Society for the Propagation of the Faith

History
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith was founded in Lyons, France in 1822 by a young French laywoman, Pauline Jaricot, who felt called by the Lord to help the Catholic Church's worldwide missionary task. Pauline never traveled to the Missions, which, during her lifetime, consisted of the Missions in China and the young dioceses of the United States. Pauline gathered friends and workers in a family silk mill into "circles of ten," asking each person to pray daily for the Missions and sacrifice a penny-a-week (at that time, quite a large sacrifice!). From this idea emerged the Propagation of the Faith which today has become the basic means of support for the Catholic Missions of the world.

The Society of Saint Peter Apostle was founded in 1889 in Caen, France, by mother and daughter, Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, to educate priests in mission countries. Later, support for Religious Brothers and Sisters was included. The Missionary Union of Priests and Religious was founded in 1916 in Italy by Father Paolo Manna, to encourage members of the clergy and Religious to support the Missions through prayer and solidarity. The Holy Childhood Association was founded in 1843 by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson to help animate the young faithful to a universal missionary spirit.