DAUGHTERS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (Reggio Calabria). - In 1897 Mrs. Brigida Pastorino laid the foundations of the Society of the D. of the I. C. in Reggio Calabria. Encouraged and assisted by the local archbishop, on 6 Nov. 1898 with 9 companions she founded the first house. Two months later the archbishop gave them the religious habit; on 26 Apr. 1901 he approved the Institute and on 16 July of the same year its constitutions.
The decree of praise was granted on 11 Dec. 1911; on 10 Apr. 1921 the Institute was approved and its constitutions were also temporarily approved.
Its purpose is to promote the religious, moral and intellectual culture of young women through educators, schools, boarding houses and workshops for girls of every condition. In 1943 it had 41 houses with 276 sisters.