Q. How important is prayer to a Daughter of Charity?

A. Prayer is an important part of the life of a Daughter of Charity. Each day, a Sister takes time for private prayer to communicate with God, who is the center of her life. There are also times for common prayer in the morning and evening and for the daily celebration of the Eucharist. A Daughter of Charity shares her spiritual journey with her companions and they support and encourage one another to grow in faith.

Q. Is prayer always easy?

A. Prayer is not always easy, but if it is one of the activities we value, we will carve out time in our day to communicate with God. We will be present with our Sisters at Community prayer, and we will choose to participate in the daily celebration of the Eucharist. Our ministry demands are often great and we need the insights and graces that come with prayer, to continue to move forward in our relationship with God and others.

Q. Do you get time off?

A. We have leisure time each week. How we spend our leisure time is as varied as we are. Some Sisters like to read; others enjoy outdoor activities. We might share a simple meal with a friend or go to a movie. You might find us attending a concert or taking a long walk. We might enjoy swimming, walking, or participating in other athletic activities. Some Sisters like to do artwork, needlework, or crafts. Others enjoy writing poetry or corresponding with friends.

Q. How do religious Communities differ?

A. Founders had a specific spirit or charism they wanted to develop in a Community. Although most religious communities are alike in their concern to live the gospel message and serve others, the charism of each group determines what ministries they have, how they live Community life, and how they pray.

Q. Do the Daughters of Charity wear a habit?

A. The Daughters of Charity wear a simple blue dress or a navy blue skirt and a white, navy, or light blue blouse.

Q. What is your day like?

A. Each day, a Daughter of Charity meets Christ in her Sisters, in her collaborators, and in the poor. She begins her day with private and Community prayer and participates in the celebration of the Eucharist at her parish church. Her call to serve others varies, according to the gifts of the Sister and the needs of the province.

A Daughter of Charity may be a teacher in a school, a social worker in a day care center, a pastoral administrator, or someone who does outreach to the sick or elderly. Her ministry requires regular hours of service; but, she responds to the cries of the poor as she hears them in the present moment. She might be called to the bedside of a dying patient to be with his family and friends or she might serve as an advocate for a hungry and jobless individual who is seeking assistance. She might cheer one of her students on to victory at a basketball game or she could be called to drive an elderly client to the grocery store to do some shopping.

A Daughter of Charity is open to where Christ calls her and responds with love. At the end of the day, she returns to her home to share an evening meal with her Sisters, to pray, and to relax.

Q. Where do you live?

A. We live in simple homes that are near our ministries. Usually, our Community is composed of four to seven Daughters of Charity who serve in the same geographical area. Right now, we have houses in Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Chicago and East St. Louis, Illinois; Evansville and Indianapolis, Indiana; Farmington Hills and Saginaw, Michigan; Jackson, Mississippi; Nashville, Tennessee; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Q. Why were the Daughters of Charity founded?

A. In 1633, St. Vincent de Paul, a humble French priest, and St. Louise de Marillac, a widow, founded the Daughters of Charity to serve the poor. Prayer and Community life were essential elements of their life style. The Constitutions of the Daughters of Charity tell us: “At first they nursed the sick poor in their homes, in towns and villages; then, as needs became known, they cared for the sick in hospitals, poor little girls in need of instruction, foundlings, galley slaves, and wounded soldiers, refugees, the aged, the insane and others.”

In the same spirit, the Daughters of Charity respond to the many forms of poverty today. They are called to be available and mobile, so they can serve wherever they are needed.

In the words of St. Vincent de Paul: “It is only when all the poor in the world are no longer poor, when all the hungry are fed, all the naked are clothed; when the lame can run, the blind can see; when the sick and dying, the uneducated, the outcast, the lonely and forsaken are all gathered in Heaven, are safe in the loving arms of our Father; when there will be no more suffering on earth, then, indeed, the Daughters will be in heaven, too. But until that day—there will always be Daughters of Charity.”

Q. How many Daughters of Charity are there?

A. The Daughters of Charity are an international Community of almost 20,000 Catholic women who live and work in 2,322 Communities and minister in 91 countries all over the world. In the United States, the Daughters of Charity have five provinces with established headquarters in Albany, New York; Emmitsburg, Maryland; Evansville, Indiana; St. Louis, Missouri; and Los Altos Hills, California.

Q. What should I do if I think God is calling me to be a Daughter of Charity?

A. If you are interested in learning more about the Daughters of Charity, please contact us. You will receive a phone call or a visit from a Daughter of Charity who will assist you with the discernment process. If you wish, she will help you to learn more about the Daughters of Charity. Once you have discerned that this where God is calling you, you will be invited to “come and see” so that you can know the Daughters of Charity and we can know you.

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OR CONTACT:
Sister Mary Beth Kubera, D.C.
smb@doc-ecp.org
9404 New Harmony Road
Evansville, Indiana 47720-8912
812-963-7556