POOR SISTERS OF THE SCHOOLS OF OUR LADY (BUDWEIS). - Fr Gabriele Schneider, chaplain of Hirschau (diocese of Budweis in Bohemia), around 1848 conceived the idea of introducing into his homeland one of the various congregations of religious women approved by the Church.
His choice fell upon the Sisters of the Schools of Notre Dame, founded by a Pietro Fourier. Schneider sent four young women to their convent in München, to be trained in religious life and then to transplant the said Congregation into their homeland. But the plan did not succeed; therefore, having recalled the four young women, he established, on the advice of the bishop, an autonomous community, which received diocesan canonical establishment and took the name of Poor Sisters of the Schools of Our Lady of Budweis.
The purpose of the Congregation is the education and instruction of young girls in schools, boarding schools, institutes for the deaf-mute, etc. As vocations increased, new houses were opened in other dioceses. On 13 Jan. 1896 they obtained the decree of praise, and final approval on 8 June 1903. In 1951 the sisters numbered 1,161 and the houses 132, distributed among 4 provinces.