USA
The Josephites came to California in August 1963 at the invitation of the Archbishop of Los Angeles, Cardinal McIntyre. The sister congregation of the Josephites, the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, had been working towards operating a co-educational High School and hearing of the interest on the part of the Josephites in England to expand, invited them to consider joining them. The first five Josephites who went to California were from Belgium (2) and England (3). They spent their first year in California working at Pius X High School in Downey, Los Angeles learning the American system of education. In 1964, St Joseph High School in Santa Maria opened with a first year (freshmen) class of only 50 students. For several years following the Josephites remained at both Pius X and St. Joseph's. It was not until 1991 that the Josephites left Pius X High School. In 1975 the Josephite community assumed the Pastoral care of the parish of St Louis de Montfort which is the Parish in which St. Joseph High School is located. Today the Josephites are still involved with the administration of St Joseph High School and look after the parish of St Louis de Montfort. Since 1988 the Josephites have been involved in the administration of Bishop Diego Garcia High School in Santa Barbara and, from 1998, they have also been responsible for the Holy Cross Parish in Santa Barbara.
