Founded in 1912, the Maryknoll Sisters were the first group of Catholic Sisters in the United States to devote their lives in service overseas. Today, we come from diverse cultural backgrounds, serving in a variety of fields including medicine, communications, education, agriculture, social services and spiritual formation.

Maryknoll Sisters come from 29 countries and serve in 25 lands around the world. We make a difference in such areas as parish and church communities, adult education, feeding the hungry, leadership training, teaching English in China and other places, fostering income-generating projects for families and communities, and working with people who live with HIV/AIDS and other world health problems.

Maryknoll is a U.S.-based, Catholic mission movement with three branches: the Maryknoll Society (Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers), Maryknoll Congregation (Maryknoll Sisters), and the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Each branch is separately funded and depends on its unique donors for support.