he
Heartof the Ca
P R E S E R V I N G S T. V I N C E N T D E P A U L C H U R C H They were brave, young, and willing to devote their lives in service to God and the Church. The small community of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth began in 1812 at a farm in St. Thomas, just south of Bardstown, Kentucky. After 10 years of growth in ministry, the Sisters moved to Nazareth and began life anew. Here, the construction of a simple church as the center of their communal life was a priority for the Sisters. Indeed, God’s blessings abounded over the next 30 years. The growth of the SCN community as well as the increasing enrollment of Nazareth Academy necessitated the building of a larger church. St. Vincent de Paul Church, as we know it today, was 8
completed in 1854, and continues in testimony to the belief that the Eucharist and prayer are pivotal to the life of a Sister of Charity of Nazareth. St. Vincent Church has been and remains at the heart of the Motherhouse campus. It is here that the Sisters gather for the celebration of the Eucharist as well as for personal and communal prayer. It is here that they profess their vows, celebrate feasts, anniversaries, and funerals. It is here that Associates, relatives, friends, neighbors, and visitors are invited to share in the prayer life of the Congregation. After 167 years of being cared for, it is not surprising that the beautiful church
SISTERS OF CHARIT Y OF NA Z ARE TH • VOL. III 2021
S C N F A M I LY . O R G
