The Daughters of Charity are a world wide community of women who seek and serve God in persons who are poor and marginalized, in a spirit of humility, simplicity and charity. We are motivated by the love of Christ, strengthened by deep prayer, and supported by a life in common.
Founded by St Vincent de Paul and St Louise de Marillac in Paris in 1633, we are a Community of Apostolic Life called to live in common, but destined to go from place to place in order to relieve the sufferings and needs of the most abandoned.
The hearts of Vincent and Louise were touched by the misery surrounding them in seventeenth century Paris. Their response was to reach out and to help alleviate this misery by organizing young women to serve the needs of the poor. The first Sisters heard in their hearts the call of God and the cry of the poor and endeavoured to live in community for service under Louise’s guidance. This service was not only provided for the people of Paris but went beyond the city walls into the countryside, and eventually into many other countries throughout the world.