Sisters of Christian Charity
350 Bernardsville Road
Mendham, NJ 07945
scceast.org
Sisters of Christian Charity Celebrate 175 Years of Making Visible the Love of Christ
The Sisters of Christian Charity, an international congregation, are celebrating 175 years of serving the people of God on four continents. Founded in 1849 by Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt in Paderborn, Germany the members of the community now serve in various ministries in Europe, South America, North America and the Philippines. Pauline’s life reflected the Gospel call to the margins where she began her ministry to the neglected children of Paderborn, especially the blind. Her tremendous compassion and unbounded love for others were fueled by her deep prayer life and her contemplative stance. Pauline wrote during a retreat: “Sisters of Christian Charity; that is to be no empty title. An active love of neighbor is to emanate from that fire of God’s love which should burn constantly in their hearts, an inexpressible love. Let this love be the principal characteristic of the congregation, its rule, its soul, its life.”
175 years later Pauline’s heart of christian charity still beats in schools, parishes and the streets of underserved neighborhoods, such as the South Bronx, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Her legacy of compassion touches the lives of those in need of medical care in Harrisburg and Williamsport, Pennsylvania and the blind women in need of a home in Quezon City. She is present in our schools in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, South America and in Siegburg, Germany where her legacy of education pulsates.
As we celebrate this year we are grateful for the opportunities we have to share Pauline’s charism by making visible the love of Christ especially on the margins of our society where the need is greatest. As Pauline reminds us: “No effort is too great for our suffering sisters and brothers.” And in our Constitutions, we are called “through the power of love and compassion to create a culture of life and love in our wounded world.” (Article 21) It is indeed a privilege and a blessing to be a part of this mission as we celebrate 175 years of Pauline’s christian charity alive today!