(From left) Guy Wagner, Timothy Burns, Tyler Klopfstein, Corey Disbennett, Timothy Burns and Steven Olthaus care for the Motherhouse grounds with the SC mission in mind.
M otherhouse
sisters , E mployees
Embrace the Mission
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nyone who enters the Motherhouse grounds can appreciate its beauty. The large shaded trees and the landscaped grounds provide a peaceful home for the Sisters, their employees and guests. Beyond its beauty, the grounds and the Motherhouse are cared for with love and much thought in keeping with the SC mission. Following Chapter 2011, the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati voted collectively to revise the SC Mission Statement to read: Urged by the love of Christ, and in the Spirit of our founder, Elizabeth Ann Seton, we Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati strive to live Gospel values. We choose to act justly, to build loving relationships, to share our resources with those in need, and to care for all creation. For the last decade numerous actions have been taken at the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse to conserve energy and to ensure that all those living and working on the grounds assist in the SC mission to care for all creation. On the grounds the Community responds to its call by planting trees, and eliminating invasive plants such as honeysuckle and garlic mustard. Every year in April a group of Sisters and students from the College of Mount St. Joseph and Seton High School gather to pull garlic mustard from the old growth forest, a weed that crowds out spring flowers, and also releases an enzyme that kills baby trees. Alan Wittich, grounds manager, says being environmentally friendly comes naturally to his staff. “It’s part of our everyday work,” he said. “What might be viewed as environmentally 32
Motherhouse employee Jerry Patton changes an energy-efficient light bulb.
friendly to others is just part of who we are and what we do. We don’t even think about it, we just do it.” For example, while the Motherhouse is involved in recycling, sometimes items are missed. As garbage is collected, Wittich says his staff will find a recyclable item, take it out of the trash and put it into the recycling bin. “They will go out of their way to make sure the recycling is done properly,” he said. In addition, grounds workers keep a compost pile, reuse plants, and use diesel-powered tractors, which are more fuel-friendly. If a tree dies, or is cut down, a new one is planted. In addition, as trees are cut down all the firewood is recycled and given to the employees to be used to heat their homes. Inside the Motherhouse, the Sisters of Charity and their employees have committed to recycling. Even on a campus so very large, every building, every floor, every area has recycle bins. In addition to paper, glass, plastic, metals and aluminum cans, many items are re-used, such as brown medicine bottles. Vicki Frede, administrative assistant of Plant Operations, said many items beyond the norm can be and are also collected for recycling, including batteries, cell phones, televisions and computer components. Vicki is behind the Motherhouse’s collection of cell phones, which she said she realized was important after reading how toxic they are to the environment when thrown in the trash. Vicki sends the old phones to be refurbished and then distributed to women’s shelters for use. “It’s an effort at every level,” said Ruth Dilworth, director of environmental services. “It requires effort from the user to place the item in the recyclable bin; personnel to take them to the Intercom