St. Thérèse Daughters of Divine Charity

The Daughters of Divine Charity have been with us at St. Thérèse since 1960 when they taught CCD classes outdoors and in the back of the church. Back then the only buildings standing were the rectory and church! They were the founding administrators and educators of St. Thérèse Academy and have had a significant presence in our school from its inception to the present time. It is both a blessing and a privilege to have them and their witness to Divine Love here residing and serving in our parish.

The Daughters of Divine Charity are an international religious institute of pontifical right dedicated to the works of the apostolate. Called to live entirely from the love of the Triune God among the people, they publicly vow poverty, chastity and obedience, and live with their sisters in community. They dedicate their lives to God and to the Church, especially to the poor.

Their foundress, the Servant of God, Franziska Lechner has given them a wonderful legacy, epitomized by their Program for Life:

No morning without fervent prayer. No work without good intention. No joy without a thankful look toward God. No conversation without thought of God. No suffering without patient resignation. No wrong suffered without pardon given. No fault committed without repentance. No fault noticed without kind judgment. No good work without humility. No one in need without some help. No sufferer let go uncomforted. No evening without self-examination.

Following Jesus, we live chaste, poor and obedient. In this way we hope to be emptied of self and filled with Divine Love so that like Mary who believed, loved and served we can bring joy, peace and consolation to the world.” (FDC Constitution Point 8)