St. Rosa Venerini, M.P.V. (†1728) was a pioneer in the education of women and girls in 17th-century Italy and the foundress of the Religious Teachers Venerini (Italian: Maestre Pie Venerini), a Roman Catholic religious institute of women, often simply called the Venerini Sisters. The Sisters went to the United States in 1909, primarily to help the Italian immigrants to that country, establishing the first daycare centers in many cities of the Northeastern United States. They served in Switzerland from 1971 to 1985 and the congregation has since extended its apostolic activity to other lands: India, Brazil, Cameroon, Romania, Albania, Chile, Venezuela and Nigeria. Venerini was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on 15 October 2006. Her feast day is 7 May.