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Notre-Dame du Bon-Conseil Historical Centre in Chicoutimi
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada

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Founding Mother Françoise Simard
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada

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… A place in which a presence emanates
Inspired by the Notre-Dame du Bon-Conseil Virgin, the Sisters actively participated in the development of our regional community.

…Founding Mother Françoise Simard
The submission of this woman to the Will of God made it possible for the Congregation to be formed and to develop over time. Her memory and example still and always guide the Sisters in their path and their actions.

… The Founder, Most Rev. Michel Thomas Labrecque
Conscious of the needs of the time and inspired by the Holy Spirit, he founded the congregation, allowing nearly a thousand women to become builders who contributed to the shaping of our society, with their hands and their faith.

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Cross
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada

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1st cross 1894 (upper left)
Most Rev. Michel-Thomas Labrecque proposed the bronze cross with the Holy Face of the "Adoration réparatrice" of Catholic nations association, represented in Rome and of which he had been director in Quebec City. The Sisters kept using the cross until was no longer being made.

2nd cross 1899 (upper right)
A cross of wood-inlayed nickel

3rd cross 1920 (lower left)
Christ on the cross
solid silver

4th cross 1964 (lower right)
Lightened cross, better adapted to the new habit.

5th cross, current (centre)
Quite smaller than the previous one, this cross recalls the infinite love of Jesus, Master of their lives, and suggestive of the "kind charity" professed by their spiritual father, giver of Love.

The four stars:
Remind us that the sisters' lives are dedicated to helping those who work towards the salvation of souls.

The shell:
At the centre of the cross, the silver shell recalls the charismatic reality òf the Congregation; as the shell lets itself be swayed by the waves, so the Sisters, like Jesus, are called to look for and follow willingly the Will of the Father.

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Object belonging to Most Rev. Michel Thomas Labrecque
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada

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…Where the walls have fascinating stories to tell.
The Historical Centre is a site to explore, a museum where thousands of discoveries are waiting for you. Imagine a place of knowledge, a place of silence and beauty that will charm all who are looking for peace and poetry.

…Where the objects reveal the lives that marked a moment in history.
It is a bit of our past that is unveiled inside the Centre. You will discover more than one hundred years of history in various forms: souvenirs gathered over the years, religious objects, relics, items made by the delicate fingers and creativity of the Sisters.

…By admiring the large collection of pictures, documents, and objects recuperated from the Chile and Africa missions, you will better understand the work that was accomplished by the Notre-Dame du Bon-Conseil Sisters.

... Where the collections show you the universal dimension of the missions.

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Notre-Dame du Bon-Conseil Historical Centre in Chicoutimi
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada

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A place of spiritual learning

… Where the Sisters continue their CHARISMATIC teaching.

For a long time, they played a major role in the field of education. Today, you can hear them recount the passionate world of teaching.

… Where they continue on that path.

Be it through their involvement in the regional community, their overseas missions, or the creation of the Centre, they continue to play an important educational role. In this vein, they open wide the doors of their residence and invite you to share their history, our history.

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Endeavour of Founding Mother Françoise Simard
2005
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada

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The Congregation maintained, through 110 years of history, the leitmotiv of Mother Françoise Simard, who required that the Sisters see to the integral education of their pupils on the intellectual, moral, and cultural levels.

It is written in our annals "It is possible that, on this side of the mountains that isolate us from the rest of Quebec, we did not let ourselves become uncultured blueberries" (the blueberry is the symbol of the region). The oratory arts, diction, good manners, etc... Is that where the reputation of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean as a breeding-ground for artists has its roots?

To retrace the 100 years of history of this group of women is also to retrace the evolution of public education in Quebec and Canada.