The Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate branched off from the root congregation founded in the 16th century in Switzerland. Early in the 19th century, in answer to an earnest plea from a Bishop in Ecuador, our foundress, Blessed Mother Caritas Brader, with a small group of sisters left Switzerland arriving in Ecuador. Later on they settled in Colombia. There they flourished and grew into the present congregation of Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate. Their work spread throughout the regions of South, Central and North America. Today our Congregation has extended into 6 provinces present in many countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Cuba, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, U.S.A, Romania, Switzerland and Africa. St. Francis Convent was founded in Amarillo, Texas, on August 15, 1932. Today our Province of St. Francis of Assisi is serving the people of God in Los Angeles, CA, Amarillo,TX, Michoacan, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ocu, Panama and Africa — Mission Agentes.