The history of the Grey Sisters of Pembroke, from 1737 to the present, is a history rooted in trust. The life of Marguerite d’Youville, who founded the community, was ­rooted in her total confidence in God’s care for everyone and for all of creation. It gave birth to a strong conviction which allowed this valiant and daring woman to walk in trust through the winds of suffering, misunderstanding, and opposition. Sharing a similar call, several companions joined Marguerite and on December 31, 1737, they consecrated themselves to God for the service of the poor.

In 1926, the Pembroke foundation was created by Mother St. Paul and 76 founding sisters, who shared Marguerite d'Youville's charism and courage in the face of great hardships, the same compassion for God’s poor and suffering.

The new community undertook ministries in the lumber towns of Pembroke and Eganville, the mining towns of Timmins and Kirkland Lake, the steel town of Sault Ste. Marie, the towns of Midland, Penetang and Windsor, the inner city of Vancouver, the Prairie towns of Lestock and Esterhazy, and mission work in China, Japan, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

The Grey Sisters' ministries have been as varied as their geographic locations – education, health care, care of seniors, pastoral care, prison ministry, music education, work with a focus on social and ecological justice and countless other areas of service. Like their founding Sisters, they combined a spirituality of trust in God’s providence with a practical wisdom born of engagement with the world in a wide variety of settings.

Today the work of the Grey Sisters frequently involves partnering with others, supporting projects as volunteers, whether by serving on boards or by personal ministry, or providing financial assistance to enable work that is consistent with their charism and mission in the world.

If you would like to read more or donate to our Dominican Republic efforts, please see Grey Sisters Dominican Republic.