Sisters of Charity of Nazareth facts for kids
 |
|
| Formation | December 1, 1812 |
|---|---|
| Type | Religious institute |
| Headquarters | Nazareth, Kentucky |
| Location |
|
|
President
|
Jackulin Jesu |
|
Parent organization
|
Nazareth Literary & Benevolent Institution |
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN) is a group of Catholic religious sisters. They were started in 1812 in Kentucky, USA. Three young women decided to help people in their community. They answered a call from Bishop John Baptist Mary David. The Sisters follow a special set of rules inspired by Vincent de Paul.
Contents
History of the Sisters of Charity
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth began in 1812. Mother Catherine Spalding and Bishop John Baptist Mary David are remembered as the people who started this group.
In 1812, many Catholic families moved to Kentucky. Bishop Benedict Flaget needed help teaching their children about religion. Father John Baptist David asked young women to help. Nineteen-year-old Catherine Spalding was chosen to lead the group. She guided the Sisters for 45 years.
The new community was named Nazareth. Their symbol is a pelican feeding its young. The Sisters helped people on the Kentucky frontier and in other places.
What the Sisters Do: Their Ministries
The Sisters started helping others through education in 1814. They opened their first school, Nazareth Academy. Mother Spalding also started Presentation Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1831. This school began giving out degrees in 1829.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have always helped people in many ways. In 1832, Catherine Spalding took in two orphans. This was the start of their social work. Later, they also began helping people in their churches and communities.
In 1833, a serious illness called cholera spread. The Sisters cared for people who were sick. This began their health care work. They also served in hospitals during the Civil War.
In 1920, the Sisters opened Nazareth College. It was Kentucky's first four-year Catholic college for women. Later, the college moved and was renamed Spalding College in 1969. In 1984, it became Spalding University. Old dorms on the Sisters' campus now provide affordable homes for older people and those with disabilities.
The Sisters in Modern Times
In 2000, the Sisters said they were sorry for their past connection to slaveholding. They put up a monument to remember those who suffered.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth started as a local group. Now, they are an international community. They have members and do work all over the world. As of 2018, about 550 Sisters were working. They serve in 20 states in the U.S., and in India, Nepal, Botswana, and Belize.
They focus on six important goals:
- Promoting peace
- Helping people be more kind and caring
- Working against racism
- Helping people who are poor
- Supporting women's issues
- Protecting the environment
The Sisters work with others to achieve these goals. They are always finding new ways to help people in today's world.
Mission Statement
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have a mission statement that guides their work:
"We Sisters of Charity of Nazareth are an international Congregation impelled by the love of Christ in the tradition of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac and the pioneer spirit of Catherine Spalding.
Embracing intercultural relationships, we and our Associates commit ourselves to care for all creation and to work for peace and justice in solidarity with oppressed and marginalized peoples."
--SISTERS OF CHARITY OF NAZARETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023
See also
In Spanish: Hermanas de la Caridad de Nazareth para niños
- St. Thomas-St. Vincent Orphanage
