The Sisters of Charity Federation of North America is a voluntary membership association of 13 congregations of women religious. Impelled by Christ’s love and joined together in the mission of Charity, the Sisters of Charity Federation respond to the cries of people living in poverty and on the margins. Their mission in the Church continues the original values of Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.

The Sisters and Daughters of Charity serve throughout the United States, Canada and in 24 other countries in various capacities: education and administration, social services, health care, senior housing and care for the aged, pastoral care, youth services, human services and homeless shelters, advocacy, community centers, nonprofits, inner-city ministries and many more.

Federation History

The apostolic delegate to the United States, Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani (1883-1973), recommended that the spiritual daughters of Elizabeth Bayley Seton collaborate to further the cause for canonization of this convert, who was a wife, mother, widow, sole parent, foundress, and spiritual leader. Despite growth pains, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, incorporated in 1817 in Maryland, continued to develop and blossom into independent new congregations in North America: New York (1846), Cincinnati (1852), Halifax (1856), Convent Station (1859), and Greensburg (1870). The conflict-ridden circumstances surrounding the initial separations from Emmitsburg were a source of pain for all involved, especially after French émigré priests belonging to the Society of Saint Sulpice (Sulpicians) of Baltimore arranged for the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph’s to join (1850) the Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (D.C.) of Paris, France.

The mistresses of initial formation were the first group invited to convene through the Federation (1966). This led to the ongoing discussion about formation practices and sponsorship of formation programs (1985), The Roots Program (1986), Roots on-the-Road (1987), Roots Revisited, and a final vow retreat (1989). Later the Sisters of Charity of New York and the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth established a joint novitiate (1990) which became (1992) a collaborative novitiate with the additional involvement of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, the New York and Boston Provinces of the Sisters of Charity of Halifax, and later other Federation members. An annual gathering of formators evolved (1989) into the Company of Charity Formation Personnel (CCFP), which affiliated (1992) with the Federation as a formal sub-group.

Members focused on the Seton legacy of education as a springboard for exploring collaborative possibilities through annual conferences of Setonian colleges (1967). The Federation also used special anniversaries to promote Seton celebrations in conjunction with the bicentennial year of the birth of Elizabeth Ann Seton (1974), and the bicentennial of the United States (1976).

The Federation focused almost exclusively on promoting the Cause of Elizabeth Bayley Seton for sainthood until 1975. The Seton cause was introduced in Rome in 1940. Blessed John XXIII declared Mother Seton venerable December 18, 1959, and also presided at her beatification March 17, 1963. Pope Paul VI canonized her as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton September 14 during the Holy Year of 1975 and the International Year of the Woman.

After their successful collaboration on the Cause for canonization, the Federation focused on joint projects related to charism, formation, and mission. Member congregations explored the triadic base of renewal recommended by Vatican II– the Gospel, the signs of the times, and the original spirit of the founders– and came to a new awareness of and appreciation for their shared heritage and stewardship responsibility for the Vincentian and Setonian charism expressed through the Tradition of Charity (Cf. Perfectae Caritatis, §1-2).

Among its earliest intercongregational projects were a newsletter, observances of the feast of Blessed Elizabeth Ann Seton, special gatherings at professional meetings, and the publication of reports related to social justice advocacy and local ministries among persons oppressed by poverty. Members assisted the Mother Seton Guild with public relations and promotion of the Seton cause (1969) and served as docents at the Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg. Members also launched drives to seek approval for a Seton stamp from the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee of the United States Postal Service (1977). Representatives gathered informally as Charity Connections to share reflections and to write occasional essays on the charism, later published (1988) in booklet format, Living the Charity Charism.

The Federation has also undertaken some major publication projects. Sister Hildegarde Marie Mahoney, S.C. (New Jersey), was commissioned in 1991 to prepare a manuscript on the history of the Federation, but failing eyesight necessitated her withdrawal from the project. Sister Geraldine Anthony, S.C. (Halifax), completed A Vision of Service (Sheed & Ward, 1997), which was published during the fiftieth anniversary of the Federation.

