LITTLE SERVANTS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. - In 1850, in western Poland, Edmondo Bojanowski gathered several pious women in one of his houses and entrusted to them the care of orphans. The Archbishop of Gniezno and Posen granted them three-year vows, outlined a rule of life for them and, after a period of probation, gave them a Superior and their own Constitutions.
In 1860 they were called to Galicia, to Premislia; but the new foundation, owing to political requirements, had to become independent of the motherhouse, which remained in territory subject to Prussia. Thus arose the Institute of the P. S. dell'I. C., which received the decree of praise on 22 February 1904, the temporary approval of the Constitutions on 9 December 1930, and definitive approval on 21 May 1940. The purpose of the Institute is to promote Christian life among young people and to care for the sick and the disabled; accordingly, the Sisters maintain homes, orphanages, schools, workshops, associations, and the like. In 1940 there were 1,315 Sisters and 92 novices, and they had 306 houses scattered throughout 15 dioceses.