The Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception began with a deep character of conventual and monastic life, inherited from the Franciscan spirit of the Apostolic Colleges propaganda Fide and transmitted by our founding Father, José del Refugio Morales Córdova.

Our first sisters, Sister María de Cristo Crucificado, Sor Juana Méndez de San Felipe Neri and Sister María del Refugio Maldonado de la Preciosa Sangre, following the testimony and apostolic inspiration of our founding Father, participated in these ideals and transmitted them to us. They, in an attitude of permanent conversion to God, dedicated themselves to restoring the Lord’s vineyard, destroyed by the religious persecution that was experienced in Mexico, serving the sick in hospitals and educating poor girls.

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He was born in Tlalmanalco, State of Mexico, on April 4, 1836. Son of Mr. José María Morales and Mrs. Carmen Córdova. At baptism he receives the name Isidoro.

In October 1849, at the age of 13 and a half, Isidoro entered the Order of Minor Friars as a donate at the Apostolic College of Pachuca, Hidalgo.

At the age of 15 he was admitted to the novitiate, receiving the name of José Del Refugio. On May 16, 1852, he finished his novitiate and made his profession of solemn vows at the age of 16. Later he studied Philosophy and Theology.

On July 8, 1860, he received the sacrament of priestly orders at the age of 24, making the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, closure and charity.

During her life she strove to be the perfect image of Jesus Christ, the same ideal that she instilled in her spiritual daughters, the Daughters of the Heart of Mary.

Finally, on April 13, 1894, he gave his soul to the Lord.

Sister María de la Luz Vázquez de Cristo Crucificado (NM Doloritas), was born on November 17, 1846, on the La Luz hacienda, jurisdiction of Hueyoltlipan in the state of Tlaxcala.

At the age of eight she was orphaned of father and mother. The ladies Guadalupe Matilde Izquierdo, her godmother at her baptism and confirmation, protected her and educated her in a Christian way in her own home, in the Federal District.

Miss Dolores, used to frequent the church of La Encarnación, and felt great veneration for the chaplain of the temple, RP Fray José del Refugio Morales Córdoba, whose virtues she tried to imitate; she used to confess to him and took him as spiritual director.

Seeing that his spiritual daughter was faithful to the grace of God and very prudent and discreet, Fray José del Refugio invited her to join the association of Daughters of Mary, already established in that church.

In 1874, Fray José del Refugio decided to put the holy habit on 5 ladies, changing their secular name to religious as a sign of their consecration and commitment, thus our Mother Doloritas received the name of Sister María de la Luz de Cristo Crucificado.

Mother Doloritas was a religious who led an uplifting life practicing all the virtues, especially charity, humility, obedience, mortification, patience and penance. She is a soul of prayer, she is a lover of the Eucharist and of silence. For everyone she had a word of affection, meekness and comfort.

Our Refugee Father named her superior of the nascent Congregation, a position that she retained for her great virtue and prudence until the end of her days.

On August 19, 1897, she died surrounded by her beloved daughters, who mourned her inconsolably and always remembered her as the generous and holy mother who, under the direction of Father José del Refugio, cooperated like no other in the founding of the Congregation. of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. She for which she is recognized as the Founding Mother.