[1] The sisters dedicate themselves to teaching, charities and are present on four continents: Europe (Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Hungary); America (Brazil and Mexico); Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Asia (China and Vietnam) with its headquarters in Rome.

[2][3][4][5] The congregation was founded by Peter Fourier (1564-1640) who in 1597 entrusted the Mattaincourt school to a small community of women headed by Alix Le Clerc (1576-1622).

The Cardinal of Lorraine approved the institute on December 8, 1603 and authorized the nuns to settle in the Trois-Évêchés.

[8] The papal bull of August 8, 1628 of Pope Urban VIII authorizes the Notre-Dame congregation and recognizes in its members the solemn vow of teaching.

The congregation was not recognized as an apostolic order until three centuries after its foundation at the time of Vatican Council II.