Grace Thompson
The Sisters of Charity are a Catholic congregation of non-cloistered women who engage in a variety of good works, including teaching and nursing. The Sisters of Charity was founded in 1633 by French priest Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac, a widow, to serve the poorest of the poor. The Sisters of Charity set up soup kitchens, community hospitals, schools, homes for orphaned children, and improved prison conditions. They are based in Emmitsburg, New York City, Cincinnati, Halifax, Convent Station, and Greensburg.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| A congregation of women with simple vows | To live a life rooted in the Gospel, in imitation of Mary and expressed by prayer, charity, self-sacrifice, and loving obedience |
| Founded in 1633 by Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac | To serve the "poorest of the poor" |
| Dedicated to corporal and spiritual works of mercy | To provide support to the sick, poor, and suffering |
| Non-cloistered | To teach and nurse |
| Wear black habits | |
| Known as "Black Cap Sisters" | |
| Part of the worldwide community under the direction of the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, or Lazarists, in Paris | |
| Also known as "Grey Sisters" | |
| Based in Emmitsburg, New York City, Cincinnati, Halifax, Convent Station, and Greensburg | |
| Have establishments in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Francisco | |
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What You'll Learn
Sisters of Charity: History
The Sisters of Charity is a congregation of women with simple vows, founded in 1633 and devoted to corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Their full title is Sisters or Daughters of Charity, Servants of the Sick Poor. The term “of St. Vincent de Paul” is often added to distinguish them from several other communities of Sisters of Charity. They are also known as "the Grey Sisters" in France, from the colour of their habit, which is bluish-grey.
The Sisters of Charity were founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, a widow, in 1633. They set up soup kitchens, organised community hospitals, established schools and homes for orphaned children, offered job training, taught the young to read and write, and improved prison conditions. Louise de Marillac and Vincent de Paul both died in 1660, and by this time there were more than forty houses of the Daughters of Charity in France.
In 1809, the American Elizabeth Ann Seton founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, adapting the rule of the French Daughters of Charity for her Emmitsburg, Maryland community. This was the first community for religious women established in the United States, and their first mission was St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School for girls – one of the earliest Catholic schools in the nation. In 1817, Mother Seton sent three Sisters to New York City to establish an orphanage, and in 1829, four Sisters of Charity travelled to Cincinnati to open St. Peter’s Girl’s Orphan Asylum and School. Six separate religious congregations trace their roots to the beginnings of the Sisters of Charity in Emmitsburg.
In the 21st century, the Sisters of Charity Federation of North America comprises nearly 15 congregations with about 2,500 sisters. The Sisters of Charity continue to meet the challenges of the times and minister to the needs of those living in poverty.
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Sisters of Charity: Locations
The Sisters of Charity have a global presence, with locations in North America, Europe, and 24 other countries worldwide. The Sisters of Charity Federation of North America is a prominent association of 13 congregations, with over 2,700 Sisters dedicated to serving the marginalised and impoverished. This federation encompasses communities in the United States and Canada, including:
- Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Ohio
- Sisters of Charity – Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas
- Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky
- Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, Charleston, South Carolina
- Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey
- Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Bronx, New York
- Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania
- Sisters of St. Martha, Antigonish, Nova Scotia
- Les Religieuses de Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Cœur, Dieppe, New Brunswick
- Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception, Saint John, New Brunswick
Additionally, the Daughters of Charity, established in 1633 by Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac, have a presence in California, with Los Altos Hills as a separate province. The most famous convent is located in Paris, France, at 140 Rue du Bac, founded by Vincent de Paul in 1633.
The Sisters of Charity also have a presence in Europe outside of France. The American Elizabeth Ann Seton founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1809, adapting the rule of the French Daughters of Charity. This community expanded to New York City and Cincinnati, Ohio, and six separate congregations trace their roots to this beginning.
Furthermore, the Religious Sisters of Charity, also known as the Irish Sisters of Charity, were founded by Mary Aikenhead in 1815 and are based in Ireland.
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Sisters of Charity: Founders
The Sisters of Charity is a Catholic religious congregation that was founded in 1809 by Elizabeth Ann Seton, also known as Mother Seton, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, as they were called, adapted the rule of the French Daughters of Charity for the Emmitsburg community. The Daughters of Charity was established in 1633 by French priest Vincent de Paul and widow Louise de Marillac. This group of women was dedicated to serving the "poorest of the poor". They set up soup kitchens, organised community hospitals, established schools and homes for orphaned children, offered job training, taught the young to read and write, and improved prison conditions.
