Sr. Mathilde Comstoc, D.C. serves as the first Sister Moderator to the national board of the Association of the Ladies of Charity of the United States. Since then 16 religious women representatives of the Daughters of Charity or Sisters of Charity have served in that role.

The national organization, Association of the Ladies of Charity United States (ALCUS) was established. A National Service Center was established at Guardian Angel Settlement in St. Louis, Missouri. Sr. Catherine Sullivan D.C. was instrumental in helping the ladies establish ALCUS. There was a 3-fold purpose: to serve as a bond between the associations of the Ladies of Charity in the United States and the International Headquarters in Paris, France; to promote unity among the associations in the exercise of charity according to the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul through personal service to the poor; and to encourage the activities of the associations in existence and to assist in the organization of new ones. The first National Assembly was held in 1960 in New York City. 250 members from 17 dioceses (representing 13 states and the District of Columbia) were in attendance. Mrs. Diane Downey became the first National President. The assembly was held in conjunction with the National Council of Catholic Charities. The governing laws were read and ratified by delegates representing the local associations. The national association continued to hold biennial assemblies with Catholic Charities until 1998.

The first International Congress of the Ladies of Charity was held in Paris.

Due to the rapid growth in the United States, Miss Marie Harkins, Catherine Harkins’ granddaughter, organizes the first meeting of all the associations of the Ladies of Charity in St. Louis, Mo.

During the nineteenth century in France and in Italy, many groups of young girls are engaged in various charitable works. The organization of a Junior Confraternities of Charity branch is canonically recognized. In many countries the young girls were called Louisettes after St. Louise de Marillac.

Catherine Harkins established the first Ladies of Charity Association in the United States at St. Vincent’s parish in St. Louis, MO. She was inspired by a vision of St. Vincent walking through the streets collecting homeless children. In 1860, Fr. Urban Gagnepain. Catherine Harkins’ pastor, was moved to New Orleans and started the second association in the United States. It spread from there.

At the request of the Archbishop of Paris the Charities were reestablished in Paris and the rest of France and contact with the associations in other countries was renewed.

The French Revolution obliged the Confraternity of Charity to stop its activities in Paris and throughout France. This broke the connection with associations in other countries where the Confraternity of Charity continued to flourish.

The Charities expanded to Italy (1634) and then Poland (1651). The Confraternity was already international during St. Vincent’s lifetime. Over centuries it developed in numerous countries, including Belgium and Germany.