Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Catholic religious order

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic religious order of women founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1833 by Mary Frances Clarke. Clarke and four other women immigrated to the United States and began teaching in Philadelphia, formally organizing their order on All Saints Day of that year. In 1843, they established the first Roman Catholic nuns in Iowa Territory, founding St. Mary's Female Academy in Dubuque, which later evolved into Clarke College.1

These sisters are part of a broader tradition of Sisters of Charity, numerous congregations of women dedicated to good works, particularly teaching and nursing. While many follow the rule of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, each congregation has its own constitutions. The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary focus on extending educational opportunities, especially on the American frontier.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Mary Frances Clarke
…November 1, 1833, as the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sister Mary immediately became Mother Mary, superior of the fledgling order. In 1843, on invitation by Bishop Matthias Loras and Father Pierre De Smet, Mother Mary and four sisters made their way to the still-primitive frontier village…
Read More
…November 1, 1833, as the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sister Mary immediately became Mother Mary, superior of the fledgling order. In 1843, on invitation by Bishop Matthias Loras and Father Pierre De Smet, Mother Mary and four sisters made their way to the still-primitive frontier village…
Read More