In 1817, Mother Seton sent three Sisters to New York City to establish an orphanage and care for orphans. They also answered a similar call in 1814 from clergy in Philadelphia. The Sisters of Charity in New York City eventually became a separate order, known as the Sisters of Charity of New York (SCNY). This split was due to a disagreement with the Emmitsburg community regarding the withdrawal of sisters from male orphanages.
Six separate religious congregations trace their roots to the beginnings of the Sisters of Charity in Emmitsburg. In addition to the original community in Emmitsburg, now part of the Vincentian order, they are based in New York City, Cincinnati, Ohio, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Convent Station, New Jersey, and Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
In 1815, the Religious Sisters of Charity, or Irish Sisters of Charity, were founded by Mary Aikenhead.
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Sisters of Charity: Controversies
The Sisters of Charity is a Roman Catholic congregation of non-cloistered women who engage in a wide variety of charitable works, especially teaching and nursing. The Sisters of Charity was founded by Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1809. In addition to the traditional three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Sisters of Charity take a fourth vow: to devote their lives to serving the poor.
Controversies
The Sisters of Charity have been involved in several controversies over the years. Here are some of the most notable ones:
Operation of Magdalene Laundries: The Religious Sisters of Charity, an Irish branch of the Sisters of Charity, was founded in Dublin in 1815 by Mary Aikenhead. This congregation attracted significant controversy in Ireland during the late 20th and early 21st centuries for having operated two Magdalene laundries. Magdalene laundries were institutions where women and girls deemed to have committed social transgressions were forced to perform unpaid manual labor. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) called for a government inquiry and a redress scheme for survivors.
Child Abuse Inquiry: The Sisters of Charity were one of eighteen religious congregations that managed residential institutions for children investigated by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in Ireland. Following the publication of the Ryan report in 2009, the congregation promised to contribute an additional €5 million towards redress costs incurred by the State involving former residents of the institutions.
National Maternity Hospital Controversy: In the 21st century, the Irish government's plans to build a new National Maternity Hospital on grounds owned by the Religious Sisters of Charity sparked concerns about potential congregation control over the hospital's operations.
Prison Visitation: In 1821, the Sisters of Charity began visiting women inmates at Kilmainham Gaol in Ireland at the governor's request. While prison visitation remains an important ministry for the congregation, some critics may question the potential implications of religious organizations' involvement in correctional facilities.
Hospice Care: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Sisters of Charity played a pioneering role in the modern hospice movement. While this can be considered a positive contribution, the provision of end-of-life care by religious organizations may be controversial to some, especially in the context of cultural and religious diversity.
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Sisters of Charity: Constitution
The Sisters of Charity are numerous Roman Catholic congregations of non-cloistered women who engage in good works, especially teaching and nursing. The Sisters of Charity was founded by Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1809. Known as Mother Seton, she became the first native-born American to be canonized as a saint in 1975.
The constitution of the Religious Sisters of Charity is based on that of the Jesuit religious order. The congregation is structured into three regions and two provinces, with communities in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States (California), Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia.
The Sisters of Charity follow a rule of life based on that of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac for the Daughters of Charity, founded in Paris in 1633, but modified according to the specific constitutions of the religious institute. The Daughters of Charity was established as a group of women dedicated to serving the "poorest of the poor". They set up soup kitchens, organized community hospitals, established schools and homes for orphaned children, offered job training, taught the young to read and write, and improved prison conditions.
The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Halifax, for example, has had several constitutions over the years, including in 1920, 1933, 1964, 1969, and 1985. The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in New York also has its own constitution, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
The Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, embrace a two-fold mission of sanctity and service. They aspire to live a life rooted in the Gospel, imitating Mary and expressed by prayer, charity, self-sacrifice, and loving obedience. They devote themselves to the works of charity and serve others through education, caring for the sick, the aging, and the poor.
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Frequently asked questions
The Sisters of Charity are any of numerous Roman Catholic congregations of non-cloistered women religious who are engaged in a wide variety of good works, especially teaching and nursing.
The Sisters of Charity was founded in 1633 by Vincent de Paul, a French priest, and Louise de Marillac, a widow. They set up soup kitchens, organized community hospitals, established schools and homes for orphaned children, offered job training, taught the young to read and write, and improved prison conditions.
The Sisters of Charity Federation's shared mission is rooted in the legacy of Saints Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, and Elizabeth Ann Seton. They are devoted to corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
Yes, there are several different types of Sisters of Charity. Some refer to the Vincentian tradition alone, or in America to the tradition of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. There are also the "Black Cap Sisters" and the "White Cap" or "Cornette" Sisters.