In order to make the writings of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton more available, the Federation appointed (1996) Sister Regina Bechtle, SC (New York), and Sister Judith Metz, SC (Cincinnati), as co-editors for the publication of the corpus of the Seton papers found in numerous archives in the United States and Canada. Ellin M. Kelly, Ph.D., transcribed these documents and served as the manuscript editor along with Federation representatives who comprised an Advisory Committee for the three-volume work, Elizabeth Bayley Seton Collected Writings (New City Press, 2000).

During the annual meetings of the Federation, members considered strategies to make their shared charism more effective in the modern world, especially in the areas of social justice, spirituality, and renewal programs (1974). Members explored the feasibility of common study of the charism which led them to adopt a resolution (1977) to encourage each community in the Federation to engage in ongoing study, reflection, and sharing of the lives of Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, and Elizabeth Bayley Seton. One result was the initiation (1988) of Charity: A Shared Vision, an ongoing formation program. A later outcome was the first of several scholarly symposia to explore the historical and theological relevance of The Seton Legacy (1992). The Vincentian Studies Institute collaborated with the Federation and published the proceedings of the symposia and annotated listings, by repository, of the writings of Elizabeth Bayley Seton in The Vincentian Heritage. The Federation launched (1999) a new project Charity 2000 & Beyond to provide another series of ongoing formation opportunities.

Federation members desired to forge links with other groups in the Vincentian Family and appointed (1969) Sister Mathilde Comstock, DC, (1901-1997) and later (1984) Sister Rosemary Fleming, SC (Greensburg), as the official representatives of the group to serve on the national board of the Ladies of Charity of the United States. The Ladies of Charity, begun in Paris (1634), developed from the first foundation by Vincent de Paul at Châtillon-les-Dombes, France (1617). Louise de Marillac was actively involved with the Ladies of Charity from which the Daughters of Charity developed. Over time an awareness of the extended Vincentian Family evolved along with the Federation’s desire to strengthen intercongregational networking and collaboration. Sister Theresa Capria, SC (New York), represented the Federation at the 1998 General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission in Rome.

Federation members committed themselves to seek effective strategies for human development, to promote investment in minority enterprises, and to make corporate responses to social justice issues as early as 1973. Subsequently, members sought ways to study unmet human needs and resources (1979) with the goal of coordinating and networking among already existing ministries which respond to neighbors in need (1987). In order to be more effective advocates on peace and justice issues, the Federation gained recognition as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the United Nations in 1997. Sister Maria Elena Dio, SC (Halifax), was the first representative of the Federation to the Department of Public Information at the United Nations.

