MISSIONARIES OF OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION. — Founded by Msgr. Filbert de Bruillard, Bishop of Grenoble (d. 1860), on 19 May 1852, recognized by papal law in 1879, the Missionaries of Our Lady of the Assumption soon spread to all parts of the world. At present the Institute numbers about a thousand professed religious, divided into 7 provinces, with 106 houses, many of which are in the missions of Africa, Asia and Oceania.
The principal aim of the Missionaries of Our Lady of the Assumption is the apostolate of preaching and the struggle against deviations in contemporary thought; they direct works of social and charitable apostolate; they dedicate themselves to foreign missions and lend their services for religious assistance in shrines and for parochial ministry.
Among the illustrious men of the Congregation, particular mention should be made of Fr. Silvano Maria Giraud (d. 1882), author of highly esteemed and widely circulated ascetical works; Fr. Giovanni Berthier (d. 1908), founder of the Missionaries of the Holy Family for late vocations and author of numerous ascetical and pastoral works; Fr. Victor Hostachy; and Fr. Giovanni Jaouen, historical critic and sociologist.