2024 marks 175 since the founding of the Sisters of Charity – Halifax.

by Sister Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick

We are standing on the shoulders of the 2500+ professed Sisters and hundreds of Associates who came before us and are with us now. We are lifted by their longing, vision, and call to service. We rejoice knowing that we continue to be courageous, that we go beyond ourselves to the other, that we stand with all life that is vulnerable. We act with justice and kindness for we are charity.

We celebrate the past, the present, and the future. We thank the Sisters of Charity of New York for missioning four Sisters to Halifax. Their arrival on May 11, 1849, is our foundational moment. True to Elizabeth Ann Seton, “There is no road, the road is made by walking.” We remember each Sister of Charity and Associate who in great ways and small responded to the needs and yearnings of the people and events around them. 

There is an urgency to our 175th celebration year for we know that these ensuing years are precious. We know that we give joyful witness to love with our every breath.

So let us celebrate. I proclaim the opening of our 175th anniversary year on this day, August 15th, 2023 culminating with a celebration in Halifax on August 15th, 2024. 

‘Loved and energized by the One who calls us,

We hear the cries of those who are poor,

Embrace our own vulnerability, and

Trust the presence of the Spirit in every moment.’

(Chapter 2020)

By Sister Donna Geernaert

For us, Sisters of Charity of Halifax, May 11, 2024, was a day to mark 175 years of service … in Canada, the United States, Bermuda, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and the Canadian North.  Attracted to Vincent de Paul’s love of the poor, and Elizabeth Seton’s zeal for sharing God’s love with her young students, we are women of faith and a passion for serving those in need with a focus on education, health care, and social service. Truly an event to celebrate!

Our Liturgy of Thanksgiving, with Archbishop Brian Dunn presiding, took place at St. Mary’s Basilica right next to the location of our first mission, St. Mary’s school, which opened on Barrington Street within two weeks of the first four Sisters’ arrival in Halifax.  Skilfully weaving themes from the readings of the liturgy of St. Elizabeth Seton into aspects of our past and present history, Archbishop Dunn’s homily invited both gratitude for our predecessors’ achievements and commitment to keeping the flame of charity alive in an ever changing future.

Attended by about 300 sisters, associates, and friends, the liturgy was live-streamed making it available to audiences across Canada and the United States.  It was followed by a reception which included a video loop with multiple photos highlighting people and places that have marked our mission and ministry over our 175 year history. Individually, and as a Congregation, we have learned from, changed, and grown together with our travelling companions, and like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, our eyes have been opened to the presence of the risen Christ.

Throughout our 175 years of Giving Joyful Witness to Love there have been more than 2500 inspiring stories of lives well lived. We are happy to share stories of how we have made God’s love visible in all the places we’ve ministered.

We would love to be able to feature the incredible stories of all of our Sisters. However, time and space limits us to these 175 individual Sisters of Charity/projects you will read about over the course of our celebratory year. We endeavored to represent the geographic spread of our Congregation as well as every area of service.

Let us rejoice in celebrating God’s love made visible through these 175 profiles!