DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Formal Name: DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Commonly Called As: The DC sisters, the Daughters, Daughters of Charity Classification: Society of Apostolic Life

Habit: simple blouse and skirt in shades of blue with a very ordinary veil (see sample below)

Foundational Data:

In December of 1617 , the association of the Ladies of Charity was officially formed by Vincent de Paul. Realizing that these young girls would need some formal religious and secular education , Vincent turned to Louise de Marillac, his friend and collaborator in many charitable works, and asked her to train these first recruits. On November 29, 1633 , she took four peasant girls into her simple home in Paris and fashioned them into true servants of the poor-the first Daughters of Charity.

Vision/Charism:

We, the Daughters of Charityof the Philippine Province,envision ourselvesas a community of women given to God,living out our passion for Christ andfor persons who are poorin the Vincentian spirit of Humility,Simplicity and Charity,towards the realization of theReign of God.




Claim to History: One of earliest religious communities in the country and very instrumental during the Philippine Revolution. Their shelters and orphanages were the refuges of the poor then and now.



Five Reasons Why You Might Be Attracted:

a. It's status as society of apostolic life is unique. Members do not have perpetual vows, they have annual vows.

b. Probably one of the biggest congregations in the country and throughout the world - the possibilities of mission is endless. The Daughters are very brave to enter into new modes of living their religious life.

c. The spirituality is well-defined and very relevant to our times.

d. The sisters are very keen in professionalizing their human resources. Sisters are encouraged to take post-graduate courses.

e. Julma Neo is reason enough.


Reasons Why You Might Be Discouraged:

a. Most of the Filipina sisters are still traditional and may frown on the behaviors of the young generation.

b. The formation program has not solidified into the distinct character of the society - most of the studies are still towards religious life.

Best For:

Professional women with a strong sense of mission.

Contacts:

DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

P.O. Box 7274 Domestic Airport Post Office,

Pasay City 301 Metro Manila , PHILIPPINES

Secretariat: Tel. No. (+632) 837–1008Telefax: (+632) 838-8987



website: http://www.dcphilippines.org/

The Gift of Creating Sacred Spaces

(Every month this website features what I consider my ideal postmodern religious men and women. )


Sister Eppie Brasil, OP
The Gift of Creating Sacred Spaces

Gifts abound in the life of Sr. Eppie Brasil, founder of the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii (OPRR) and the Regina Rosarii Contemplative Association (ROCA). Teacher, counselor, retreat-master, media evangelizer, friend, leader, artist, painter, composer and more.

But those gifts pale in comparison to the shining jewel in her treasure box of talents and skills: her desire and capacity to create sacred spaces. In fact, all her other gifts are mere reflections and manifestations of this singular virtue.

Sister Eppie makes the creation of sacred spaces her life calling.

In the urban and rural landscapes, she dreamed of and made possible the construction of monumental statues of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary perhaps to provide a pocket of peace and corner of contemplation in a busy world. Her latest project, a rotating statue of the Virgin Mother in the rooftop of their convent near Tomas Morator, is a gentle reminder of the presence of God in our busy lives.

As an artist, Sister Eppie organizes their convent inside and out as a place of prayer. Every nook, every corner, every available space speaks of the silence of God and the beauty of His creation.

Like a true postmodern apostle, Sister Eppie, with the Regina Rosarii sisters and their ROCA partners, maximizes all five senses to evangelize and promote the good news: that God is immanent, availablem and can be tasted right Here... right Now.

For our sense of sight, Sister Eppie has monumental statues and prayer sites to look up to and venerate. Also, she is founder of The SacredSpace magazine, a quarterly publication that makes reading a prayerful and contemplative experience. She has powercards, bookmarks, paintings and various forms of visual arts that softly and gently remind us of the powerful, healing presence of the Divine among us.

For our sense of hearing, she has composed several short sacred songs for easy listening, our portkey to the sacred space within us and our melodious guide to inner silence. Every Sunday, she and the sisters host a radio program Sacred Space on the Air over at Radio Veritas. Her teachings during sittings fill our ears with the words of God.

For our sense of smell, Sister Eppie has formulated and produced the Rosaline Healing Scents: candles and aromatic sprays which lighten our mood, refresh the air, and facilitate our entry into our interior spaces.

For our sense of taste, she collaborates with her blood sister, Sr. Matthew to come up with healing and delicious recipes that truly nourish the body and soul. Try their experimentations with various herbs and you will feel refreshed right after the first sip. But more than that, the sisters made it their mission to feed their K-friends (families living in karitons or carts), giving these poor families a taste of life and friendship.

Perhaps among these sensous ministries, Sr. Eppie is most generous with the sense of touch. Her healing handshake and her warm hug bring comfort and a sense of h0me to those who receive them - making people feel a sacredspace within her embrace.

I always said in my previous talks during assemblies and conferences that the call of a postmodern world is to minister through the five senses, making our ministry truly a sensuous presence, and Sister Eppie is at the forefront of this challenge.

I was given the distinctive gift to accompany Sister Eppie as she discerned and decided to pursue a life-changing direction that allowed her to be metamorphosed into a religious of the future. And I was also given the gift to be a recipient of her gifts as I went into my own crisis. A religious woman of lesser faith and charity would have hated me for what I have done, but with her, forgiveness was given even if I don't deserve it.

Trust me when I say this, that because of people like her and her gifts, I restored my faith in the church, and my trust in the institution of religious life.


The OP Regina has a website: http://www.reginarosarii.org/