Followers of the Congregation of Missionaries of Education founded by Santa Carmen Sallés y Barangueras in Burgos, Spain, with the mission of evangelizing through education.
Direct collaborators of M. Carmen Sallés.
The first two Superiors General made a progressive congregational continuity possible
M. Providencia Esquíroz and Íñigo (1911 - 1919)
A student of M. Carmen since she was ten years old, she was elected his successor at the age of 30, at the First General Chapter. In 1912 she began the foundations of Italy (which did not prosper) and Brazil, where she left three houses open. In 1917 promoted the celebration of the Institute's Silver Jubilee.
M. Lourdes Alonso Martínez (1919 - 1932)
She was one of the first nuns. From a very young age he collaborated with the Founding Mother in Government tasks. She worked with special commitment to approve the Institute and its Constitutions, for which purpose she traveled to Rome in 1925. She visited the houses of Brazil twice, from where she returned to Spain very ill in 1931, when the Second Republic was proclaimed. He passed away a few months later.
Deep social and ecclesial transformations marked the following two stages in the government of the Institute:
M. Piedad Espinal and Íñigo (1933 - 1958)
Tuvo que afrontar dos guerras: la civil española (1936 – 1939) y la Segunda Guerra Mundial (1939 – 1945) en que el Brasil particípó como país beligerante. En medio de las dificultades de la posguerra española, alentó la celebración de las Bodas de Oro y se ocupó en dos procesos, pese a sendos extravíos de documentos: la Beatificación de M. Carmen y la aprobación definitiva de las Constituciones y del Instituto, alcanzada el Año Mariano de 1954. Llevó la Congregación al Japón y a Venezuela. En 1958, al ser una vez más reelegida para el cargo de Superiora General, presentó su renuncia al Capítulo, por entender que no estaba en la mente de la Iglesia un gobierno tan prolongado.
M. Regina Arias Pedroarena (1958 - 1970)
Her ardent vocation as an educator and her vision for the future led her to promote the introduction of the baccalaureate in the schools of Spain, in 1925. And, later, the residences for young university students. He brought the Conceptionist presence to the United States and made M. Carmen's wish for a home in Rome come true. The firmness and strength of his character was key in the congregation as his stage of government coincided with the preparation and development of the Second Vatican Council and with the first steps of its application.
In the post-Vatican II period, the Congregation deepens its charismatic roots and renews its missionary impulse:
M. Catalina Ruiz de Elvira y Mira (1970 - 1976)
He approached the difficult period of post-conciliar aggiornamiento with a spirit of cordiality, openness and understanding. He maintained and encouraged a positive attitude towards the decline in vocations and the beginning of a stage of greater difficulties in teaching. In both situations, he promoted attitudes of faith and effective responses, through greater specialization in teaching and pastoral care. The conceptionist presence in Africa began: Republic of the Congo; and in some countries of America: Peru (which did not prosper) and the Dominican Republic.
M. Natividad Osúa Díez (1976 - 1982)
In the same line of serene fidelity to the orientations of the Church, he summoned in the Congregation a year of thanksgiving on the 25th anniversary of the definitive approval of the Institute and the Constitutions; and encouraged the work of its revision and adaptation to the orientations of the Council. He maintained the missionary openness to the African continent, initiating the mission of Equatorial Guinea. His many trips attest to his determination to maintain personal attention in dealing with the nuns.
M. Carmen Bernal (1982 – 1988)
Her love for the Congregation and its Founder led her to promote studies on M. Carmen Sallés and to promote the second stage of her Beatification Process. In his generalate, the revision of our legislation was completed, with the pontifical approval of the Board of Directors. He brought the Conceptionist presence to South Korea and the Philippines. She herself became the bearer of that presence, through frequent information about her encounters with the sisters from different countries.
M. María Mateu Viñas (1988 - 2000)
Two ephemeris mark the two six-year terms to which his generalate was extended. In 1992, the celebration of the 1st Centenary of the Congregation and the Beatification of M. Carmen Sallés by Pope John Paul II on March 15, 1998. He brought the Congregation to Mexico. And thanks to his extraordinary capacity for work and reflection, he enriched our Spiritual Heritage with a list of circular letters of great theological and spiritual value.
M. María Luz Martínez Andrés (2000 - 2012)
A partir del año 2000, ha dado un fuerte impulso a la Misión de la Congregación en la Iglesia y en el Mundo. Estos son los principales puntos de su proyección apostólica:La Misión Compartida.-La puesta en marcha del Movimiento Laico Concepcionista.-La creación de la Fundación para el desarrollo “Siempre Adelante”.-Transformación de la Delegación de Estados Unidos en Delegación de América del Norte, con la incorporación de las casas de México.-Apertura de una casa en Cochín, Estado de Kérala, en la India-Revisión y renovación de las Constituciones y Directorio general.-Fundación en el Congo Brazzaville.-Fundación en Larantuka, en la isla de Flores en Indonesia.
At the XIV General Chapter held in Marcilla (Navarra, Spain), she was re-elected for the six-year period 2006 - 2012
M. Mª Isabel Moraza Herrán (2012 - 2018)
At the XV General Chapter, held during the month of July 2012 in San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid), M. Mª Isabel Moraza Herrán was elected Superior General for the six-year term (2012 - 2018).