Welcome to the website of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, a religious community of vowed women, lay associates and partners committed “to proclaim and witness by our lives and service the Compassionate Presence of God in our world.”
In 1886 our founders absorbed what they saw on the streets, heard in their gatherings, and read in the local newspaper, reflected on it all in the light of the gospel, and responded in a ministry of compassion that began on the streets of the Lower East Side of New York City and has continued in the New York metropolitan area for one hundred twenty-one years.
In the 21st century our commitment to compassion challenges us to attend to:
· The suffering of others, wherever we find it
· The empowerment of women and children
· The needs of the poor and marginalized
· A life of prayer and continued spiritual growth
· Alternatives to violence, including the violence done to the earth
· The creation of community
Our charism, our mission, and our deep belief, are articulated in the phrase “Compassion heals a world of violence.” It is the principle that guides us as we continue to write the deep story begun in 1886. While nothing approaches the experiencing of “being there,” I hope this virtual visit will inform, inspire, and challenge.
