When you join the Pelican Society, your generosity becomes part of a mission that reaches people around the world every day.
The Pelican Society is the monthly giving program of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Through recurring donations, members provide reliable support that helps the Sisters respond quickly to the needs of children, families, older adults, and communities facing poverty, disaster, and injustice.
A monthly gift may seem small, but over the course of a year it becomes a steady source of funding that allows ministries to plan ahead, expand services, and respond when new needs arise. Whether it’s educating children, providing health care, caring for creation, advocating for justice, or supporting women and families, Pelican Society members help make that work possible.
Why Monthly Giving Matters
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have served others for more than 200 years, guided by their mission to follow Christ through compassionate service. Today, they minister in the United States, India, Belize, Botswana, Nepal, and Kenya, meeting people where they are and responding with practical care rooted in faith.
Recurring donations give the Sisters flexibility to direct resources where they are needed most. Instead of waiting for a special appeal, they can act immediately when opportunities or emergencies arise.
For donors, monthly giving is also one of the easiest ways to make a lasting difference. Automatic contributions spread giving throughout the year while creating a meaningful, long-term investment in ministries that continue changing lives.
Why Is It Called the Pelican Society?
The pelican has long been a symbol in Christian tradition. According to early Christian legend, a mother pelican would nourish her young with her own lifeblood during times of famine. Because of this image of self-giving love, the pelican became a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice in the Eucharist.
For the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, the Pelican Society reflects that same spirit of generosity. Every monthly gift becomes an expression of Christ’s love, helping provide hope, healing, education, and opportunity to people around the world.
The Sisters’ motto, Caritas Christi Urget Nos—”The Love of Christ Impels Us”—continues to guide every ministry. Pelican Society members share in that mission by helping ensure the work continues every day of the year.
The Impact of Your Monthly Gift
Your recurring donation helps sustain ministries that:
- Educate children and young adults.
- Provide health care in underserved communities.
- Support women, families, and older adults.
- Respond to natural disasters and humanitarian needs.
- Promote justice, peace, and care for creation.
Because monthly gifts provide dependable support, the Sisters can focus less on fundraising and more on serving those who need them most.
Become a Pelican Society Member
Joining the Pelican Society is a simple way to make a lasting impact.
Whether you give $10, $25, $50, or another amount each month, your recurring gift becomes part of a global Catholic mission that has served others since 1812. Together, Pelican Society members help ensure the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth can continue answering God’s call wherever the need is greatest.
Become a member of the Pelican Society today and join a community of faithful supporters whose generosity shares Christ’s love with the world one month, one ministry, and one life at a time. LEARN MORE