MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS

Get to know Marguerite Bourgeoys, a pioneer woman who lived an exceptional life. She arrived in Montreal in 1653 and founded Montreal's first school in 1658. As early as 1655, she began to work on her dream of building a chapel of pilgrimage, a dream realized in 1675 when Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel opened. She also founded the Congrégation de Notre-Dame to continue and ensure her educational mission. Recognized by all as the "mother of the colony", she was canonized in 1982. Today the tomb of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys can be found at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel... Marguerite was born in 1620 in Troyes, located in the Champagne region of France. At the age of 20, she underwent profound change in herself following a church procession and later abandoned the frivolities of life. By the time she met Monsieur de Maisonneuve, her leadership qualities and her ability to gather people around a common cause were highly recognized.

Primary location: Champ United States