OUR HISTORY
The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception is a religious institute with pontifical right founded in Glasgow, Scotland in 1847 by Sr. Adelaide Vaast and Sr. Veronica Cordier. They both came from the Franciscan monastery of Our Lady of the Angel, Tourcoing, France with the aim of providing care and sound education to the children of Glasgow. Sister Veronica was left as the sole foundress after Sister Adelaide's premature death from cholera. Over the years, the institute spread to England, the Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Italy, the Republic of Kenya, the United States of America, and Barbados.
We live by the rule and life of the brothers and sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi. As sisters in the Franciscan penitential tradition, we commit ourselves to living out our vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and strive for a fuller expression of our baptismal call to conversion.
IN LIGHT OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
In 1854, Pope Pius IX approved our first constitution. It was, coincidentally, the same year as the proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thus, at the request of Pope Pius IX, the Franciscan and Marian spiritualities were joined and lived according to the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi. As a result, we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary as our special patroness, and we are known as Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.