Blessed Maria Clara of the Child Jesus
Foundress of
the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters
of the Immaculate Conception.![]()
Blessed Maria Clara of the Child Jesus (Libania) was born in a noble family on June 15, 1843 in Lisbon. Libania was the daughter of Nuno Tomas de Mascarenhas Galvão Mexia de Moura Teles e Albuquerque and Maria da Purificação Sa Ferreira.
Orphaned at the age of fourteen, Libania entered the boarding school and was later looked after by the Marchioness, a friend of her parents. Though she enjoyed the luxuries of life, the cry of those with nothing and with nobody, challenged her. To respond to this cry, she entered the Convent of St. Patrick and there she exchanged her luxurious dresses for a simple habit of a religious, receiving the name of Sr. Maria Clara of the Child Jesus. She was professed on April 14, 1871 at a solemn ceremony, presided over by Fr. Raimundo dos Anjos Beirão, who encouraged and directed her. Maria Clara assumed the office of Superior of all the Sisters who had pronounced their vows with her. Thus, on May 03, 1871 was born the Congregation of the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Poor for the Love of God which was later called the Portuguese Hospitaller Sisters and today is known as Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
Mother Clara was a woman of prayer, determination, kindness, humility, mercy and compassion. She gave herself totally and courageously, to make her life a gift of love, hope and comfort to all; especially to the sick, the elderly, the orphaned, the poor, the needy and the abandoned of society. While caring for their physical needs, she took care of their spiritual needs as well. Where there was someone in need of food, shelter, clothing, spiritual guidance, consolation or the Word of God, she reached out to them.
Her frequent exhortation, “Let us work with love and for love”, was a synthesis of her life. Charity was at the very core of her being. She was known as “A Sister to the poor – A face of the tenderness and mercy of God.”
She accepted with serenity and faith all the sufferings that she faced. She would say “Nothing happens in this world without Divine permission” or Accept everything as coming from the hands of God.”
Under the coordination, dynamism and initiative of the good Mother Clara, the Congregation was led to a rapid expansion in Portugal, further extending to Angola, Goa, Guinea and Cabo Verde.
On December 01, 1899 at the age of 56, God called Mother Clara to receive her eternal reward. Mother Clara died, but she continues to live in the heart of all the Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters, spread throughout the following countries:
Portugal, Angola, São Tome, Guinea, Italy, India, Philippines, East Timor, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Mozambique, Spain, United States of America and Mexico,
Mother Clara was beatified on May 21, 2011.
The Sisters first came to the United States in 1960, in the State of California, in the Diocese of San Jose to render their services in the field of education and then spread to different Dioceses in California. At present the sisters are involved in pastoral Ministry, Religious education, caring for the elderly, the sick and rendering service to the developmentally disabled.
In June 2018 the Sisters will be celebrating the 175th Birth Anniversary of their Foundress, Blessed Maria Clara. This Jubilee Celebration for California region will be held on 23rd June 2018. The Eucharistic celebration will be at 10.00 a.m. at St. Joseph Parish, Los Banos, presided by the Most Rev. Armando X. Ochoa, Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno; followed by a reception at New Bethany Auditorium, 1441 Berkeley Drive, Los Banos. All are cordially invited to join us at this Jubilee Celebration of thanksgiving. May God’s abundant blessings be upon all of us through the intercession of Blessed Maria Clara, a woman of great faith, who impels us to go forward and do good where there is good to be done.
Sr. Mary Augustine FHIC
