our HISTORY

The Daughters of Charity were quietly founded, inspired by divine guidance in the lives of St Vincent de Paul and St Louise de Marillac.

BEGINNinGS

Revolutionising charity: The inspiring history of the Daughters of Charity

St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac instilled in the peasant women, whom the poor called "Daughters of Charity," the importance of prayer and community life in their service vocation. These laywomen, eventually taking annual instead of perpetual vows, remained unconstrained by the era's limitations on nuns, allowing them the freedom to serve the most abandoned in cities and villages. Vincent and Louise revolutionised women's religious life, driven by seeing Christ in the poor.

"The Daughters of Charity have… for a convent, the houses of the sick; for cell, a rented room; for chapel, the parish church; for cloister, the streets of the city; for enclosure, obedience; for grille, the fear of God; and for veil, holy modesty."

St Vincent de Paul

Their legacy of charity is marked by boundless love, compassion, respect, and devotion, encapsulated in the Company of Daughters of Charity's motto: "The charity of Jesus crucified compels us."

EXPANDING HORIzONS

OUR Journey in

Great Britain & Australia

Tracing the transformative journey of our mission in Great Britain and Australia, this section explores the rich history and enduring impact of our presence in these regions

Established in GREAT BRITAIN

In June 1847, the Daughters of Charity sent six Sisters from Paris to Salford and Manchester. They faced sustained verbal and physical harassment and were withdrawn in less than two years. In 1857, Sisters were once again sent to England this time to the steel town of Sheffield, Yorkshire. Here they flourished, becoming established, where they became well respected and loved by the local people. By 1900, the Daughters of Charity had 37 canonically erected houses in England and 6 in Scotland. The Sisters could be found working in some of the worst social settings of the day – nursing, teaching, childcare, social work and parish visiting.  where the Sisters worked in nursing, teaching, childcare, social work, and parish visiting.

OVERSEAS MISSION & DEVELOPMENT

Between 1870 and 2003, seventy-four Sisters from the province were missionaries through the Company’s Mission Ad Gentes programme. They served in Algeria, Australia, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Nigeria, Spain and Turkey.

ESTABLISHED IN AUSTRALIA

In 1926, the Australian foundation originated as a mission initiated by the Daughters in Britain and Ireland, in response to the request of Bishop Michael O’Farrell CM, who served as the Bishop of Bathurst. Over the years, this foundation evolved and expanded, eventually becoming a province in 1963. This transformation marked a significant milestone in the history and development of the company, solidifying its presence and impact in the region.

creation of the Rosalie Rendu Province

On 11th March 2020, the Provinces of Great Britain and Australia came together in a spirit of unity and collaboration to officially form the Rosalie Rendu Province. This significant union marks a new chapter in the shared history and future endeavours of these two distinct regions, symbolising a powerful commitment to working together towards common goals and values.