In 1871, Bishop Dubuis petitioned Mother St. Claire in Victoria for Sisters for a foundation of the Order in Corpus Christi, Texas. Sisters St. Paul Goux, Mary of the Cross Murray, and Mary Stanislaus from Victoria, and Sister Ignatius McKeon from Brownsville made up the new community, founded on March 2, 1871. The Sisters' first home was in a dilapidated house, devoid of all comfort. The poverty of the first years was overcome by careful management, hard work, and help from friends and benefactors. They were able to begin classes only because Fr. St. John gave up his residence for a school. The community grew slowly and steadily as the Sisters ministered in the field of education.

In 1915, the Sisters were dispensed from the cloister so that they could pursue teacher training and take on other ministries. The Sisters then set up the first parochial schools in Corpus Christi. The first Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi opened just two weeks after the Sisters arrived in the city. Soon, a free Spanish school was established as well, with tuition from the English school supporting both establishments. In 1923 and 1924 the Sisters opened schools in nearby towns of Robstown, Rockport, Sinton, Vattman and Beeville.

From its beginning in the New World, the community was multi-ethnic. The first New World postulant to become a professed sister in Brownsville was Rosa Solis from Port Isabel, Texas. And the first postulant in Corpus Christi was Caroline Eichmann from Cotula, Texas. Within 20 years there were Sisters from the U.S., France, Mexico and Ireland speaking English, Spanish and French.

The great depression in America in 1929 took its toll on the communities. Food was often scarce, and school tuition often went unpaid. In 1932, because of financial need, the Brownsville and Corpus Christi communities merged, with the new community numbering ninety-one Sisters, and with the administration in Corpus Christi.

Today the Sisters minister in schools, diocesan offices, religious education, parishes, hospitals, and retreats. For eight years some of the Sisters taught in a diocesan high school in Nakuru, Kenya in East Africa with Sisters from the Generalate in México City. Today the Sisters live and work in cities throughout Texas, including: Corpus Christi, Rockport, Laredo, Brownsville, Harlingen, Edinburg, Beaumont, and Houston.