Mary Aikenhead travelled with her first companion Alicia Walsh to the Bar Convent York for her initial formation in religious life, and to prepare for the founding of the congregation. From 1812 to August 1815, Mary and Alicia lived under the guidance of the Loreto Sisters whose own congregation was grounded in Ignatian spirituality.

As Mary grew in her knowledge and experience of the Spiritual Exercises, she became convinced that God was leading her to found the new congregation in the spirit and practice of the Exercises. The Loreto Sisters assisted Mary in drawing up a basic Rule, based on their Constitutions. Mary and Alicia took the new Rule to Dublin in August 1815.

On 9 December 1816, after receiving the official confirmation of their canonical status as a religious congregation and after completing the Spiritual Exercises under the guidance of Fr Peter Kenny SJ, Mary and Alicia made their perpetual profession.

In framing the new Constitutions, Mary collaborated with Father Robert St Leger SJ, keeping closely to those of St Ignatius for the first nine chapters. The Constitutions were approved by Pope Gregory XVI in 1833.

As young women began to join the congregation, Mary Aikenhead built their formation experience on the Spiritual Exercises, frequently reminding them of the great gift that God had bequeathed to them through the inspiration of St Ignatius of Loyola. They were to be contemplatives in action, seeking always to live in the presence of God, discerning God’s will and finding God in all things.