Inspired by Leo XIII’s encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum’ on social problems and the Holy Spirit, our Society was founded by Sister Margaret Slachta on May 12, 1923, "with the purpose of bringing the old traditional form of religious commitment from the heart of the desert into the center of life and this way to respond to the personal and social needs of our modern world."

“The aim of the Society is to provide consecrated and professionally trained women for the Church and secular society. Therefore, it renounces the ownership of institutes lest prestige and institutional self-centeredness should hinder it in fulfilling this program or self-interests should consume the potential it has to be at the disposal of those in need. In our view, the most specific and pioneering task of the Society is to train workers for political ministry whose mission is to present the public catholic interests, and to promote the present and eternal welfare of women, children and families. Therefore the Society of the Sisters of Social Service wants its members to become ’Christ’s soldiers’ who – with the power of the Word, with techniques of organization and with the tools of the Spirit – engage themselves in preventive activities reaching out for the masses and the family. The ministry of the Society is rooted in communion with the Holy Spirit. As it sends its members to unexplored ways, sets them in exposed positions and even expects them to have a perspective view on how to prevent and solve problems of the future, the sisters are constantly challenged to take positions, make choices and decisions, to resist attacks, to have perseverance and initiatives… Being spiritual themselves and living in the power of the Holy Spirit the sisters see the source of all human suffering and unhappiness in the lack of spirituality, and therefore they consider the spreading of the devotion of the Holy Sprit in this world yearning for more spirit to be special part of their mission….” (Margaret Slachta: The Voice of the Spirit, January 1, 1939)

Today we say this in the following way:

The sisters serving the glory of God, want to witness to God’s Sanctifying Love and to continue Christ’ redemptive mission. They are called to live a life which is:

• Rooted in the Holy Spirit
• Grounded in the spirit of St. Benedict,
• Characterized by an informed social consciousness
• And contemporary life style.

The purpose, goals, aspirations, charism, life styles of the Society are captured in its constitution entitled “Life in the Spirit”.

This Constitution, renewed in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, was approved by the bishop of the Society’s general government (in Buffalo, NY, USA) on May 12, 1986. This approval was accepted and affirmed by Cardinal Laszlo Paskai on June 28, 1989, in Budapest, Hungary. The Generalate came back to Hungary at 1998. The same year, on December 8, 1998 the Society received the Decree from the Vatican, that declares the Sisters of Social Service to be considered as pontificial right.

According to the CIC, the Society of the Sisters of Social Service is a “Society of Apostolic Life.” This form provides the sisters with flexibility in fulfilling their charism under the most different circumstances and in contemporary life style (e.g. flexibility in clothing - the sisters can wear uniform or they can live without identifying signs among the people).

Right now, in the Hungarian District of the Society, there are 90 totally committed sisters, 7 members in formation, and 60 associate members building the Kingdom of God “in the hearts of individuals, in the country, and in the world” under the guidance of the “Spirit of Truth and Love.”

The style of our religious commitment can be explained by the way we interpret our vows. Sr. Margaret referred to them as:

• The vow of bridal love for our Lord
• The vow of unity with the will of the Divine Spouse
• The vow of spiritual independence from created goods
• In order that the Society as a community could be the sign of “unity in diversity” and the place of healing personal relationships, we also commit ourselves to become rooted in the charism and mission of our Society, and to grow in loving faithfulness to our sisters through the vow of fidelity.

Any Christian, woman or man, married or single, who wants to participate in our mission, and form a spiritual community with us in working for the Kingdom of God may become an Associate member of our Society.

The sisters want to work with loving commitment and professional skills in any domain they are sent to by God, either through their personal skills and training or through the Society. Therefore, it is desirable that applicants have at least a high school (secondary school) diploma or some other qualifications. They may do work of charity or social work. They may also work in the fields of public health, social ethics, education, economics, culture, political ministry or in the ministry of direct evangelization within the Church.

 Our community life may be either conventual or non-conventual (with regular small groups meetings). We have our own Motherhouse, where 11 sisters now live, a Formation House, four Sister’s Houses in Budapest and one new small community-House in West Hungary (Szombathely). All the sisters come together in the Motherhouse each month for recollection

As the sisters’ manifold ministry means having an active presence in the world and daily encounter with the needs and wounds of the modern world, the Society emphasizes the contemplative dimension in the sister’s life on both the personal and the community level. Therefore, our objective is that the newly formed small communities should have their own chapels, and we emphasize the necessity of the regular common adoration.

More information about us in english:

at the official website of the USA District and

at the websites of the Sisters of Social Service of Los Angeles and of Canada.