Our Founders
PROPAGATION OF FAITH
PAULINE JARICOT
In 1818 a young French lay woman Pauline Marie Jaricot begins the Association for the Propagation of the Faith, officially recognized on 3 May 1822. Pauline is (the foundress of the largest aid agency for the missions in the entire history of the Catholic Church: the Association for the Propagation of the Faith), which later became the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and was conferred the title (Pontifical) by Pius XI in 1922.
HOLY CHILDHOOD
FORBIN JANSON
To give a missionary approach to devotion to the Child Jesus the Bishop of Nancy, Mgr. Charles Auguste Marie de Forbin-Janson, develops a movement of Christian children to help pagan children and bring them salvation. Thus on 19 May 1843 is born the Society of the Holy Childhood, which Pius XI will declare a (Pontifical work) in 1922.
ST. PETER THE APOSTLE
JEANNE BIGARD
Mrs Jeanne Bigard, with the encouragement and under the guidance of her mother Stephanie, makes preparation for the priestly ministry of young men in mission lands the purpose of her life. In 1894 she launches the first manifesto of the Society of St Peter Apostle, which begins its activity in 1886, is officially established in Caen in 1889 and recognized as (Pontifical) by Pius X
MISSIONARY UNION
FR. PAOLO MANNA
Fr. Paolo Manna, a missionary in Burma, observing the vast extent of missionary work, is saddened by the Clergy's indifference and is worried about the small number of missionaries. He therefore founds the Missionary Union of the Clergy to animate priests for the Opera Maxima - the evangelization of the world - and to promote knowledge of the Missions and encourage prayer for them. On 23 October 1916 Benedict XV approves the Union, which after a rapid and fruitful spread in the world, in 1956 is declared (Pontifical) by Pius XII.