PICCOLE SUORE DEI POVERI DI MAIQUETIA. – Founded in 1889 by Fr. G. Machado (Archdiocese of Caracas) and Sister Emilia of St Joseph.
Purpose: the care and assistance of the sick and the poor in hospitals, orphanages, and other charitable institutions. On 4 January 1902 it obtained the decree of praise. In the following years the Institute experienced a serious internal crisis, from which, however, it recovered, and it soon spread to very many dioceses of Latin America. On 17 June 1931 the Constitutions were approved ad septennium and definitively on 18 February 1941. At present they have 16 houses, with 220 sisters.
BIBL.: Archivio della S. Congr. dei Religiosi, C. 48.
Giulio Mandelli