Every March 8, we commemorate International Women’s Day, a day that invites us to reflect on the achievements, challenges and importance of the role of women in society. At Hospitallers Sisters, on this significant date, we honor two women who were pioneers in the care and attention to the most needy: the Venerable María Josefa Recio and María Angustias Giménez, our founders, who represent the feminine face of hospitality.

In 1881, they founded, together with St. Benedict Menni, the congregation of the Hospitallers Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Their mission was aimed at helping women suffering from mental illness, thus facing abandonment and social exclusion. Maria Josefa and Maria Angustias were women committed to the merciful liberation of other women, demonstrating a true hospitaller vocation.

Pope Francis, speaking about the value and capacity of women, reminds us that “Women have the capacity to have three languages together: that of the mind, that of the heart and that of the hands. And she thinks what she feels, feels what she thinks and does, does what she feels and thinks”. At Hospitallers Sisters, we are inspired by these words, recognizing our mission to serve those who suffer with our hands, our minds and our hearts. Our work focuses on providing welcome, comprehensive assistance and specialized care to people facing mental illness, intellectual disabilities and other conditions, always prioritizing the most vulnerable and needy, following the example of our foundresses.

May our Mother Mary, the first Hospitaller, guide us on the path of hospitality, so that we may continue to accompany our brothers and sisters in their suffering and learn to discover the needs of others, even when they are not formulated.