Member Congregations

1. Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul: The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul were founded in Paris in 1633 by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. The Daughters of Charity are given to God, in community, for the service of persons living in poverty.
   • Province of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: In the 19th century, inspired by the work of these original Daughters, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton founded the first community of Sisters on American soil, known as the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s. In 1850, many years after the death of St. Elizabeth Ann, her community in Emmitsburg united with the Daughters of Charity in Paris. From this small beginning, the Sisters traveled West establishing their first California mission in San Francisco in 1852. The Province of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (formerly the Province of Los Altos Hills) is located in Los Altos Hills, California. Today the Daughters serve in social services, health care, and education all throughout the state of California and in parts of Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Sisters also serve as foreign missionaries in the Congo and Kenya. The Daughters of Charity Province of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is part of the worldwide Daughters of Charity community of more than 14,000 sisters living and working in more than 90 countries.
   • Province of St. Louise: The daughters established many provinces throughout the United States and then unified four of five of those provinces in 2011 to establish the Province of St. Louise, which is located in St. Louis, Missouri. Today the Daughters serve in a variety of ministries including social services, health care, education, prison ministry, immigrant services, anti-human trafficking, parishes and social justice ministries. The Daughters of Charity Province of St. Louise is part of the worldwide Daughters of Charity community of more than 14,000 sisters living and working in more than 90 countries. The Province of St. Louise sisters serve in 15 U.S. states, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and as missionaries on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.
2. Les Religieuses de Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur: The Congregation of the Religieuses de Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Cœur (NDSC) (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) was founded in 1924 when Mère Marie-Anne and 52 Acadian religious women belonging to the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception (SCIC) of Saint John, New Brunswick, obtained permission from Rome to found a new congregation whose mission would be to help the Acadian people survive in their language (French), their culture and their Catholic faith. Their main field of apostolic work at the time was education. Today, the sisters minister in social justice, health care, youth and adult ministry, catechetics, music and other forms of pastoral work in New Brunswick, Canada.
3. Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati: The Sisters of Charity began in 1829 when four sisters from Emmitsburg, Maryland opened St. Peter’s School and Orphan Asylum in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1852, with the support of Archbishop John Purcell, the sisters in Cincinnati became a diocesan congregation. Under the leadership of Mother Margaret George, the Cincinnati community established schools, hospitals and social service agencies primarily located in Ohio, Michigan, New Mexico, and Colorado. Today the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati continue to live out their mission by serving the people of God of every description in education, health services, and social services in three countries including 20 dioceses in the United States. They strive to live Gospel values by acting justly, building loving relationships, sharing their resources with those in need, and caring for all creation.
4. Sisters of Charity Halifax: The Sisters of Charity-Halifax began with a request from the bishop of Halifax to the Sisters of Charity of New York, for sisters to teach in his city. By 1856, the growing work and increasing numbers of young women wanting to join led to the establishment of an independent congregation, known as the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Today the sisters serve in traditional areas of education, health care and social services, as well as in soup kitchens, social justice advocacy, and activism at the United Nations. Sisters are living and serving in Canada, the United States, Bermuda, Peru and Belize. The mission of the Sisters of Charity-Halifax is to give joyful witness to love: the love of God, of one another, and of all persons.
5. Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception: The Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception were established in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada as a response to the urgent needs of Irish orphans and immigrants. Bishop Thomas Connolly called on the New York novitiate of the Sisters of Charity for women to found the new community. Originally from Ireland, Honoria Conway had lived in Saint John before entering that novitiate and returned with three companions to establish the first English-speaking, Roman Catholic religious congregation founded in Canada in 1854. Today sisters in Canada and one in Peru are committed to ministries of outreach, counseling, pastoral care, spiritual accompaniment and systemic change, advocating for social and ecological justice and peace. Associates of the congregation share and express the Charity charism.
6. Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth: The first Sisters of Charity arrived in Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1858. Mother Xavier Ross, their foundress, had responded to the initial request of Bishop John Baptist Miege to “come north” to the Midwest from Nashville, Tennessee. Today, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth serve as educators, administrators, pastoral ministers, counselors, advocates and in other roles, reaching out to people of all ages and with various needs. Sisters minister in the continental United States, Peru and Italy. Impelled by the love of Christ, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth live their mission by offering every loving service in their power to meet the critical needs of God’s people.
7. Sisters of Charity of Nazareth: The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth began in 1812 out of response to Bishop Flaget’s call for young women willing to provide religious education for the children of Catholic families who had migrated to Kentucky from Maryland after the Revolutionary War. In 1822 the Sisters outgrew their one-room school at St. Thomas farm and, under the leadership of foundress Catherine Spalding, the sisters moved to Nazareth, Kentucky where they built a new school called Nazareth Academy. Today the sisters continue to serve in education, as well as health care and social work. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth live and work in ministry to an international, multicultural world, with three provinces across the globe: the Western Province of the U.S. and Belize, the Patna Province of Northern India and Nepal, and the Bangalore Province of Southern India. The sisters’ mission is “to work for justice in solidarity with oppressed peoples, especially the economically poor and women, and to care for the earth. We risk our lives and resources, both personally and corporately, as we engage in diverse ministries in carrying out this mission.”
