The history of the Sacred Heart in Peru began 150 years ago, when Mother Adèle Lehon responded to the requests of numerous Peruvian families who wanted an education for their daughters inspired by the charism of Saint Madeleine Sophie. Added to this was a request from the President of the Republic, Manuel Pardo, who sought to entrust the training of elementary school teachers to the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, already recognized for their work in teacher-training colleges in various countries.
On May 13, 1876, sent by Mother Anne du Rousiers, Vicar of Chile, the first three RSCJ sisters destined for Peru disembarked in Callao: Enriqueta Purroy, from Venezuela; Enriqueta Fioretti, from Italy; and Mercedes Tapia, from Chile. Their arrival marked the beginning of a mission that would soon take root. Just two months later, on July 27, 1876, the Supreme Decree was issued that officially established the Normal School for Teachers, an institution that, from its earliest years, welcomed young women from nearly every part of the country. The first 16 students represented 15 departments of Peru, a clear sign of the breadth of the educational mission that was beginning.
While the government rebuilt the old cloister of San Pedro, the sisters temporarily settled on Los Sauces Street, where the Boarding School—now known as the Sophianum School—began. In March 1878, both the Boarding School and the Normal School moved to the renovated San Pedro facility, which became an iconic site for the education of Peruvian women.
In the following years, the Sacred Heart’s presence also took root in South America, and the two regions came to rely on one another. Initially, Peru was part of the Vicariate of South America, along with Chile and later Argentina. However, between 1902 and 1908, due to various political circumstances, it became part of the Vicariate of Mexico, which included Cuba, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
Leon de Andrade – Sophianum 1942
Monterrico antes y hoy
Religious life also grew stronger over time. In 1880, the first student from the boarding school entered the Congregation. Beginning in 1888, Peruvian novices underwent their formation in Chile; in 1957, the novitiate moved to Manizales, Colombia; and in 1960, Peru opened its own novitiate in El Chalet. After another period in Colombia beginning in 1965, the novitiate returned permanently to the country in 1978. More recently, in 2012, the experience of the interprovincial novitiate in Chile revitalized the Province’s international character and opened paths to interculturality that continue to shape the life of the Province today.
The Educational Mission Today
Over the course of more than a century, the Sacred Heart’s educational mission in Peru has diversified and grown stronger. Today we support ten educational institutions, mostly public schools operating under a partnership agreement, which enable us to offer quality public education to low-income communities. Two of these schools are private, and we also have a women’s university, which carries on the Congregation’s educational tradition.
Our presence spans four regions of the country: Lima, Trujillo (La Libertad), Bambamarca and Jaén (Cajamarca), and Layo (Cusco).
LAYO, CUZCO
LAYO, CUZCO
LAYO, CUZCO
I.E. CHALET
I.E. Madre Admirable – EL Agustino
I.E. Madre Admirable – EL Agustino
I.E. Sophianum
Escuela Pedagógica Pública Monterrico
We carry out our educational mission in various forms and at different levels, always in collaboration with our fellow missionaries. We support programs in:
- Regular Basic Education: early childhood, elementary, and secondary.
- Special Basic Education, for students with disabilities.
- Alternative Basic Education, aimed at youth and adults who were unable to complete their studies.
- Technical and Vocational Education Centers, focused on job training for youth and adults.
- Higher Education Institutions, which continue the pedagogical tradition of the Sacred Heart.
These programs are designed for girls, boys, adolescents, young people, and adults, especially those from low-income communities and rural areas. They seek to promote dignity, justice, solidarity, and the care of life in all its forms. The participation of our fellow missionaries has profoundly enriched this work, expanding the reach of our charism and strengthening the Sacred Heart’s educational identity.
A New Chapter: the Rosa Filipina Sur Province
Today, after 150 years of presence in the country, and in communion with those who share our mission, the Province embarks with gratitude, courage, and confidence on the path opened by the New Rosa Filipina Sur Province—a time that invites us to renew our hope and continue to commit to an education that transforms lives. And, as Sofía used to say, we continue to believe that: “Our work has a multiplying effect; our alumnae will complete the work the Lord has entrusted to us and will bear witness in many places we cannot reach.”
We are living through our Jubilee Year, in which we celebrate the Congregation’s presence in Peru. The first institutions founded—the Monterrico Public School of Higher Pedagogical Education and the Sophianum School—are commemorating their sesquicentennial, and the entire Sacred Heart family is coming together to celebrate this event in various ways at each of our mission sites.
Three major activities bring us together as a Province during this Jubilee year. First, the spiritual journey, which unfolds throughout the year and is shared by our mission partners alongside the RSCJs. Second, on September 26-27. 2026, the Youth Gathering with the theme “150 Years Beating… Youth Who Humanize Reality,” aimed at adolescents aged 15 to 18; and the Higher Education Youth Gathering, for students aged 18 and older, who will reflect on the theme “150 Years Transforming Education: Sophia’s Legacy in Peru.”
Finally, we will close this jubilee year with a Thanksgiving Mass on November 20, 2026 to celebrate the journey we have taken and the shared mission over these 150 years in Peru.
Section |History|International News
Province |Peru|Rosa Filipina Sur
