St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
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 native children and the children of the early French settlers. And quite revolutionary for that time - she taught girls as well as boys.
Even in those pioneer, frontier times Marguerite believed that education in the faith, in literacy and in the life skills were the most important building blocks for survival. She created a community that reflected that spirit of the Visitation of Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, to Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist.
Marguerite Bourgeoys died in Montreal on January 12th, 1700 after 47 years of life dedicated to the service of God and neighbors. She was 80 years old, an extraordinary age for that time. Marguerite Bourgeoys was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 31, 1982.
To fulfill the Vision of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
Notre Dame Academy embodies in the 21st Century the fundamental truths established by Marguerite in the 17th Century. Using education to instill faith-based values, life skills, and create agents of change within our community.