ALBANY ASSOCIATION
of the
LADIES OF CHARITY

Sister Serena Branson, a native of Washington, DC, entered the Daughters of Charity in 1931.  Sister Serena was an educator first, teaching in several places, including St. Vincent’s Home in Troy.  After attaining a Masters Degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America, she became a pioneer and innovator in the care and education of children and families.

 

In the 1950’s, she founded the Astor Home, the first residential treatment center in the United States, in Rhinebeck, New York for emotionally disturbed children, and the Kennedy Child Study Center in New York City, one of the first treatment programs for exceptional children and their families.  She also established a new treatment-oriented facility to house programs for disturbed children in Philadelphia.

 

In 1974, Sister Serena was appointed Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, becoming the first woman in the United States to hold that title.

 

Under her leadership, Catholic Charities expanded its presence from 5 agencies in 3 counties to a network of 28 agencies in all 14 counties of the Diocese.  The annual budget grew from $500,000 to over $30 million under her leadership.  She also linked with the public sector to improve the lot of the needy and joined with state and national lawmakers to formulate social service policies, including transitional housing for the homeless, the establishment of a living wage and home care for the rural elderly.

 

During her tenure as Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Sister Serena:

• Reorganized St. Catherine’s Center for Children to provide new modalities of care for the emotionally disturbed and developmentally disabled children

• Established the Albany Diocesan Commission on Aging, which has helped improve the quality of life for the elderly

• Oversaw the establishment of affordable housing for the elderly, residences for those with disabilities, and outreach programs to serve the neglected and forgotten.

 

When she retired from her role with Catholic Charities she remained active with the Ladies of Charity and the Diocesan Commission on Aging.  She oversaw the DePaul Residence for the homeless, Farano House for children, Serena House for persons with disabilities and eight apartment complexes for low income senior citizens.

 

Sister Serena served on more than 20 boards of trustees, received several honorary degrees and a papal honor, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award.  She was also the recipient of the Vision Award, the highest honor given by Catholic Charities USA, putting her in the company of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  Sister Serena Branson, devoted Daughter of Charity and tireless advocate for the poor died at the age of 90 on July 8, 2003.

 

Around the time of Sister Serena’s passing, the Albany Ladies of Charity Board of Directors set up the Branson Fund Annual Appeal in her honor.  The Branson Fund was established specifically to eliminate the need for several small but labor-intensive fundraisers.  The Board at the time felt it was better for our membership to focus on serving and expanding our ministries rather than fundraising.  The Branson Fund Annual Appeal provides the financial foundation of our Association.   It covers all of our administrative costs for the year, including such expenses as mailings, newsletters, stationery, invitations and the many “asks” for emergency funds that occur.  We want to keep costs affordable to encourage our members to attend.  We also need financial resources for many of our ministries, such as Saturdays With the Sisters.  From your generous support of the Branson Fund, we are able to continue to expand our support of the several ministries of our Ladies of Charity.