The Ladies of Charity is the world’s oldest faith-based volunteer group. It was formed in 17th century France, was founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. They are recognized throughout the world as champions of the poor and underprivileged. The seeds sown by these two heroes of charity have grown into a worldwide ministry for social justice, with 420,000 members in 43 countries.

Our association was recently featured on the national Ladies of Charity web site.

Interested in helping others? The Ladies of Charity motto is, “To Serve rather than be served in Humility, Simplicity and Charity.” If you would like to join or just want some more information, please contact Debbie Self  at 301-577-4201.

The Ladies of Charity (LOC)
 55 years of serving Parish and Community! 

The St. Matthias LOC was chartered in 1966 when a small group of nine women were tasked by Father Edward Hughes, St. Matthias’ founding pastor, with collecting clothing and food for the needy in the community, helping with the Anointing of the Sick services, preparing envelopes for parish mailings, and other projects undertaken with the PG LOC. Today we have 25 active members who continue their commitment to serve.

The parish pantry was formally developed during those early years with the support of the church and school. The pantry continues to be our main focus today, and the purchase of a refrigerator/freezer has enabled us to add fresh fruits and vegetables to the bags we distribute weekly to those in need. We continue to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets each year to ensure that needy families have a holiday meal, along with our annual “Giving Tree” which donates Christmas gifts to several charities.

These are just a few of the many other projects that the group has undertaken over the years: We have collected funds for pregnancy aid centers; provided food for AIDS patients at Damian Ministries and the elderly homeless at Gift of Peace; donated gifts and made monetary donations to St. Ann’s Infant Home, sponsored birthday parties and Bingo at Sacred Heart Nursing Home; made preemie hats for newborns; made lap blankets for wheel chair bound patients; helped St. Matthias school and CCD students with expenses for first Communion dresses, field trips, special dietary needs and lunches; donated blankets and other items to college-bound graduating seniors from our Youth Group; helped a struggling family with a Christmas tree, trimmings, and gift cards; helped with Parish Food distributions during the pandemic; provided Personal Protective Equipment to St. Matthias Academy, the local fire department, and Sacred Heart Nursing Home; donated air purifiers to the school; and established a committee to contact sick and homebound parish members.

Our spiritual needs have been nourished with Lenten Bible studies, days of recollection, Rosaries, and special Masses, and we have enjoyed fellowship with lunches, field trips, and Quarterly meetings.

If you would like to become a Lady of Charity, we would love for you to join us! Please contact Arlene Taylor, LOC President, through the Parish Office. We humbly ask for your prayers so we may continue this important work.

 Kathy Dowell, Archivist

Vegetable Garden

Praise the Lord, we have just harvested our first vegetables from our very own garden for the season. With the blessings and hard work of Ramon Lomosbog (LOC'S Esperanza's husband), the land was prepared and the seeds were planted. Fresh produce is on its way!

Our own LOC President, Arlene Taylor, harvested five grocery bags of kale along with bags of mint picked by Ramon. A handful of asparagus, green onions and strawberries were handpicked as tasters and shared with those in need of food from our pantry this past Friday.

In June, lettuce, zucchini, and cilantro will be ready to add to our pantry bags. Okra and ampalaya (bitter gourds) will be ready in July and by the end of September, corn and potatoes will be ready as well.

With the help of the LOC members who volunteered to help work in the garden, we are able to add these fresh produce to our Friday pantry bags.

Thanks to all who helped in any way. We are truly a family at St Matthias the Apostle Church.

Jeannette Davis

COVAC Clinic

The St. Matthias Ladies of Charity took an active role in combating the Corona Virus recently by participating in a COVAC Clinic held at the church. Over 150 people were able to receive both vaccinations at St. Matthias on April 30th for the first dose and May 22nd for the second. The LOC along with other church group volunteers monitored and assisted the recipients as the Luminis Medical staff administered the vaccines. It was an extremely successful and rewarding experience for all.

Arlene Taylor
 

Saint Matthias Drive Thru Food Distribution

Ministries and Organizations (Hispanic, Ladies of Charity, Parish Social Life Committee, Knights of Columbus) joined together to form a Task Force to assist in a food distribution in December 2020. The dirstribution was in our parish area and beyond.

Jackie Bates

With the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed by medical personnel and first responders, our unit purchased $500 worth of additional masks and protective shields that were distributed to the Sacred Heart Nursing home in Hyattsville, the St. Matthias Academy school in Lanham, and the Prince Georges County Department of Fire Protection for the fire and EMS personnel at the Lanham and Glenn Dale Fire Departments.

Arlene Taylor

During the February 2020 monthly meeting of St. Matthias the Apostle Ladies of Charity, Ms. Nancy Quarles, Program and Services Manager for the Alzheimer's Association of the National Capital Area that serves DC, Maryland and Virginia, gave a slide presentation and discussion. Alzheimer's disease falls under the umbrella of Dementia which also includes Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and Front Temporal Dementia. Alzheimer's is the most common form of the disease and comprises 70% of Dementia cases. 

Excerpts from articles written by Kathy Dowell