Josefa Campos Talamanes

In 1909, Josefa founded the Association of Catechists of the Virgin of Sorrows in Alaquàs to instruct marginalized young girls. In 1914, the Archbishop of Valencia, Mgr Victoriano Guisasola y Menéndez, approved the institute as a Pious Union and appointed the Venerable José Bau Burguet as spiritual director. On April 14, 1925, the association became a religious congregation of diocesan right. Despite the interruption due to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the congregation developed with numerous catechetical centers and a boarding school in Alaquàs. Today, the Working Catechists are present in Spain, Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Indonesia.

The reputation for holiness of Mother Josefa Campos led to the opening of a diocesan informative process in 1963 by the Archbishop of Valencia. An additional process was conducted between 1983 and 1985. The validity of these inquiries was recognized by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on February 12, 1986. After examination of the Positio, Pope John Paul II signed the decree recognizing the heroic nature of her virtues on December 21, 1998, conferring upon her the title of Venerable.

Mother Josefa Campos was declared Venerable on December 21, 1998, by Pope John Paul II. On November 24, 2016, the Alaquàs city council unanimously declared her a posthumous "Favorite Daughter" (Hija Predilecta) of her hometown. Her mortal remains, initially interred in the Alaquàs cemetery, were transferred on November 6, 1955, to the chapel of the congregation's Mother House in Alaquàs.

The spirituality of Josefa Campos is based on union with the Passion of Christ and the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. Her educational motto was "Toma al niño y nútrelo para mí" (Take this child and nurse it for me). She advocated humility and trust in Divine Providence ("Tuya es la obra Señor"). Her charity was expressed through gestures of peace towards her detractors. Her legacy continues today through the Colegio Madre Josefa Campos in Alaquàs.