Career
Catherine Gerosa was a native of Lovere, Lombardy, who had lost her family members in rapid succession and was left alone to manage the family business. She prayed constantly to accept the will of the Lord in her life, and used her family’s money to provide charitable works in the community. Catherine became involved in her parish, organizing a women's oratory with meetings and retreats.
She founded a practical school to teach the poor girls of the community domestic work so as to improve their station in life.
When she was 40 years old, she met Bartolomea, who ran a school, through he sodality of Our Lady, to which they both belonged. Together, they founded the order because of their concern over the ignorance and neglect of the people of their area which they saw.
Vincenza would continue with the order several years after Bartholomea died in 1833. Although originally intended to work in Lovere, appeals for assistance from other localities resulted in additional houses in Bergamo, Milan, Venice, Roveredo, and Arco, in the Tyrol, as well as small towns in Lombardy.
The Congregation received Papal approval in 1841.
Vincenza herself died in 1847. Vincenza"s feast day is celebrated on 28 June.
