Links

Charity Speaks Project

The Sisters of Charity Federation of North America is a voluntary membership association of 14 congregations of women religious that number 2,180 Sisters. Impelled by Christ’s love and joined together in the mission of Charity, the Sisters of Charity Federation respond to the cries of people living in poverty and on the margins. The Federation’s mission in the Church continues the original values of Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac, and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Spearheaded by the Sisters of Charity Federation archivists, this website is the culmination of a collaborative, international, and intercongregational project to promote the legacy of Catholic Sisters in the Vincentian-Setonian tradition in North America through the establishment of a public, digital collections database.

By sharing the Sisters’ stories through archival audio, text, images, and much more, each of the Federation communities will have an opportunity to highlight its respective history while also uniting the charism of charity into a single voice. Historians, the general public, and members of women religious communities will all benefit from this open source of story and history.

To view the SCL submissions on the “Charity Speaks” project, click here. To view all offerings, click here.

 

Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Collection Items

 

Susan begins with what it was like coming to the Community just post-Vatican II. She discusses the changes of Vatican II from a personal as well as a theologian’s point of view. She talks about beginning her missions in the Community as a teacher… To listen to her oral history, click here (Click on audio player).
 

 

 

 

Sister begins by describing her childhood in Ireland and the importance of faith in her family?s daily life. She talks about learning of the SCLs through an older brother, a priest already working in the States. She speaks of the novitiate fondly,… To listen to her oral history, click here (Click on audio player).
 

 

 

 

Sister Mary Carlo speaks quite a bit about her family history as both parents were immigrants from Italy. She also talks about how she encountered the SCLs and joined the Community. She discusses her 27 years teaching but how it was the creation of… To listen to her oral history, click here (Click on audio player).
 

 

 

 

Sister opens her interview by speaking about her family and upbringing in Nebraska. She mentions that the teachers at her local school were SCLs, creating an early introduction to the community. Initially resistant to the idea of religious life, she… To listen to her oral history, click here (Click on audio player).
 

 

 

 

She begins with a description of her childhood in Nebraska. She belonged to one of very few Catholic families in a small town. Because her family did not have a lot of money, when it came time to get an education, she took advantage of the Cadet… To listen to her oral history, click here (Click on audio player).
 

 

 

 

She tells stories about growing up in Butte, Montana. She discusses her career in teaching in depth as well as her later parish work. She also speaks about her impressions of the changes from Vatican II. To listen to her oral history, click here (Click on audio player).
 

 

 

 

She speaks warmly of her family. Her father was overjoyed when she joined the Community. Her mother had reservations, but grew to be very proud of her daughter’s call to religious life. Initially, Sister taught in elementary schools and struggled… To listen to her oral history, click here (Click on audio player).

 

 

 

View all 7 items

Digital Exhibits