Compassion in Action

“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”

St. Louise de Marillac

By Associate Angela Anno

Associate Elaine Steiner (right), with her dear friend and mentor S. Victoria Marie Forde, celebrated her silver jubilee as an Associate in Mission in 2024.

The Sisters of Charity have always had a strong influence on Elaine Steiner’s life from early grade school at St. Brigid in Xenia, Ohio, to her current ministry today as an Associate. She easily recalls names of Sisters she admired—Mary Jean Fields, Ann Paulette Burger, Grace Angela Hillebrand, Victoria Marie Forde—and many others. The faith, grace and kindness of these Sisters were examples she wanted to emulate. As a result, she joined the Sisters of Charity after high school and was a member of the Community for eight years. She said she “made the difficult decision to leave, but has always loved the Sisters.”

Elaine learned about the likely development of an Associates program at a conference in 1986, but because she had young children at the time, she decided to wait until they were older. She made her commitment in 1999. She celebrated her 25th anniversary as an Associate in Mission in September 2024 at Fall Congregational Days.

Elaine was trained as a neurological physical therapist and worked in the field from 1972 to 1998 helping people regain normal body movement. Her patients ranged from newborns to older persons who had experienced strokes. She also worked at a school with special needs students and children with autism. In 2002 she became a massage therapist and continued that until 2023.

“My calling has always been healing,” she said. “It has been my apostolate.” Despite officially “retiring,” she continues to do some massage work and volunteers to do caregiver relief for hospice patients. “I always pray for them as I am with them.”

Elaine knows how important caregiver relief is as she is the mother of an adult son with autism. “I really would have appreciated some time for myself—especially when he was young. And I am happy to be able to do it for others,” she says. More recently she has been frequently travelling to help her nephew clean out his father’s home after his dad’s recent death. In the past three months she’s washed and given 42 bags of her brother’s clothing to the Vietnam Veterans. In addition, she has taken her son on several trips to Kings Island. She does all this with willingness and grace. She is also active in the Our Lady of Light family of parishes in Centerville, Ohio, where she has been singing in the choir for 36 years, serves as choir librarian, as a Eucharistic minister, and was on the pastoral council.

Elaine’s life has had its share of difficulty. In addition to being the parent of a special needs son, she experienced trauma herself as a young child. “In those days,” she said, “if you were still alive, everything was fine, but for years I was crying inside.” A good therapist and writing poetry helped her heal.

She published a book of poetry with the help of her friend, Sister of Charity Victoria Marie Forde. It was divided into three sections—companions, nature, and trauma and healing. One of the favorite poems she has written is “Mary at the Gate,” which suggests that Mary, not St. Peter, welcomes us to heaven when we die.

Whatever her next steps will be, Elaine hopes to continue living out the mission and charism of the Sisters of Charity,

Mary at the GateThrough Mary, Jesus came into the world,and through Jesus, salvation.Mary was chosen to open the door between heaven and earth.Without her “Yes” mankind would still be in spiritual darkness.Through her “Yes” she became mother of all people.She leads us to Jesus and through the door to heaven.Some think that St. Peter as head of the Church,is The Pearly Gate master,but I think every soul will be welcomed with loveby Mary at the Gate.Elaine Steiner, Associate

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