FRANCISCANS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF LONS LE SAUNIER. – Founded in 1857 at Macorney by the priest Roland (1794–1865), a Franciscan tertiary, for the care of orphans, the sick in their homes, teaching, assistance to women workers, etc., they are spread throughout France, Belgium and, since 1876, Mesopotamia. Approved by the Holy See in 1913, they currently have 51 houses with 316 religious.
BIBL.: P. Norbert, Les religieuses franciscaines, Paris 1897, pp. 153–71; M. Heimbucher, Die Orden und Kongregationen der katholischen Kirche, II, 3rd ed., Paderborn 1934, p. 46. Cesario van Hulst