The crisis of religious and priestly vocations that hit Europe in the last decades of the last millennium also led to the downsizing of the Doctrinaries: the schools of Varallo Sesia, Borgosesia, Sanremo and Vigevano were closed, the presence in Italy, apart from the reality of the Edizioni Dottrinari, was concentrated on the parish apostolate.
The General Chapter of 1994 defined the closure of the Roman and Piedmontese Provinces, and gave life to the only Italian Province, which also includes the community of Cavaillon-Cheval Blanc.
On July 9, 1997, the Italian Provincial Chapter, under the guidance of Father Luciano Mascarin, Piedmontese Superior, approved a “Motion” on the mission ad gentes which states: «The Chapter is of the opinion that the missionary initiative, desired and supported by the last General Chapter, followed in person by the Superior General, should continue».
In 2006, the presence in Burundi began, in Bujumbura. Father Luciano Mascarin, after twelve years of service as Superior General, during which he personally followed the contacts with the Burundian bishops and initiated these missionary experiences, with great generosity, made himself available, together with the first Burundian religious Venant Ntahonkirije, Nicolas Banikwa, Charles Bitariho and Joseph Mpitabavuma, to start the presence of the Doctrinaries in Burundi. The Fathers, in addition to the formation house, accepted the management of pastoral activity in a peripheral neighborhood of Bujumbura, Ruziba.
In Burundi, today, in addition to the Novitiate house and the Theological Studentate, the fathers dedicate themselves to the priestly ministry and preaching and the bishop has entrusted them with parishes. On September 3, 2024, the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Katoke, Biharamulo, diocese of Rulenge-Ngara, in Tanzania, was entrusted to the Burundian Doctrinaries by Bishop Monsignor Severine Niwemugizi. On the border with Burundi.