1

A work of education
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


2

In honour of Mother Françoise Simard, Founder who, along with her girls, fearlessly took up the challenge given them: to bring hope and knowledge to the ends of a developing realm!

3

First novices
1894
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


4

Founding Mother with her first novices.
1908 photo

Yes, the young congregation, established in 1894, had to carve its own place alongside large communities like those of the Soeurs du Bon-Pasteur, Ursulines, Frères Maristes, Frères de l'Instruction Chrétienne, and Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes

5

Map of the province of Quebec and Saguenay region
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


6

Together, we built this "true country", the realm that is the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region

7

Regional map and Most Rev. Dominique Racine
1827
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


8

In 1892, the Chicoutimi diocese was comprised of the Saguenay region, the city of Chicoutimi, the Charlevoix region, the Lac-Saint-Jean region; an immense territory to which was added the St. Lawrence prefecture. This prefecture had 255 leagues of coastline, from the St. Lawrence Gulf to Labrador, including Anticosti Island. Some of the areas to be serviced were separated by 12 to 15 km of mountain terrain with no trails.

9

Most Rev. Michel-Thomas Labrecque
1892
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


10

The financial situation of the diocese was extremely difficult.

Such was the vast territory bequeathed to the third Bishop of Chicoutimi in 1892, Most Rev. Michel-Thomas Labrecque.

(Most Rev. Michel-Thomas Labrecque was born on December 30, 1849 in the modest village of Saint-Anselme de Dorchester and was baptised on January 1, 1850. He was named Bishop of Chicoutimi on April 18, 1894.)

11

1827 Map of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


12

Realization of a dream: a new community

The Bishop's first visit to his diocese, as vast as an entire country, made him see the true situation; with so few educators to instruct the colonist's children and a population that drowned their sorrows with alcohol every Sunday, the minister had to face reality.

A community, a new one, would follow the colonists' road and the Sisters would lead the fight against ignorance wherever the need may be.

13

Notre-Dame du Bon-Conseil icon
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


14

(Miraculous icon in the name of Notre-Dame du Bon-Conseil.)

During a trip to Rome, Most Rev. Michel-Thomas Labrecque was much impressed by the miracle of this icon and named the new congregation after it.