The end of an era for the Sisters of Charity of New York

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Through more than 200 years, the Sisters of Charity of New York nursed Civil War casualties, joined civil rights and anti-war demonstrations, cared for orphans, and taught countless children. We do what we do because it’s right … and it’s a Gospel mandate.” In decades past, operating the order's hospitals and schools afforded the sisters leadership opportunities that were off limits to women elsewhere in society, said Sister Margaret O’Brien. “And that’s much slower in coming … but it will come.” The sisters took turns sharing their experiences while sitting beneath a 19th century painting of the order’s founder, Seton, who became the first saint born in what would become the U.S. A word that guides their life — charism — came up repeatedly. “We’ve handed the torch over to people who…have the charism of charity and the spirit of the Sisters of Charity,” Dodge said.