Celebrating the dedication of the Daughters of Charity

By Rob Herbst
The Catholic Week
The Daughters of Charity began serving Alabama before the Civil War, ministered through epidemics, hurricanes, fires and through the beginning of two new centuries. They also served in various ministries, especially in education and health care.
“We’re standing on the shoulders of giants,” remarked Sister Ann Claire Rhoads, D.C., who has been in Mobile the past 10 years.
Their significance to the Archdiocese of Mobile is extraordinary, but Feb. 9 was a day to say goodbye, and thank you for 184 years of service.
The Daughters of Charity are withdrawing from the Archdiocese of Mobile and Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi recognized their legacy with a farewell Mass Feb. 9 at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, followed by a reception. The Mass was also a celebration for all those in Consecrated Life as it coincided with the World Day for Consecrated Life. 
Several Religious communities were there in celebration of Consecrated Life and to celebrate the Daughters of Charity’s history.
About 900 Daughters of Charity have served in the archdiocese since 1841. Three – Sister Ann Claire along with Sister Andrea Miller, D.C., and Sister Louise Busby, D.C. – had been ministering here while Sister Margaret Mary Clifford, D.C., has been in Mobile since September assisting with the move. 
They will depart later this year, each with new roles across the country.
“It’s bittersweet, but that’s part of our charism. We go where we’re needed,” Sister Margaret Mary said.
The Daughters of Charity were founded by St. Louise de Marillac and St. Vincent de Paul in 1633. It was St. Vincent de Paul who said to the Daughters of Charity, “You have to be ready to go wherever you are told to go, and even to request this saying, ‘I belong neither here nor there, but wherever God wants me to be.’ You are chosen to be at the disposition of Divine Providence.’”
“It’s not usual to be somewhere 184 years. We’ve had some missions where we’ve been there two to five years. Somebody else took it over and off we went,” Sister Ann Claire said.
In her own case, Sister Ann Claire’s stay in Mobile – mostly teaching at St. Pius X Catholic School - has been her longest stint since entering the Daughters of Charity in 1971.
“It’s temporary wherever we go. You kind of have that missionary spirit, so no, it’s not a surprise.”
The Daughters of Charity all leave Mobile with fond memories. 
Sister Andrea, who has primarily ministered at Allen Memorial Home, has been here 14 years. 
A Pennsylvania native, Sister Andrea entered the Daughters of Charity in 1964 and all her previous assignments prior to arriving in Mobile had been in the north.
“My community asked me to go to Mobile, Alabama and I said ‘where is it?’ she joked. “I saw it was by the Gulf of Mexico and thought ‘oh my Lord you’d better behave yourself, you can’t go any further south. The minute I came, I loved it. There was southern hospitality, everyone was very gracious and very polite. The people of Mobile are very respectful of Religious and of all religions.”
Sister Louise knew what to expect when coming to Mobile. 
She was born and raised here, having attended Heart of Mary Catholic School and McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. She entered the Daughters of Charity in 1985 and had been back home for four years, serving as a board-certified chaplain at Providence Hospital.
“There’s a lot of gratitude to have served here,” she said. “To get to know people to get to know the spirit of the Daughters of Charity, our charism is embedded in them.”
Of course, dwindling numbers played a role in the decision. The worldwide community of Daughters of Charity had grown to nearly 40,000 members. There are now 11,472 Daughters of Charity worldwide.
According to Sister Margaret Mary, planning for the Daughters of Charity’s eventual withdrawal from Mobile has been in the works for a number of years “but it’s different to plan versus to pack.”
Added Sister Ann Claire, “A plug for vocations - anytime I can say ‘pray for vocations’ I do, because if we had more sisters, maybe this wouldn’t be happening. I don’t know. But I think that’s true for most communities.”
Archbishop Rodi also discussed decreasing Religious numbers in his homily. 
Along with praying for vocations, Archbishop Rodi encouraged all to trust in the Lord.
“Whatever God has in store for the Church, it is for us to trust Him,” he said. “Everything is in God’s hands and God’s plans will not be thwarted.”
Archbishop Rodi also reflected on the significance the Daughters of Charity played in he and his family’s life. 
He was born Hotel Dieu, a Daughters of Charity-operated hospital in New Orleans.
“Those day of the baby boom in the 1940s … there were not enough beds in the hospital for all mothers who were in labor, so the mothers were placed on cots up and down the corridor. There was no air conditioning either,” he explained. “Throughout her life, my mom would speak very fondly to us of the Daughter of Charity who brought her some ice to suck on, and who would stand next to her cot with a hand fan, trying to give her some relief.”
“Some memories are special.”
Like Archbishop Rodi, many throughout Alabama will hold onto memories of the Daughters of Charity. 
The Daughters of Charity will also take memories of Mobile with them to their next stops. They will also take with them something far more significant than memories.
“We are physically leaving Mobile, but we will bring the prayers and wishes of the laity with us,” Sister Ann Claire said. “People are always asking for prayers. I know for me, lots of people and lots of family members who need prayers. All of us could say that and we will take those with us.”


To view a gallery of photos from the Mass and reception, click here:https://mobarch.org/photoalbums/daughters-of-charity-and-world-day-for-consecrated-life-2025