The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of Vienna-Gumpendorf embody a living heritage of compassionate service, deeply rooted in the Vincentian charism. Founded in 1832, their mission has always been to serve the poor with love and dignity, inspired by Saints Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac.

I. The Vincentian Origins: Saints Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac

1. Saint Vincent de Paul: A Mystic of Charity

Born in 1581 in Pouy, France, Vincent de Paul devoted his life to the service of the poor. Two formative experiences in 1617 deeply shaped his mission: a confession with a dying peasant exposed to him the spiritual neglect of rural populations, and an entire family falling ill without anyone to care for them. Realizing that good will alone was not enough, Vincent emphasized the need for organized charity. He founded the Confraternities of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists), and in 1633, together with Louise de Marillac, the Daughters of Charity—a revolutionary community of women who served the poor “in the world,” not cloistered.

Vincent’s legacy is summarized in his axiom: “To serve the poor is to go to God.” Canonized in 1737, he remains one of the Church’s greatest figures of practical mysticism and social innovation.

2. Saint Louise de Marillac: A Woman of Compassionate Strength

Louise de Marillac (1591–1660) co-founded the Daughters of Charity with Vincent de Paul. She took in young women to form a community dedicated to active service among the poor. Breaking with monastic traditions, she pioneered a model where sisters lived and worked among the people. Her correspondence and instructions remain foundational texts in Vincentian spirituality. Canonized in 1934, Louise is venerated for her leadership, humility, and resilience.

II. Early Foundations: From Strasbourg to Zams to Vienna

1. The Strasbourg Expansion

The spiritual vision of Vincent and Louise continued to spread across Europe. In 1734, the first community of Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in Strasbourg, marking the Congregation’s emergence beyond Paris.

2. Katharina Lins and the Zams Congregation

Katharina Lins was born in Zams, Tyrol, in 1788. Her uncle, Dean Nikolaus Tolentin Schuler, founded a hospital for the poor and entrusted Katharina with its administration. In 1822, she was sent to Strasbourg for formation with the Sisters of Charity, taking her vows as Sr. Josepha Nikolina in 1823. Upon her return, she established a community in Zams in 1825, formally recognized by the Bishop.

III. Founding of the Vienna Congregation

1. A Mission Born of Necessity

The Vienna foundation did not arise from a desire to create a new religious Order but from a pressing need to care for the poor and sick. In the early 1830s, Vienna was in need of charitable caregivers, particularly in light of a cholera threat. Influential cleric Ludwig Count Coudenhove, with support from Archduke Maximilian and Empress Karoline Augusta, requested sisters from Zams. Sr. Josepha Nikolina responded with reluctance but obedience.

2. Arrival in Gumpendorf

On March 2, 1832, Sr. Josepha Nikolina and three companions arrived in Gumpendorf, a suburb of Vienna. They immediately faced daunting challenges: an unfinished house, an urgent need to prepare a hospital, and societal suspicion. Yet, within months, they opened a cholera ward, and by November, a functioning hospital for the poor. Their presence quickly gained recognition.

3. Institutional Recognition and Growth

Initially, the community faced canonical challenges because the Strasbourg Congregation did not follow Vincent’s original Rule. Eventually, they adopted the authentic Vincentian Rule from the Lemberg Sisters, and in 1835, Pope Gregory XVI approved the new rule, allowing the first Vienna Sisters to profess vows.

Sr. Josepha Nikolina, having laid a solid foundation, returned to Zams in 1835 and died in 1836. Her brief but impactful leadership gave birth to a lasting community that expanded into Hungary, Romania, and the Czech Republic.

IV. Spirituality and Identity

1. Living the Love of Christ

The Sisters of Charity of Vienna strive to make Christ’s love tangible through service. Their Constitutions emphasize integrating spiritual life with acts of charity. Vincentian spirituality is anchored in trust in Divine Providence, dignity in encounters, and a deep commitment to the marginalized.

Key spiritual values include:

• Faith
• Merciful Love
• Respect and Warmth
• Truthfulness
• Social Responsibility

2. The Vows and Community Life

Living in communities across Austria and the Czech Republic, the Sisters profess vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Their communal life is not merely logistical but a spiritual framework for mission.

V. Charitable Works: Healthcare, Education, and Social Ministries

1. Health and Elder Care

Originally founded to serve the sick and the poor, the Sisters established hospitals and orphanages. In 1997, healthcare institutions were transferred to the Vinzenz Gruppe, ensuring continuity in a modern healthcare framework rooted in Vincentian values.

2. Education

The Sisters have long valued education, especially for children and youth. Today, their schools are managed by the VOSÖ (Vereinigung von Ordensschulen Österreichs), continuing the mission with fidelity to the founding charism.

3. Social Outreach

The Sisters of Charity of Vienna remain deeply engaged in responding to contemporary needs through a variety of innovative initiatives:

• VinzenzStüberl (Linz): Offers meals, hygiene services, laundry, and pastoral care for homeless individuals.
• VinzenzGwölb (Vienna): A breakfast center for the homeless and distressed, rooted in the tradition of 19th-century soup kitchens.
• Verein Dorothea: A therapeutic vocational program for youth with special needs, centered around organic gardening and holistic learning.
• SOLWODI Austria: In partnership with other Sisters, they work to combat human trafficking and support women in crisis, particularly those forced into prostitution.

VI. Spiritual Ministries and Formation

1. Deepening Faith

Inspired by Vincent’s insistence on holistic care, the congregation provides spiritual services such as:

• Retreats
• Prayer accompaniment
• Spiritual counseling
• Vocational discernment programs
• Shared living experiences in the Motherhouse

2. The House of Silence

In Bad Schönau, the House of Silence provides a contemplative space for individuals seeking spiritual renewal. In a world full of noise, this place offers serenity, discernment, and healing.

3. Pastoral and Prayer Ministry

The Sisters emphasize the dignity of every person through prayer and pastoral accompaniment. In hospitals and elder care facilities, they serve not only the body but the soul—offering spiritual support, sacraments, and comfort.

VII. Formation, Lay Collaboration, and Global Network

1. Federation and Global Links

The Congregation is part of the Vincentian Family, a global network inspired by the charism of Vincent de Paul. As members of the Federation of Vincentian Communities, they collaborate with related congregations that trace their roots to Strasbourg.

2. Lay Engagement

Their mission has always included lay collaboration. From hospital workers to schoolteachers, laypersons inspired by the Vincentian spirit now continue the sisters’ mission in secular settings.

VIII. Enduring Legacy

For nearly two centuries, the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of Vienna have embodied a living response to the needs of the poor. Their fidelity to the Gospel, lived through community, charity, and courage, continues to inspire and serve. From their humble beginnings in Gumpendorf to their expansive ministries today, they show that love, when organized and rooted in faith, transforms lives.

— – —

The story of the Sisters of Charity of Vienna is not just a historical chronicle but a testimony of lived faith. Their founder, Sr. Josepha Nikolina Lins, and their patron, Saint Vincent de Paul, did not seek glory but answered the call of human suffering with radical love. Their congregation remains a prophetic witness in a world still riddled with poverty and exclusion.

Contact:

• Address: 1060 Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 108, 1060 Vienna, Austria
• Telephone: +43 1 59988 1103
• Email: orden@bhs.at
• Web: https://www.barmherzige-schwestern.wien/