Our Congregation Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca was established in 1938 by Mother Elisa Martinez. The foundation occurred at the southern end of Italy, in the shadow of a Marian Shrine called Sancta Maria de Finibus Terrae (St. Mary of the Earth's End). It is commonly known as the Madonna of Leuca, because the church is situated at the highest point over Cape Leuca where the Ionian and the Adriatic Seas come together.

In 1941 the local Italian bishop recognized the congregation by granting it Diocesan Jurisdiction. He requested our beloved foundress, Mother Elisa to take the title of "St. Mary of Leuca" for her daughters. Her growing community obtained the "Decree of Praise" in 1943, granting it a Pontifical Right.

Our simple rule of life is inspired by Christ's own life: to be poor, chase and obedient. By the exercise of our charism to care for the children and the needy, we have brought Christ's New Commandment to life. We dedicate ourselves totally to our brothers and sisters in need. We serve as social workers, nurses and teachers. We work in daycare centers, Montessori's schools, hospitals and nursing homes. A number of sisters assist in parish ministry.

A special characterestic of the Congregation is its devotion to Mary. In living our Religious consecration, Our Lady becomes our efficacious model, inspiring us to constantly seek union with God. From Mary, the handmaid of God, we learn the secret of interior life Nourished by the spirit of prayer we embrace the mystery of consecrated apostolate to serve with religious obedience.

Presently our Congregation has houses in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Canada, India and the Philippines. Our Mother House is in Rome.

Our presence here in Canada was marked by a humble origin. In 1949 in Hambly, Quebec. The first sisters, who came, began their ministry assisting in seminary life and in centers for the care of children. Later, we opened our two houses and daycare centers in Longueil, Montreal. And in 1970, Archbishop Pocock of Toronto invited us to the Archdiocese. We opened our house in Willowdale, operating a daycare center. Soon we were working at the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena on Danforth and later assisted in ministry of St. Lawrence Church, teaching catechism and Italian immigrants. Shortly afterwards we began working at Epiphany of our Lord Parish with the Italian community, animating the liturgical services and the choir, teaching catechism and bringing communion to the sick and the aged at St. Raphael's Nursing home (presently called Tender Care) towards the end of 1980 we moved to Markham, Ontario where at the same time assisting the parish of St. Thomas the Apostle and the Epiphany of our Lord Parish.

In 1991 One vocation from St. Therese Parish Courtice, Ontario joined the community. It brought us to open a convent and a daycare center in Courtice, Diocese of Peterborough.

Our Primary apostolate is the care of children. We welcome any child into our centers, regardless of race, colour and religion. Following the footsteps of our beloved foundress, who was inspired and filled with zeal to serve God through the little ones, we put into practice the teaching of Christ: "Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name, welcomes me". (Mt: 18:5).