Our Community
History
Our Crest :
- Cross : All our love for Jesus Christ
- Irises : Chastity and purity
- Blue background : Sky and the Virgin Mary
- Heart of Jesus : Charity and the sacred heart
- Thorns : Death and passion of Jesus
- Letter M and crown : Virgin Mary, Our Queen and Patron Saint
- Anchor : Hope
Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary
Creation in Turin, Italy
The Community of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary was formed in 1871 under the aegis of Mother Marie Louise Clarac (1817-1887), in Turin, Italy. A woman with remarkable faith and a strong missionary spirit, Mother Marie Clarac was attuned to the needs of the Church. Her solid Christian values were complemented by her ability to constantly adapt to an ever-changing society. It is these values and her spirit of openness upon which the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary was founded.
The community belongs to a religious family whose apostolic life, in keeping with the writings of the Gospel and the mission of the Apostles, is centered on charity toward those who are most in need, particularly the young, the elderly and the sick.
Establishment in Montreal
September 1949 to May 1954
Sister Anselme Marie Parisotto arrived in Quebec on September 18, 1949, with nine other Italian sisters associated with the Marist Brothers. Inspired by their teachings and driven by her own faith and vitality, Sister Anselme Marie and her fellow sisters acquired two properties in Montréal-Nord, on Gouin Boulevard, for the purpose of creating a school. In the summer of 1954, they also established a summer camp. By the end of the year, the Community was staffed by 19 sisters. This marked the beginning of the involvement of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary in Canada.
Ongoing achievements
1954-1984
The Sisters of Charity launched a number of charitable endeavours in Canada, including several institutions in Montreal. Here are some of the highlights of three decades of concerted efforts by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary :
1954
Acquisition of a property and opening of the École maternelle Marie-Clarac and boarding school.
Initiation of the first Canadian postulant, Sister Louise Beaulac, into the Congregation.
1955
Inauguration of the École primaire Marie-Clarac.
1956
Acquisition of a property in Saint-Donat for the purpose of establishing a summer camp.
1957
Opening of the summer camp.
1958
Opening of the École secondaire Marie-Clarac.
1960
Welcoming of new French Canadian postulants and Italian sisters.
1963
Start of construction of the Institut Marie-Clarac, featuring a school, hospital and chapel, in addition to the sisters’ residence.
1964
Enrolment of nearly 360 primary and secondary students at École Marie-Clarac (this number had risen to nearly 700 a few years afterward).
1965
Inauguration of Hôpital Marie-Clarac, with 204 beds for patients requiring convalescent and rehabilitation care.
1968
December 27: Opening of the Angelica seniors’ residence.
1970
Establishment of the Canadian delegation, led by Sister Anselme Marie.
1972
May 1: Arrival of the first tenants to Les Cascades seniors’ residence.
1984
Opening of L’Étoile du Nord, a seniors’ holiday centre.
From Montreal to the rest of the world
In keeping with our desire to spread our charitable spirit beyond our own borders, we started up our first mission in Mexico in 1983. Since then, we have established operations in several other countries, including the United States, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.
Click here to read more about our charitable works.