The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth is a Catholic religious institute based in Leavenworth, Kansas who follow in the tradition of Saints Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac. A member of the Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition, the order operates schools and hospitals in the United States and Peru. Members are denominated with the post-nominal letters SCL.
The Sisters of Charity were founded in 1858 by Mother Xavier Ross, who came to Leavenworth from Nashville, Tennessee at the invitation of Bishop John Baptist Miege. They founded and operate the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth. They also founded and operate Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, and St. Francis Health Center in Topeka. Additionally, in 1873, they founded Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado.[1] Since the 1960s, the Sisters of Charity have expanded work in social services and outreach, and operate missions in South America and the Sudan.