherhouse in High Point.
At a time when several congregations have left the Diocese of Charlotte and the number of women professing vows is in stark decline nationally, the SCV congregation continues to positively impact the Carolinas.
Sister Jancey James, Sister Elizabeth Abraham and Sister Maria Wilson, all from Kerala, India, will carry out their charisms alongside the six Triad-area SCV sisters who serve three local parishes – Immaculate Heart of Mary and Christ the King, both in High Point, and St. Joseph in Asheboro.
Although the three professed their vows more than a decade ago, this is their first time ministering in the United States. Here they will sing in the choir, teach faith formation classes, help with the sacraments and decorate their assigned church, St. Joseph in Asheboro.
As the pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Father Ramiro Tijerino, explained, “The sisters have always helped us so much. They have been a true blessing amongst us.”
The SCV congregation tends to the High Point area as they have for the past 26 years, serving as licensed educators, accountants and nurses.
At the De Paul Academy preschool and after school, established by the sisters in 2002, children sing, dance and learn with their habit-wearing teachers. The residents at Pennybyrn retirement community find joy as the sisters nurse them back to health.
The sisters host small retreats, school students in faith formation and teach English.
‘This place is a miracle’
The sisters say walking through their motherhouse is like walking inside a miracle. Mother Superior Vinaya remembers when the parcel was just a patch of grass with a pond and a dream.
“Sometimes we say that we have nothing to fear because this building was made by the Blessed Mary and Jesus,” Sister Vinaya said. “Lots of blessings and grace come upon here. We have great protection. We always can feel the Lord is guiding us.”
The land was donated by Ken and Sally Hughes, founders of K & S Tool & Manufacturing Co. in High Point and long-time parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary who now reside at Pennybyrn.
The monastic-style convent was designed by Father Phillip Kollithanath, former pastor of Christ the King.
“This place is a miracle. … We did not have any investment or anything, nothing,” Sister Vinaya recalled.
“We prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet and rosary every single day. We used to come over here and walk around and pray, and then the miracles started coming to us,” she said.
Thousands donated toward the convent, some as little as $85, some more than $100,000.
“It is a 22,000-square-foot building, but we were able to finish it for less than a million,” Father Kollithanath said.
catalyst for growth
Father Kollithanath not only played the role of contractor but was also the catalyst behind the sisters’ 1999 arrival in High Point. He knew the women as young girls, serving as their priest, friend and teacher in India.
“We all know each other, we have family connections. I have a great-aunt in the congregation and a niece,” Father Kollithanath said.
Father Kollithanath asked for help from the sisters, and they were sponsored by Charlotte’s then-Bishop William Curlin on the condition they keep the habit.
Father Kollithanath was reassigned to St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte earlier this year but still visits the sisters regularly for a taste of India and fellowship.
In total, around 250 SCV sisters serve in India, the United States, Germany and, most recently, Africa.
Any income earned is pooled to uplift the global SCV community, offsetting a severe lack of resources in missions located in areas of extreme poverty.
The congregation is growing, recruiting from the nations they serve.
The sisters now have three convents in the Carolinas: Charlotte, High Point and Clover, South Carolina.
The High Point convent, built in 2010, still has room for four more.
“We need more sisters. We are looking for candidates from here to join us,” said Sister Vinaya. “God’s call is universal.”
— Lisa M. Geraci