8. Sisters of Charity of New York: In 1809, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton founded the first community of Sisters in the United States, known as the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s. In 1817, St. Elizabeth sent three of her sisters to New York City to open an orphanage, establishing the foundation of the Sisters of Charity in New York. Over the next 200+ years, the sisters met the challenges of the times and ministered to the needs of the sick, the poor and the orphaned. Today the sisters serve in health care, human services, education, immigration advocacy, social services and ecological justice in New York and Louisiana, as well as the country of Guatemala. The mission of the Sisters of Charity of New York is to share in the ongoing mission of Jesus by revealing the Father’s love in their lives and in their varied ministries with and for all in need, especially the poor.
9. Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy: The Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy were founded in 1829 by Bishop John England, the first Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina. While in Baltimore attending the First Provincial Council, he met four women who were willing to return to Charleston with him and become founding members of a new congregation. Over the next 175+ years, the sisters opened schools, hospitals and social service agencies that would speak to their shared mission in Christ: Caring for the poor, the uneducated and the orphaned. Today the sisters serve in education, parish ministry and senior ministry as well as sponsoring Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Services which serves people living in poverty. Deeply rooted in their shared heritage of humility, simplicity, and charity, the sisters joyfully reach into the future.
10. Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth: The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth began with a request from the first Bishop of Newark to have a community of women religious for his newly established diocese encompassing the whole state of New Jersey. Mother Mary Xavier Mehegan founded the New Jersey community in 1859 known as the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, which eventually located to Convent Station, New Jersey. Today the sisters are serving in education, health care, pastoral and social service ministries in 16 dioceses within the United States, in El Salvador and in Haiti. The mission of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ who came “to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.”
11. Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill: The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill was born out of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati congregation in 1870. Sister Aloysia Lowe and a small band of Cincinnati sisters responded to the request of Bishop Michael Domenec of the Diocese of Pittsburgh to serve the needs of the growing Catholic population in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The sisters relocated to Greensburg, Pennsylvania in 1882. Throughout their history, they established and staffed hospitals and schools. Saint Joseph Academy for Girls in Greensburg went on to become Seton Hill University. The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in the United States have met the needs of a changing world ministering primarily in the areas of education, health care, parish ministry and social services. In 1960, four sisters were missioned to South Korea to establish a school for girls. Many sisters volunteered for ministry in Korea in the years that followed, and their work prospered. By 2002, almost 200 Korean sisters had entered the congregation, which then restructured into two provinces. The sisters of the Korean Province minister in education, parish ministry, social work, retreat work, and with persons with physical disabilities. The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill is an international apostolic congregation of women religious who serve in the United States, South Korea, and Ecuador. Ministries of the congregation are guided by the prudent use of available resources, respectful of human dignity, protective of human rights, devoted especially to the poor and oppressed, rooted in faith, animated by prayer, supported by the common life, and performed in humility, simplicity and charity.
12. Sisters of St. Martha of Antigonish: The Sisters of St. Martha of Antigonish first responded to the Cry for Gospel Hospitality in 1900 at St. Francis Xavier University where they welcomed the students and priests by their presence and by providing the service of household management. The 15 founding members, originally an auxiliary order of the Sisters of Charity Halifax, were invited to establish themselves as a new and separate religious congregation in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. It did not take long for the young congregation to hear and embrace a new cry for Gospel Hospitality as homemakers, nurses, teachers and social workers. Today the Marthas strive to be pockets of hope in our world and are engaged in varied ministry settings, including retreats and spiritual direction, foot care, street ministry, pastoral care, social justice advocacy, ecological advocacy, hospitality and education. Sisters are ministering and serving throughout Nova Scotia, in Quebec and in Alberta, Canada. The Marthas are committed to living their mission of ‘hearing, embracing, and responding to the cry for Gospel hospitality.’
13. Sisters of St. Martha of Prince Edward Island: The only Island-born religious congregation, the Sisters of St. Martha of Prince Edward Island, Canada, was given birth by Bishop Henry O’Leary on July 17, 1916. Being ‘a man of vision’ he saw that the work of the church required expansion in social, educational and spiritual ways. Immediately he began recruiting interested lay women, and within the year four Island women left PEI to begin formal training with the Sisters of St. Martha of Antigonish. Today the Marthas serve in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and are engaged in varied ministries including spirituality programs, spiritual direction and retreats, ministry to the poor, addiction services, prison ministry, pastoral care, parish ministry, education, ecological justice, social justice advocacy and ministry to Indigenous peoples. The Marthas are committed to living their charism of simplicity, attentiveness and hospitality, serving the needs of the Church in a life consecrated to God in community.

Contact:

• Email: federationsocial@gmail.com
• Website: https://sistersofcharityfederation.org/