The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of Freiburg represent a deeply rooted expression of the Vincentian charism in the southwest of Germany. With a history that spans nearly two centuries in Freiburg and a spiritual lineage that traces back to 17th-century France, these Sisters continue to embody the legacy of compassion, service, and evangelical charity established by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. Although relatively small in number today—around 90 Sisters—the congregation remains active in the social and healthcare fields, employing more than 350 staff in its institutions.

Origins in the Spirit of St. Vincent de Paul

To understand the Freiburg congregation, one must first consider its spiritual source: St. Vincent de Paul (1581–1660), the French priest whose life was radically changed by his encounters with the poor. Originally driven by the desire for personal advancement, Vincent underwent a spiritual conversion that led him to dedicate his life to serving the materially and spiritually impoverished. With Louise de Marillac, he founded the Daughters of Charity (Filles de la Charité) in 1633—a revolutionary form of active religious life in which women served the poor in hospitals, homes, orphanages, and prisons.

Vincent’s theological and social vision was deeply rooted in divine love. “Love is inventive unto infinity,” he proclaimed—a love born from God and made manifest in service. His insight that “mercy is the innermost mystery of God” underscores a foundational belief shared by all Vincentian congregations, including the Freiburg Sisters.

Foundation and Development

The roots of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of Freiburg go back to Strasbourg, where Cardinal Armand Gaston de Rohan-Soubise, Bishop of Strasbourg, established a community of women religious in 1734. At the initiative of their first superior, Antoine Jeanjean, the Sisters adopted St. Vincent de Paul as their patron and committed themselves to living according to his spirituality and mission.

The formal foundation in Freiburg came over a century later, in 1846, when Archbishop Hermann von Vicari invited Sisters from Strasbourg to establish a presence in Freiburg, primarily to serve in the “Klinisches Hospital”. The congregation was officially recognized both ecclesiastically (February 9, 1845) and by the state (March 13, 1845) under the name “Order of the Merciful Sisters” (Orden der Barmherzigen Schwestern), and it was granted legal status as a public corporation under civil law.

The congregation quickly grew and expanded within the Archdiocese of Freiburg, focusing its mission primarily on healthcare and eldercare. For over a century, until 1970, the Freiburg community remained a province of the Strasbourg motherhouse. However, with the decree of June 6, 1970, the Freiburg Sisters were granted full autonomy, marking a new chapter in their institutional identity.

In 1971, the Freiburg congregation joined with other Vincentian communities—including those from Augsburg, Fulda, Heppenheim, Hildesheim, Innsbruck, Munich, Paderborn, and Untermarchtal—as well as the Strasbourg motherhouse, to form a Vincentian Federation. This alliance aimed to foster greater collaboration, mutual support, and fidelity to the shared charism of their founder.

Spirituality and Way of Life

The Freiburg Sisters define themselves as a Catholic religious community called by the God of love and mercy. Their communal life is centered on Christ, nourished through daily practices of Eucharistic celebration, Liturgy of the Hours (Lauds and Vespers), personal and communal prayer, and contemplative silence. These spiritual disciplines sustain their active apostolate and ground their life in fidelity to the Gospel.

Their evangelical vows—chastity, poverty, and obedience—are lived in a Vincentian way, with a particular emphasis on serving Christ in the poor. Community life is essential to their identity, where Sisters share their lives and faith and support one another in a spirit of unity and mutual responsibility.

The congregation is governed by its Statutes (Lebensordnung), approved by the Holy See. These statutes offer a flexible framework that can be adapted as needed, allowing the community to respond to evolving needs while remaining faithful to its core values.

Leadership is entrusted to the Superior General and her Council. As of June 2024, Sr. Gertrudis Ruf serves as Superior General. The current council includes Sisters Birgitta, Marietta, M. Xaveria, and Ursula Maria, forming a leadership team that guides the congregation’s spiritual, pastoral, and administrative life.

Apostolic Mission

The Sisters’ mission is inspired by the example of St. Vincent de Paul: to be close to people, to share in their lives, to support them in their suffering, and to strengthen their faith. Their apostolate focuses primarily on healthcare institutions, nursing homes, and hospices, where they serve the elderly, the terminally ill, and those in need of spiritual and bodily care.

True to Vincentian tradition, the Sisters work in collaboration with lay staff, emphasizing teamwork and co-responsibility. They view their ministry not only as a professional service but as a spiritual vocation, one that respects the inherent dignity of every human person.

Current Ministries and Institutions

Although numerically reduced, the Sisters remain active through their sponsorship and involvement in several care institutions across southwest Germany. These include:

1. Hospiz Louise, Heidelberg

• Address: Wilhelmstraße 3, 69115 Heidelberg
• Capacity: 8 hospice beds
• Website: www.hospiz-louise.de

This small but deeply compassionate hospice offers dignified end-of-life care inspired by the values of mercy and human dignity.

2. St. Anna Nursing and Care Center, Karlsruhe

• Address: Rüppurrer Straße 29, 76185 Karlsruhe
• Capacity:
  • 120 full residential care places
  • 12 day care places
  • 45 assisted living apartments
• Website: www.apz-st-anna.de

St. Anna combines medical, emotional, and spiritual care for the elderly, offering comprehensive support structures for residents and families.

3. St. Carolushaus, Freiburg

• Address: Habsburgerstraße 107a, 79104 Freiburg
• Capacity:
  • 115 full residential care places
  • Including 15 places for patients in a persistent vegetative state
• Website: www.st-carolushaus.de

This center provides intensive care services, reflecting the congregation’s dedication to the most vulnerable.

These institutions serve as modern embodiments of Vincentian compassion and hospitality, where professional healthcare is permeated by spiritual warmth and human kindness.

The Vincentian Charism in the Freiburg Context

The Freiburg Sisters exemplify the Vincentian charism in a unique regional and historical context. While they share foundational traits with other Vincentian congregations—especially their roots in Strasbourg and their participation in the 1971 Federation—they have developed a distinct identity marked by their adaptation to German ecclesial, legal, and cultural frameworks.

Their charism is expressed not only through institutional care but also through their everyday community life, which serves as a quiet but powerful witness to the values of humility, service, and fraternity. They embody Vincent’s teaching that “to serve the poor is to serve Jesus Christ,” not just in what they do, but in how they live, pray, and relate to others.

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The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of Freiburg stand as a luminous sign of fidelity to the Gospel in a secularizing society. Though their numbers may be smaller than in the past, their spiritual legacy and apostolic impact remain vital. Their history, shaped by migration from Strasbourg, legal recognition, and federative solidarity, continues to bear fruit in their care for the elderly, the sick, and the dying.

Rooted in the dynamic vision of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac, and guided by their own evolving structures, the Freiburg Sisters continue to be a living parable of mercy. In the silence of their chapels and the bustle of their care centers, they quietly proclaim what Vincent once taught: “The poor are our lords and masters, and we must serve them with respect and love.”

Contact:

• Address: Habsburgerstr. 120, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
• Telephone: +49 0761 2177 482-0
• Email: info@vinzentinerinnen-freiburg.de
• Web: http://www.vinzentinerinnen-freiburg.de/