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One thing is wanting – works of charity. The blessing of the poor is the blessing of God. Let us go to the poor.” (Frederick Ozanam, founder of the Vincent de Paul Society)

You who hold those who suffer in Your Hands, O God, may you strengthen my faith to see You in those who are suffering.

Daring to be different?

From their founding days in 1630, the Daughters of Charity were unlike the established religious communities at the time. Saint Vincent de Paul, their founder, wanted the Daughters to be free to walk the streets of Paris in response to the needs of the poor which were great – abandoned babies, the homeless and sick living in the streets, hungry beggars everywhere – all of which pointed up a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Up to this point, all religious women were behind cloister walls, which meant they were enclosed within the monastery and performed a ministry of contemplative prayer. Vincent, in his shrewd wisdom, laid the foundation for the Daughters to maintain the necessary mobility and to live in the midst of those who were most abandoned.

“They shall keep in mind that they are not in a religious order, since that state is not compatible with the duties of their vocation. Nevertheless, because they are more exposed to the world than religious bound to the cloister, having:

“Let us seek out the poorest and most abandoned among us; and recognize before God that they are our lords and our masters, and that we are unworthy of rendering our little services to them.”
St. Vincent De Paul

From the very beginning, the community (sometimes referred to as "Sisters of Charity") was to serve the needs of the poorest and most abandoned in society. Today we have the same focus - to serve Jesus Christ in those for whom no one else cares. Prayer and community life are essential elements for our vocation of service in the areas of education, health care, social and pastoral services.

We are glad you came. Get to know us a little better.

for monastery, only the houses of the sick,

for cell, a rented room,

for chapel, the parish church,

for cloister, the streets of the city,

for enclosure, obedience,

for grill, the fear of God

for veil, holy modesty

and making no other profession (vow) to ensure their vocation than their constant trust in Divine Providence and the offering they make to God of all that they are and of their service in the person of the poor.”

These are our roots. This is our rich tradition. The needs of those who are poor continue to move us, inspire us, and challenge us.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT:
GOD MAY BE CALLING YOU TO EMBRACE THIS POSSIBILITY!