St. Marguerite d’Youville was the first native Canadian to be elevated to Sainthood. She was born October 15, 1701 in Varennes, Quebec. She was the eldest of six children born to Christophe Dufrost de Lajemmerais and Marie‐Renée Gaultier. Her father died when she was seven years old, leaving this family of six in great poverty. It was only through the influence of her great grandfather, Pierre Boucher, that she was able to study for two years at the Ursulines in Quebec. Upon her return home, she became an invaluable support to her mother and undertook the education of her brothers and sisters. She founded the Order of Sisters of Charity of Montreal, commonly known as the Grey Nuns of Montreal. St. Marguerite always fought for the rights of the poor and broke with the social conventions of her day. She persevered in caring for the poor, despite many obstacles. In 1959, she was beatified by Pope John XXIII, who called her “Mother of Universal Charity”, and was canonized in 1990 by Pope John Paul II. Each year, her Feast Day is celebrated on October 16.
We will celebrate Thanksgiving and the Feast Day of St. Marguerite d’Youville with a school Mass lead by our Grade 4 and 5 French Immersion Teachers, Ms. Ricci and Mme. Talamo, students and Father Peter, on Thursday, October 17, at 10:45 a.m. Parents/Guardians are welcomed to join us.