Milestones: Our History

Key Historical Moments of our Congregation

1823
Foundation of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary at Marseilles (France) under the direction of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate for the education of young girls of the working class. Twenty years later our Congregation adopted its Rule.

1843 October 28
Foundation of our Congregation at Longueuil. It is "to give religious education to the poorest and most abandoned children". (Chronicles, 1850).

1844 December 8
Canonical erection of our Congregation by Bishop Ignace Bourget, Bishop of Montreal, during the pontificate of Gregory XVI.

1845 March 17
Civil incorporation of the Community of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary for the instruction and education of youth.

1846 August 15
Profession of perpetual vows by the three foundresses: Sisters Marie-Rose, Marie-Agnes and Marie-Madeleine, along with Sisters Veronica of the Crucifix and Therese-de-Jesus.

1846 November 3
Foundation of our first mission, in Beloeil.

1849 October 6
Death of Mother Marie-Rose.
At that time, six years after the foundation, thirty Sisters are teaching three hundred eighty-eight students in four schools.

1854 June 23
Reception of the first printed copies of our Rule.

1854 October 7
The seal of the Community is adopted.

1859
Our first distant mission is founded in Oregon. Missions established later: Ontario (1864), New York (1865), California (1868), Manitoba (1874).

1860
Inauguration of Hochelaga Convent, second Motherhouse, Montreal, Quebec.

1877 September 4
Definitive approbation of our Institute by Pope Pius IX.

1901 June 26
Definitive approbation of our Constitutions by Pope Leo XIII.

1925
Inauguration of the third Motherhouse, Outremont, Quebec

1931-1975
The congregation spreads beyond North America:
Basutoland (1931), Japan (1931-1940), Brazil (1962),
Peru (1962), Cameroun (1970-1972), Haiti (1975).

First Missionnaries in Lesotho (Basutoland), 1931
Africa