St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
"If it is the will of God, I shall want for nothing."
Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, in the province of Champagne in France, on April 17, 1620. At the age of thirty-three she made the perilous trip across the Atlantic in order to initiate an apostolate of education in Ville Marie, now the city of Montreal. Her pupils there were both Indian children and the children of the early French settlers. And quite revolutionary for that time - girls as well as boys.
Marguerite, a visionary and courageous woman, understood that a cloistered life which was the only religious life available to her at the time - while certainly holding a special place in the Church - did not fully imitate Mary's journeying life which began with her visitation to her cousin Elisabeth. She desired to create a community that reflected that spirit of the Visitaiton which Mary continued to practice at the wedding feast of Cana, at the foot of the cross and in the upper room. Marguerite actually named Our Lady the foundress and first superior of the CNDs. Hence, our school's dedication to "Notre Dame".
From the writings of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys:
It is she whom we regard as the foundress of this little company of women, who though they live in community, are not cloistered so that they may be sent for the instruction of girls to all the places judged suitable...It is, therefore, very reasonable that we commit ourselves to follow the way of life she led, the virtues she practiced, the work she carried on.
After 47 years of life dedicated to the service of God and her neighbor, Marguerite Bourgeoys died in Montreal on the 12th day of January in the year 1700. She was 80 years of age, and was already known as a person of eminent holiness. Marguerite Bourgeoys was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 31, 1982.
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