MISSIONARIES OF SAINT JOSEPH OF MEXICO. - On 19 Dec. 1872, in the city of Mexico, the priest Giuseppe M. Villaseca, a priest of the Congregation of the Mission, in agreement with his superiors and with the approval of Archbishop P. De la Bastida y Davalos, opened a college to provide good priests for the archdiocese and to serve as the cradle of an institute of missionaries, who later received the title of M. di S. G.
As these young priests left the college, they founded new houses for the education of youth and to provide them with suitable instruction. As the number of houses increased, Villaseca encountered serious difficulties and, in full agreement with his superiors, left the Congregation and gave stable foundation and development to his institution. On 26 Nov. 1884 the first 12 missionaries made their religious profession in his hands. On 20 Aug. 1897 he obtained from the Holy See the decree of praise, and on 14 Sept. 1911 definitive approval. At present the Institute has 14 houses, all in Mexico, with 124 religious, devoted, besides teaching, to parish ministry and preaching.