Our Lady of the Missions, Sisters of

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OUR LADY OF THE MISSIONS, SISTERS OF

(RNDM); a religious congregation founded in 1861 at Lyons, France, by Mother Mary of the Heart of Jesus (Euphrasie Barbier, 182993). The institute, established primarily for educational, social and pastoral work in mission lands, received papal approval in 1906. By 1890, houses existed on three continents. In 1920 the congregation reopened its French houses, which had been suppressed in 1902 by the laic laws. The generalate is in Rome. At the beginning of the 21st century, there were more than 900 sisters serving in Australia, Bangladesh, British Isles, Canada, France, India, Italy, Kenya, Latin America, Myanmar, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Senegal and Vietnam.

Bibliography: a. coulomb, Life of the Very Reverend Mother Marie du Coeur de Jésus (Mechlin 1914). r. rios, A Heroine of the Mission Field (London 1944). Teaching Nations 100 Years (Regina, Can. 1961).

[i. ross]

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