FAQ – Daughters of Charity: Province of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

People often have questions about the Daughters of Charity. We want to share some of those questions and the answers with you. If you have a question that isn’t answered here, we encourage you to email us with your question. If you prefer a personal reply, which we are happy to do, just let us know. Some questions will be chosen for our website.

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

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 is 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 become acquainted with you.

Why were the Daughters of Charity founded?

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

How many Daughters of Charity are there?

The Daughters of Charity are an international Community of almost 19,000 Catholic women who live and work in 2,226 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.

What is your day like?

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.

How do religious communities differ?

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.

The Daughters of Charity charism can be expressed as given to God, in Community, for the service of those who are poor. California.
There are so many communities, how do I know which one to choose? Each Community has a special charism, or spirit. By spending time with Sisters in their ministry and Community settings, you will know to which Community you are called. The Daughters of Charity serve the poor, live in Community, and deepen their relationship with God in prayer. They are humble, simple, loving women who collaborate with others to assist those who are most in need. If this is the spirit you are drawn to, consider joining the Daughters of Charity.

There are so many communities, how do I know which one to choose?

Each Community has a special charism, or spirit. By spending time with Sisters in their ministry and Community settings, you will know to which Community you are called. The Daughters of Charity serve the poor, live in Community, and deepen their relationship with God in prayer. They are humble, simple, loving women who collaborate with others to assist those who are most in need. If this is the spirit you are drawn to, consider joining the Daughters of Charity.

Where do you live?

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. We have houses in over 2,000 communities in 91 countries throughout the world.

How important is prayer to a Daughter of Charity?

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 evening and for the daily celebration of the Eucharist. A Daughter of Charity shares her spiritual journey with her companions

Is prayer always easy?

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.

Do you get time off?

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.

Do the Daughters of Charity wear a habit?

The Daughters of Charity wear a habit that, in the spirit of our founders, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, is the simple dress of the common and poor folks. Our habit is a simple navy blue dress or a navy blue skirt and white blouse, worn with a small Vincentian cross that is a symbol of our Community. A navy blue coiffe (or veil) is optional and each Sister chooses to wear a coiffe or not, depending on what will help her live fully her commitment to serve those who are poor.

Our vocation calls us to be in solidarity with those who find themselves in the circumstances of poverty and oppression. We take a stand and put our resources to work for issues like Human Trafficking and the homeless in our urban areas. We are worldwide servants of the poor, happy because we are spending ourselves in the service of God’s poor and are doing it together in Community. It is our hope that we will be recognized more by what we do, rather than what we wear. Our simple habit identifies us as a Community, without setting us apart from the poor whom we serve.

What is the difference between a Sister and a Nun?

A sister is a woman who is a member of an apostolic community, such as the Daughters of Charity, who is committed to an active ministry working directly with people as well as having an active prayer life. Nuns are women who are members of monastic or contemplative communities. A cloistered community’s primary ministry is that of prayer; members of monastic communities often give apostolic service beyond the monastery.
A sister is a woman who is a member of an apostolic community, such as the Daughters of Charity, who is committed to an active ministry working directly with people as well as having an active prayer life. Nuns are women who are members of monastic or contemplative communities. A cloistered community’s primary ministry is that of prayer; members of monastic communities often give apostolic service beyond the monastery.

Do you wear a habit?

The Sisters wear a simple skirt and blouse or a shirtwaist dress in navy, light blue or white. The veil (coiffe) is optional. From the beginning, the Daughters of Charity dressed in the same fashion as the people they were serving. Over the years that dress has changed. Today some of our Sisters choose the veil (coiffe) as an outward sign of their commitment to this life while others choose to wear only their simple dress and a special cross that Daughters throughout the world wear that represents their community.

What kinds of work do the Sisters do?

Sisters have jobs (ministries) of service for which they are qualified for and which fall broadly under the categories of social services, healthcare, education and parish ministries. You will find Sisters serving in prison ministry, with abused women and children, with victims of hunger and homelessness, substance abuse, in pastoral ministries such as retreat ministry and spiritual direction, counseling, as educators and principals, in healthcare facilities, with social justice issues such as immigration and trafficking issues. Sisters have many options.

What is discernment?

Discernment is a part of every person’s life. Each day people discern whether to marry, have children, where to go to school, what car to buy, what movie to see and so on. Some things are easy to discern, some things take more effort. When making life choices such as marrying, remaining single or joining a religious or apostolic community, we have to look into ourselves and truly begin to know ourselves – our likes, dislikes, hopes, dream, fears, interests and abilities. And we have to turn to God. God can speak to us through prayer, nature, scripture and the people and events in our lives but we have to be listening. This listening, or awareness, is all part of discerning.

What does charism mean?

Charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit given to an individual or community for the good of others. We strive to follow the charism of our founders, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton which is service to persons who are poor.

Do you live in convents?

We don’t live in convents but in regular homes within neighborhoods. We live in community with at least three other Daughters and share a common life of prayer.

Where are the Sisters located?

The Daughters of Charity are a worldwide Society of Apostolic Life. We are called to serve and recognize Jesus in persons who are poor and marginalized. You will find us here in the United States and throughout the world serving the needs of the poorest and most abandoned among us.