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History of VCS

A Ministry Steeped in History

The Vincentian ministry in western Pennsylvania stretches back over 100 years. Founded on the charisms of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, a group of five sisters from Szatmar, Austria-Hungary, led by Mother Emerentiana Handlovits, arrived in Braddock in 1902 at the invitation of a local priest. They came to minister to the large number of Slovak immigrants who had recently immigrated to western Pennsylvania. Parishioners of St. Michael Parish in Braddock built the first convent and a novitiate was soon formed. The first postulants entered in January 1905, and the community quickly outgrew its original home. In 1915 the Vincentian Sisters of Charity motherhouse relocated from Braddock to McKnight Road in the North Hills, a building that still stands today and has since been renamed St. Louise Convent.

At its peak several decades ago, the Vincentian Sisters of Charity had some 430 members. Sisters served as teachers and in religious education programs in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Alabama and Florida. They also served in hospital ministry in Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, New York, Wisconsin, and in rural health care ministry in Alabama.

Vincentian Collaborative System

The Vincentian Sisters of Charity were the religious sponsors of Vincentian Collaborative System and its member ministries. Under their careful leadership, Vincentian Collaborative System’s original ministry grew from a single nursing home to an organization managing four nursing homes offering a continuum of senior living services, a rehabilitation company and child care businesses, serving more than 650 senior citizens and 150 children annually in the Pittsburgh area, and employing more than 900 staff.

Sisters of Charity of Nazareth

In November 2008, declining numbers in the Vincentian Sisters of Charity congregation led to a merger with The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, based in Nazareth, Kentucky, who share a similar dedication to the mission of St. Vincent and St. Louise. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth now sponsor Vincentian Collaborative System.

Vincentian Collaborative System was established in 1998 and continues to grow and evolve in its quest to provide joyful compassionate care while meeting the needs of a diverse and changing society. 
 

Major moments in the history of Vincentian Collaborative System: 

1633 Founding of the Daughters of Charity by Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac in Paris, France.
1902 Mother Emerentiana Handlovits and four sisters from Hungary establish a mission to educate the children of Slovak immigrants in Braddock, Pennsylvania.
1914 Vincentian Sisters of Charity move from Braddock to a new Mother House in Perrysville, North Hills.
1922 Fr. Lawrence Carroll approaches Mother Emerentiana with vision to build a place for the poor and handicapped (incurables).
1924 Vincentian Home for Incurables was dedicated and opens.
1943 Vincentian Sisters of Charity purchase Stanton Heights Golf Course and the Donahue Mansion in the City of Pittsburgh. First eight residents admitted June 21, 1943, and Villa de Marillac is founded.
1959 Present Vincentian Home constructed (150 beds). The Martin J. Agan Bequest builds a unit for men. The new Home is renamed Vincentian Home for the Chronically Ill.
1963 Villa de Marillac breaks ground on March 15th for the present facility.
1966 Vincentian Sisters of Charity purchase building that would be dedicated as Regency Hall Nursing Home to Christ the King on October 30 by Bishop J. Wright.
1972 Vincentian Child Care is established at the Mother House.
1979 Bequest in memory of Ann Klefisch Wiegand funds a new 120 bed addition at Vincentian Home for the Chronically Ill, increasing capacity to 219 beds.
1983 Regency Hall begins an Adult Day Care Center licensed to serve 36 clients.
1987 Vincentian Home for the Chronically Ill is acquired from the Diocese of Pittsburgh and renamed Vincentian Home.
1988 Regency Hall completes a $1.5 million expansion project (new wing with an Adult Day Care Center, chapel, patio garden, seven personal care rooms and a garage).
1990 Vincentian home builds a resident dining room, activity room and two more resident rooms bringing bed capacity to 221.
1995 Regency Hall adds a new kitchen, staff cafeteria and Rehab center.
1997 Vincentian Home builds a 51 bed assisted living facility.
1998 Vincentian Collaborative Services commences operations.
2000 VCS forms a Rehab Company.
2004 Wander Garden is built at Vincentian Home.
2005 VCS completes Market Analysis and Strategic Planning Study.
2007 Vincentian Collaborative Services changes name to Vincentian Collaborative System.
2007 Vincentian Charitable Foundation is formed and incorporated.
February 2008 Marian Manor becomes a subsidiary of VCS.
July 2008 Construction/renovation begins at Vincentian Home.
November 2008 Vincentian Sisters of Charity merge with Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
December 2008 Construction begins on Vincentian Villa.
December 2009 Vincentian Villa completed. First residents move in.

 

 

 

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