History Order of Our Lady of Charity

the traditional religious habit of sisters order of our lady of charity white, white scapular, black veil , large silver heart on breast. habit has been discarded.

all houses of order independent of each other, , each has own novitiate, mother-house still @ caen. nuns wear white habit , large silver cross on breast. 3 ordinary religious vows add fourth, viz., devote reformation of fallen. novitiate lasts 2 years.

on 8 july 1855, sister jerome tourneux of rennes, france, established first foundation in north america in buffalo, new york, , began spread of mission of our lady of charity in united states, canada , mexico.

in france had seventeen houses: 1 each @ caen, saint-brieuc, rennes, la rochelle, paris, versailles, nantes, lyon, valence, toulouse, le mans, blois, montauban, besançon, valognes, , 2 @ marseilles; in italy, 1 @ loreto; , in spain, 1 @ bilbao; , in austria.

the sisters came england in 1863, building large purpose built convent @ bartestree near hereford , 1910 had houses @ waterlooville near portsmouth, monmouth, southampton, , northfield.

by 1960 1,500 sisters served in forty-four communities of our lady of charity in ten countries.