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Religious Sisters of Charity

The love of Christ urges us on

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Who We Are

The Religious Sisters of Charity

We are a Congregation of women religious living a vowed life supporting local communities for over 200 years through our engagement in healthcare, education, social and pastoral care and on human rights issues.  We continue to provide services that meet the needs of today, including working with the poor, homeless, anti-human trafficking issues, care for our common home (universe), prisoners, asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants.

Our Vows

We express our dedication and commitment primarily through our work but also how we live together as part of a community. We take four vows; the three vows that most religious orders take, chastity, poverty and obedience, and a fourth vow that is specific to our Congregation, ‘service of the poor’.

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Mary Aikenhead

In 1815, Mary Aikenhead founded the Religious Sisters of Charity. She was a visionary of great faith, whose dream was to give to people who were poor, what people who had money could buy. Today, we continue to follow her dream in Ireland, England, Scotland, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, California and Australia.

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Strengthened by vowed consecration, nurtured by prayer and the Eucharist, sustained by community living we bring God’s love and compassion to those who are most in need

Our History

The Religious Sisters of Charity were founded in Dublin in 1815. In the 1820’s and 1830’s the work of the Religious Sisters of Charity grew and expanded from Dublin to Cork, and to Australia in 1838.

This work included the establishment of schools, hospitals and orphanages for people in need, and the visiting of the poor, especially the sick in their homes, and those in prison. After Mary Aikenhead’s death in 1858, her vision continued to grow and spread in Ireland, England, Scotland, California, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi & Australia.

Our Foundress Collapse

Mary Aikenhead, foundress of the Religious Sisters of Charity, was born on 19 January 1787 in Cork City, Ireland. She died on 22 July 1858 in Harold’s Cross, Dublin.

First Convent Expand

Following Mary’s training at the Bar Convent in York, the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity was founded and the first convent opened in North William Street, Dublin in 1815.

Prison Ministry Expand

In 1821 the Governor of Kilmainham Gaol asked for sisters to visit two young women who had been convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The Governor was so impressed by the sister's influence on these women that he asked that they would continue to be involved in prison visitation. To this day, prison visitation is an important ministry for the Congregation.

First School Expand

At the request of the Archbishop of Dublin, the Sisters of Charity opened their first school in 1830 in Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Cholera Epidemic Expand

In 1832 there was an outbreak of Asiatic cholera in Ireland. A temporary hospital was set up in Grangegorman but it was badly managed and under-staffed. The Archbishop of Dublin asked Mary Aikenhead to send some of her sisters to Grangegorman to help. The death rate was high, but the sisters remained at their posts bringing solace to the dying and gentle nursing to the convalescents. Only one sister contracted the disease, but none died.

St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin Expand

In 1834 St. Vincent’s Hospital opened in a house on St. Stephen’s Green. It was the first hospital staffed by nuns in the English-speaking world.

England Expand

In 1840 Mary Aikenhead answered a call for help from the Jesuits in Preston, Lancashire which led to the opening of the Congregation’s first convent in England.

Temple Street Children’s Hospital Expand

The Children's Hospital was founded in 1872 by a group of charitable people in a house at 9 Upper Buckingham Street, Dublin. In 1876, the Governing Committee invited the Religious Sisters of Charity to take over the complete running of the hospital.

First Hospice Expand

Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross was opened in 1879. Newspaper reports at the time hailed the opening of the Hospice as ‘a unique charity’ and as one ‘previously unknown in these islands, or indeed in the neighbouring continent’.

Foxford Woollen Mills Expand

In 1892 Providence Woollen Mills was established under the guidance of Sr. Mary Arsenius Morrogh Bernard as a way of improving the social and economic conditions of the people of Foxford, Co. Mayo.

Zambia Expand

In 1948 the first three sisters arrived in Zambia. The first convent was situated in Chikuni. Thirteen foundations were established between 1948 and 1992.

Scotland Expand

Also in 1948 the Congregation was established in Scotland – in Clydebank

California Expand

In 1953 five sisters arrived in Los Angeles, California and began work in schools. Up to 1970 the chief apostolates were in the field of education and care of the elderly and sick, but now the work has broadened to include more formal social work and pastoral ministry.

Nigeria Expand

In 1961 sisters went to Lagos to serve in the Pacelli School for Visually Impaired children. The work in Nigeria has expanded to include running hospitals and schools and pastoral work.

Malawi Expand

In 2011 the Congregation established a community in Konzalendo. Here the sisters are working in a participatory way with the local people.

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mary Aikenhead

Learn about the spirit, mission and life of our founder, Mary Aikenhead.

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Community Living

Living in community is an integral part of our response to the call of God.

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Congregational Structure

Learn about the leadership and congregational structure of the Religious Sisters of Charity.

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Heritage Centre

Gain an insight into the life and times of Mary Aikenhead, the spirit of the Congregation, its origins and its continuing expression today.

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Vocations

Living as religious sisters means living a vowed life. When we are professed as Religious Sisters of Charity, we make four vows.

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We Remember

We ask you to remember in your prayers our sisters who have died recently. May they rest in peace.

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May all our intentions and actions be directed to the greater Glory of God.

Mary Aikenhead, 11th August 1841

Latest News

07.03.2023

Catholic Sisters Week 2023

Catholic Sisters Week shines a light on the spirituality, mission, and community building of women religious around the world and ...
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15.02.2023

Reflections from the Participants of The Final Vows Programme 2022

Introduction The General Leadership Team organises a six-week programme for preparation for final vows every second year. Sisters who are ...
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03.11.2022

Well opening in Konzalendo

The community at Konzalendo requested the sisters to help in providing a drilled borehole to their village.  Having investigated and ...
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03.11.2022

Newsletter November 2022

View the latest Cause of Venerable Mary Aikenhead Newsletter No.22, November 2022. Download Brochure here.
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30.10.2022

Promoting the Charism of Mary Aikenhead Worldwide

On Sunday Oct. 30, the New Life Group, Associates, met with RSC’s in Long Beach. The photos are just a ...
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14.09.2022

UL bestows an honorary doctorate on Sr Stanislaus Kennedy

The University of Limerick (UL) has bestowed an honorary doctorate on Sr Stanislaus Kennedy describing her as “a shining example ...
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Our Provinces

Religious Sisters of Charity Newgrange
Ireland
Religious Sisters of Charity in England and Scotland stairs
England & Scotland
Religious Sisters of Charity California - Zuni
California
Religious Sisters of Charity, Nigeria Sr Augustina Alozie. Anti-human trafficking awareness programne
Nigeria
Religious Sisters of Charity in Zambia Malawi Sr. Yvonne in Mulanga Rural Health Centre
Zambia & Malawi
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CRA 20000295 | Charity No. CHY112

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