POOR SISTERS OF THE SCHOOLS OF OUR LADY (BUDWEIS). – Rev. Gabriele Schneider, chaplain of Hirschau (diocese of Budweis in Bohemia), around 1848 thought of introducing into his homeland a congregation of religious women from among those approved by the Church.
The choice fell upon that of the Sisters of the Schools of Notre Dame, founded by St. Peter Fourier. Schneider sent four young women to their monastery in Munich to train for religious life and then transplant the said Congregation to their homeland. But the plan did not succeed; therefore, after recalling the four young women, he established, at the bishop’s advice, an autonomous family, which received diocesan canonical institution and assumed 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 and mute, etc. As vocations multiplied, new houses were opened in other dioceses. On 13 January 1896 they obtained the decree of praise, and definitive approval on 8 June 1903. In 1951 the sisters numbered 1,161 and the houses 132, distributed in 4 provinces.