Do The Good - Seton Shrine

Do The Good:

The Sisters Who Shaped America

A new special exhibit at the Seton Shrine exploring how generations of religious sisters, following Mother Seton’s example, served Christ in the poor and helped shape our nation.

Free admission · Opening March 19, 2026  · Emmitsburg, MD

Free admission

Opening March 19, 2026

Emmitsburg, MD

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What You'll Experience

As America celebrates its 250th Anniversary, step into the untold story of Mother Seton’s sisters—over 20,000 women whose faith and service helped shape a nation. From war and disaster to reform and renewal, they served Christ in the poorest and most vulnerable. Their fearless charity forged our country and changed history—and still challenges us today.

Self Guided, Immersive Experience

Stories Spanning The Early Republic to Today

Real Women Responding To Real Crises

A Call To Live Charity Now

A Story That Unfolds

Guided by Saint Vincent de Paul’s call to “do the good, the work that Mother Seton began more than two centuries ago has grown into a large family of congregations whose service helped shape education, care and compassion in the United States. Here’s the story you’ll experience:  

In the early decades of the United States, rapid population growth, immigration, disease, and westward movement placed enormous strain on communities with few public systems of care. The Sisters of Charity responded by educating children, caring for the sick, and establishing orphanages and hospitals in cities and frontier settlements alike. Their work helped form a network of social services rooted in service to the most vulnerable.

The Civil War brought unprecedented suffering, testing the nation and its institutions. The Sisters served as nurses on battlefields and in hospitals, caring for soldiers from both sides amid violence, disease, and scarcity. Their discipline, experience, and willingness to serve without distinction earned respect and helped shape emerging standards of nursing and medical care in the United States.

Following the war, industrial growth and urban expansion transformed American life. Immigration surged, cities grew crowded, and the number of orphaned and vulnerable children rose sharply. The Sisters expanded schools, hospitals, and social services to meet these needs, building institutions that supported families, educated new Americans, and responded to disasters in rapidly changing communities.

The first half of the twentieth century brought global conflict, economic hardship, and widespread illness. During world wars and the Spanish flu pandemic, the Sisters served on the front lines of care at home and abroad. At the same time, they modernized hospitals, expanded nursing education, and adapted their ministries to new medical and social realities.

In recent decades, the Sisters have continued their commitment to service while responding to new challenges. Their work has included advocacy for civil rights, global missions, healthcare innovation, and outreach to those affected by poverty, displacement, and illness. Rooted in long-standing traditions of charity, their ministries continue to evolve in response to the needs of the present.

The Sisters Who Shaped America

Meet some of the sisters showcased throughout the exhibit

Sister Anthony O’Connell, SC

In the chaos after the Battle of Shiloh, Sister Anthony changed everything. As the wounded lay waiting, she made a radical choice—saving the most critically injured first. From blood and mercy was born battlefield triage, and a legend rose with it: the “Angel of the Battlefield.”

Sister Sister Josella Conlin, SCN

In 1918, Spanish flu ravaged Camp Zachary Taylor. Sister Josella mobilized 88 Sisters to answer the crisis—standing alone in crowded barracks, bringing care, courage, and comfort where hope was scarce.

Sister Mary William Sullivan, D.C.

In 1964, Sister Mary William stood at the crossroads of faith and history as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received the John F. Kennedy Award. From Chicago’s West Side, she transformed Marillac into a force for civil rights—confronting injustice and shaping a legacy of empowerment that endures.

Sister Barbara Ford, SC

Missionary, healer, and servant to the poor, Sister Barbara gave her life to the people of Guatemala. After the Civil War, she stood with the vulnerable—until violence claimed her in 2001. Her devotion did not die with her. She is remembered as a modern-day martyr, shaped by love and fearless service.

Plan Your Visit

Do the Good: The Sisters Who Shaped America is a self-guided exhibit at the Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The exhibit is free and open to the public beginning March 19, 2026, and will remain on view through Spring 2027 during regular Shrine hours.

Visitors are invited to explore the exhibit at their own pace, engaging stories that span more than two centuries of American history and service. The exhibit is designed for individual visitors, families, educators, and groups.
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Advance reservations are recommended for school groups, parishes, and other organized visits.

Press and Media

Donors Make It Possible

Thank you!

The Seton Shrine offers special appreciation to Ascension, the presenting sponsor for this exhibit.

The generosity of friends who have given to “Do the Good: The Sisters Who Shaped America” is treasured. Thank you for helping us to share the amazing work of the Sisters.

The Seton Shrine offers special appreciation to the following donors who have supported
Do the Good: The Sisters Who Shaped America.

Anonymous

Ascension

Delaplaine Foundation, Inc.

Sister Carol Durkin, DC

Linda Fiorelli

Ellen Kelly

The Mays Family Foundation

Jonathon & Hiroko Smith

James M. and Margaret V Stine Foundation

Pat Tursi

Visit Frederick

Ellen Yankellow

If you would like to learn more about supporting this exhibit, our Museum, the Basilica, or Seton Shrine tours and programs, kindly contact Maida Connor, Director of Donor Relations, at 301-447-6049, or by email maida.connor@setonshrine.org.