Sisters of Christian Charity, (S.C.C.), officially called Sisters of Christian Charity, Daughters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception[1], is a Roman Catholic papal congregation of consecrated religious sisters founded in Paderborn, Germany in 1849 by Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt for the care of the blind. Today, their main mission is teaching in Catholic Schools and Catholic healthcare. Unlike some consecrated religious sisters, Sisters of Christian Charity are required to be dressed in the habit.
Founded at Paderborn, Germany, on August 21, 1849, by Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt (b. 3 June, 1817, at Minden, Westphalia; d. 30 April, 1881), sister to the famous Hermann von Mallinckrodt. The institute, which was confirmed 7 Feb., 1888, by Pope Leo XIII, had attained great success throughout Germany when, in 1873, its members were forced into exile by the persecution of the Kulturkampf. Some went to South America, where there are now many flourishing communities. Others emigrated to New Orleans, USA, where, in April 1873, they founded a house and took charge of a parochial school. Mother Pauline followed shortly after and established a new provincial mother-house, at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Since then these sisters have opened houses in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and St. Paul, and in the Dioceses of Albany, Belleville, Brooklyn, Detroit, Harrisburg, Sioux City, and Syracuse. In 1910, they had in these establishments 668 sisters, 46 novices, 25 postulants, conducting 2 academies, 54 parochial schools, 2 orphan asylums, and 1 industrial school. In 1887 the sisters were allowed to return to Germany. The mother-house at Paderborn was reopened and the activities of the religious extended with their former success throughout Germany. By 1910, there were houses in Belgium and Bohemia.
In 1927, the North American Province was divided into a North American Eastern Province and a North American Western Province. The motherhouse for the Eastern province is located in Mendham, New Jersey, and the motherhouse of the Western province is located in Wilmette, Illinois.
The Foundress of the congregation, Mother Pauline von Mallinckrodt, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome on April 14, 1985.[2][1] Blessed Pauline's cause for canonization is currently being examined by the Vatican. The Mother General of the congregation is Sister Adalberta Mette.
By 2010, Sisters of Christian Charity were present in Germany, Italy, USA, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, and the Philippine Islands.[3]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.