Daughters of Mary and Joseph

On March 6, 1817, Father William Van Crombrugghe founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph in Alost, Belgium. To respond to the needs of poor girls, the Sisters opened a school where they taught the art of lace-making, in addition to reading, writing, religious instruction, and preparation for the sacraments.

From these simple beginnings, the Daughters of Mary and Joseph spread to the major cities of Belgium. In 1869, the Sisters opened the first of many schools in England. Each school demonstrated a reputation for excellence in education.

By 1923, the Superior of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph was exploring the possibility of expanding the Congregation outside of Europe. Thus was established, in 1926, the first community of the Sisters at St. Augustine School in Culver City, California.

These first Daughters of Mary and Joseph in the New World saw themselves as missionaries. From the beginning, these Sisters and all those who followed them, worked valiantly and with great zeal and enthusiasm at the ministry to which they had committed their lives.

As the need for staffing more schools grew, the Sisters expanded their ministry to schools throughout the State of California. In 1963, the Daughters of Mary and Joseph along with their Josephite Brothers, began the ministry of education in Santa Maria. This ministry now includes Saint Louis de Montfort Parish, St. Louis de Montfort Elementary School, and St. Joseph High School. Our Founder must be giving his special blessing to this combined effort for meeting the needs of the people at all levels.

Today, as educators of the whole person, the Sisters are involved in teaching on the elementary, secondary, and special education levels. They also serve in pastoral and retreat ministries. In addition, the Sisters care for their aging members with love and devotion. In the living out of the spirit of the Founder, the Daughters of Mary and Joseph strive to follow his exhortation to have " an unlimited devotion to Jesus Christ, His Church, and all our sisters and brothers."