The Congregation of the Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was founded on May 31, 1881, in Ciempozuelos, Madrid (Spain), by Saint Benito Menni, a priest of the Order of Saint John of God, together with María Josefa Recio and María Angustias Giménez.
Open to the Spirit, they were chosen by God to respond to the situation of medical neglect and social exclusion faced by women with mental illness at the time.
Two guiding principles shaped the beginnings and continue to be fundamental in the practice of hospitality: charity and science.
Benito Menni, María Josefa Recio, María Angustias Giménez, and an initial group of eight sisters devoted themselves to addressing the needs of an underserved sector of society: women with mental illness. In this way, they offered the feminine face of hospitality.
The lack of means, financial resources, and healthcare facilities could only be compensated by the generous dedication of the sisters and the invaluable support of collaborators, benefactors, and volunteers.
1881
Founded in Ciempozuelos, Madrid.
1892
Approval of the Congregation as an Institute of Pontifical Right.
1908
Final approval of the Constitutions.
1950 - 1970
International expansion.
2000
Innovation in mental health and disability care.
Today
Nearly 800 sisters and thousands of professionals, volunteers, and collaborators worldwide.
We are a Catholic religious congregation, international and missionary, born from the Gospel and at the service of people. For more than 140 years, the Hospitaller Sisters have worked to care for the health, dignity, and lives of those who need it most, combining science, faith, and compassion. Our mission spans four continents, with centers, hospitals, and communities united by a single spirit: hospitality brought to life.
