 Saint Louise de Marillac, Co-founder of the Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul | |
| Abbreviation | D.C. |
|---|---|
| Established | 29 November 1633 |
| Founders |
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| Founded at | Paris, France |
| Type | Centralized Religious Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right (for Women) |
| Headquarters | Motherhouse Rue du Bac, Paris, France |
Region served | Europe, Asia, Americas, Africa |
Members | 14,000 |
motto | The charity of Christ urges us |
Superioress General | Sister Françoise Petit, DC |
Parent organization | Roman Catholic Church |
| Website | daughtersofcharity |
The Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (Latin: Societas Filiarum Caritatis a Sancto Vincentio de Paulo; abbreviated DC), commonly called the Daughters of Charity or Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, is a Society of Apostolic Life for women within the Catholic Church. Its members make annual vows throughout their life, which leaves them always free to leave, without the need of ecclesiastical permission. They were founded in 1633 by Vincent de Paul and state that they are devoted to serving the poor through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
They have been popularly known in France as "the Grey Sisters" from the color of their traditional religious habit, which was originally grey, then bluish grey. The 1996 publication The Vincentian Family Tree presents an overview of related communities from a genealogical perspective.[1] Members use the initials DC after their names.
The Society's current Superior General, appointed on 20 April 2020, is Françoise Petit.[2]
- ^ McNeil, Betty Ann (1996). The Vincentian Family Tree: A Genealogical Study. Chicago: Vincentian Studies Institute.
- ^ Chento, J. F., Sister Françoise Petit, DC, new Superior General of the Daughters of Charity, published 22 April 2020, accessed 10 March 2023