Care at the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is built on relationships. Staff support daily needs, shared activities, transitions, and final days. Through listening, presence, and practical help, caregivers and Sisters build trust, dignity, joy, and a sense of home.
Sister Services at Nazareth has long been a jack of all trades, helping with everything from technology troubleshooting and medical appointments to planning events and outings. Just as important are the quiet, personal moments of listening, laughing, and sharing daily life.
Penny Vittitow of Sister Services in Nazareth, Kentucky, accompanies Maria Emerentia, SCN, on an outing at Derby Dinner Playhouse.
Monthly activities such as Morning Music, Fun Fridays, art, bingo, and outings to Bernheim Forest and Derby Dinner remind us that care is not only about meeting needs. It is about celebrating life.
Anita Hutchins, director of Sister Services, has served the Sisters for seven years. She said she was drawn to the position because she enjoys spending time with the Sisters and wanted to make their lives more enjoyable while supporting their independence and dignity.
She added, “We share a very personal relationship with the Sisters. Over time, we have gotten to know their daily routines, favorite foods, the basketball teams they cheer for, the clothes they like, and even their families and childhood stories. It is remarkable how this is their home, yet they make it feel like ours too.”
Sisters and Community Service staff gather for a group celebration in Louisville.
Community Service supports Sisters living in Louisville, Kentucky. Caregivers accompany Sisters to meals, family visits, appointments, and errands. They assist with packing, unpacking, and moving and provide steady reassurance during times of transition.
Staff also pay close attention to the details that help Sisters stay connected and feel known. Teresa Smith often takes Sister Dorothy Thomas to lunch and to family funerals and gatherings. She is considered part of the family. Smith makes sure she is dressed for the occasion and takes time with grooming and preparation. These gestures, repeated day after day, help Sisters feel respected and cared for.
Donna Marie Palya, SCN, shares her smile at Nazareth, expressing gratitude for the support and connection provided through Sister Services.
Kathryn Jackson helps Sister John Loretto Mueller stay connected with loved ones by arranging regular Zoom calls with her niece. She assists with emails, reads aloud, helps with meals, and offers companionship. Sister John Loretto often refers to Jackson and Theresa Banta as her best friends.
Theresa Banta is known for noticing what others might miss. She visits with Sisters, reads Scripture with them, watches Mass with them, and sits in quiet presence. She prays with Sisters and for them and is attentive to comfort and routine. Her work reflects careful attention to what helps each Sister feel at ease.
Community Service staff frequently go beyond routine schedules. They have driven more than an hour so a Sister could see autumn leaves in her hometown or visit a restaurant she loved years earlier. They track down favorite foods, plan birthday surprises, decorate rooms for holidays, and send thoughtful cards. During COVID, long phone calls helped ease loneliness, and video calls kept Sisters connected with family and friends.
Staff also accompany Sisters during serious illness, focusing on comfort, reassurance, and honoring personal wishes. In one instance, a Sister asked for a celebration with family and friends rather than a gathering after her death. Within 48 hours, Community Service staff organized a tropical-themed party inspired by her love for Jamaica. Family members traveled from across the country. Her favorite food and drinks were served. She spent hours laughing, visiting, and being honored by those she loved.
“These moments stay with us,” said Melanie Bishop, director of Community Service. “They reflect how deeply staff care. They do not talk about it, but they go to great lengths for the Sisters every day.”
Bette Nelson, SCNA, with Marie Diane Novachek, SCN, during an SCN Community gathering in Pittsburgh.
In Pittsburgh, Bette Nelson serves as director and business manager for Caritas Support Services. She is also an SCN Associate.
“I am fortunate that I not only work for the Community but also embraced the charity charism early in my career by becoming an Associate,” she said. “Sometimes they forget I am not a vowed member. I try to make sure Associates and Sisters have opportunities to be together.”
Like her colleagues in Louisville, Nelson describes herself as a, “jack of all trades.” She oversees finances, budgets, and vendor relationships, works with maintenance staff to care for property sustainably, and often serves as IT support, trainer, and event planner.
Caritas Support Services has expanded its care for the earth by installing a raised-bed garden in the courtyard at Caritas Place. Sisters plant tomatoes and pollinator-friendly annuals on their patios. The community gathers at least once a month, often for a shared meal, with cookouts during the summer months.
Sister David Clare Reasbeck pets a visiting horse at Nazareth
“I try to treat each Sister as an individual, with respect and authenticity,” Nelson said. “I honor confidences and requests and work to ensure each Sister has what is needed to live independently.”
She also shared about working closely with Sister Marie Diane Novachek as part of what they call the Laurel and Hardy Catering Company, preparing and serving meals for community gatherings. Over time, their collaboration has grown into a strong friendship.
Nelson also cantors at St. Louise on alternating weekends with Sister Anne Kull. Singing together during holy days has strengthened their bond, and Sister Anne has helped her develop an appreciation for sacred music.
SCNs Sarah Ferriell, Evelyn Fugazzi, and Earline Hobbs, SCN, together in the Motherhouse dining room.
A Heart of Service
Patience, empathy, and compassion define this ministry. Listening, dependability, attentiveness, and trust are qualities staff name as essential to their work.
They know the Sisters’ favorite foods, books, sports teams, and stories. They pray with them, laugh with them, and walk with them through daily life.
This work in caregiving is a calling grounded in relationship. Through daily acts, large and small, Sisters and staff build trust that supports lives marked by dignity, joy, and care. At the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, care is not only a responsibility. It is a shared commitment shaped by respect, compassion, and love, shown each day in the meaningful moments and bonds caregivers create with the Sisters.
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This magazine article originally appeared in The Journey Vol. 01, 2026.
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