Following Vatican Council II, the sisters in the Polish Province formed a group of laywomen, known as the Daughters of Mary, who shared in the apostolic ministry of the sisters. In 1969 they shared information about their experiment during the first session of the General Chapter. The following year, during the second session of the Chapter, the delegates accepted the concept of affiliation. The congregation thus allowed for further study of this proposal to admit Catholic laywomen in a formal relationship in the congregation. In 1974 the St. Louis Province presented a formal proposal which the 15th General Chapter approve.

Associates From Japan

The first associates were received in 1976 in the St. Louis Province.

The first interprovincial gathering of associate directors and associates took place in St. Louis in April 1990. Since then there have been meetings of one kind or other involving associates and/or directors each year. In July 1995, eight associate directors and seven associates from the North American provinces came together in Bird Island, Minnesota to work on common guidelines for associates in the North American Major Area (NAMA). This task was assigned to the SSND Executive Committee and was completed in 1996.

The associate movement continues to grow and develop in the North American Major
Area. The regions of Guam and Japan have associates.

Province/Region Year
St. Louis 1976
Mankato 1978
Canada 1983
Dallas 1986
Chicago 1987
Milwaukee 1987
Baltimore 1990
Wilton 1991
Japan 1993
Guam 1998

Photo of Associates from Japan.