Daughters of Mary and Joseph

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DAUGHTERS OF MARY AND JOSEPH

(DMJ; Official Catholic Directory #0880), also called Ladies of Mary, a pontifical institute founded in Belgium in 1817 by the priest educator Canon Constant G. Van Crombrugghe, minister of education in the Belgian National Congress. The rule of the congregation received papal approbation in 1891. From Belgium the community spread to England and thence to the United States, coming to Los Angeles, California, in 1926 at the request of Bishop John J. Cantwell. In addition to the work of education, the sisters have undertaken catechetical work, youth clubs, and retreats, as well as missionary activities in Africa. The motherhouse, hitherto in Belgium, was transferred to Rome; the United States provincialate is in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

[m. c. cotter/eds.]