A religious congregation founded by Mlle. Poitier under the direction of Father John J. Begel at Dom-martin-sous-Amance, France in 1855 for the education of poor children. In 1864 the entire community with Father Begel came to the United States at the invitation of Bishop Rappe of Cleveland, and settled near New Bedford, Massachusetts. The congregation has includes academies, schools, hospitals, an orphanage, a home for crippled children, and one for working boys. The mother-house is at Villa Maria, Pennsylvania.