A congregation founded in 1821 by Père André Coindre, of the
Diocese of Lyons, France. Its constitutions were modeled upon
the constitutions of St. Ignatius based upon the Rule of Saint
Augustine. Its members bind themselves for life by the simple
vows of religion. There are no priests in the congregation, the
objective purpose of which is the Christian education of boys in
asylums, parochial and select schools, and commercial colleges.
The growth of the congregation was slow. At the period of its
origin the political condition of France was very unfavorable.
It was a day of political agitation and revolution. Lyons, the
cradle of the congregation, suffered sorely in these
revolutions. But a more hampering difficulty to its growth lay
in the ill-defined government imposed upon the congregation.
Père André Coindre was the superior-general and continued such
till his death in 1821. Père Vincent Coindre, his brother,
succeeded him in this office. In 1840 Père Coindre assembled the
general chapter of the congrega