Congregation of Sisters of Saint Anne

A Glance at our Heritage

January

2	1890	Death of our foundress, Blessed Marie Anne Blondin.
6	1903	Approval of our Constitutions by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII.
7	1890	First funeral in Saint Anne’s sanctuary : that of Mother Marie-Anne.
8	1965	Arrival of the first daughters of Mother Marie Anne in Chile.

February

13	1875	Approbation of the Constitutions by Bishop Bourget.
19	1861	Mother Marie Jeanne de Chantal signed the deed for the Simpson Manor ($8,000).
23	1894	Five sisters pronounced their vows as coadjutrices (lay sisters) in the Community.

March

1	1949	Mother Marie Leopoldine, general superior, received the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" gold cross.
10	1857	Bishop Bourget went to Vaudreuil to put a last touch to the Constitutions drawn up in 1851.
14	1863	Rome conferred the decree of praise on our Institute.
16	1955	Official opening of the diocesan information process at the cardinal’s residence in Montreal.
19	1984	Distribution of the revised Constitutions and Rules.
20	1851	The Bishop arrived in Vaudreuil to write the Holy Rules.
25	1857	Change of costume – each sister submitted to an investiture.

April

4	1869	Fourteen professed sisters and the white-veiled novices made a thirty-day retreat.
8	1858	The first four missionaries left Saint Jacques to go West.
10	1883	Sale of the "cradle of the community" in Vaudreuil for $3,000.
18	1809	Esther Sureau dit Blondin was born in Terrebonne.
27	1896	The first four provinces were erected in the community.
29	1888	The chapel and Simpson Manor were demolished.
29	2001	Pope John Paul II proclaimed our Venerable Mother Marie Anne Blondin: "Blessed".

May

1	1861	Arrival of the Sisters of Saint Anne in Lachine.
2	1884	Approval of our Institute by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII.
4	1861	Liturgical blessing of the residence of the Sisters in Lachine.
16	1945	Seal placed on the skeletal remains of Mother Marie Anne at the Motherhouse, Lachine.
21	1866	Baptism of Mary Smith, first convert of the Sisters of Saint Anne in Lachine.
24	1849	Bishop Bourget’s first visit to the little community in Vaudreuil.

June

5	1858	The first missionaries arrived at Vancouver after a two-month journey.
8	1885	Death of Bishop Bourget, Bishop of Montreal.
10	1894	Healing of Anne Paquin during the triduum for the installation of the relic of Good Saint Anne at the Lachine sanctuary.
20	1855	Mother Marie Anne vowed to recite daily the Office of the Immaculate Conception and to wear of the medal of the Virgin.
21	1938	Henceforth, Mount Saint Anne was to be called the Motherhouse and the building on Saint Joseph Street, the Convent.
25	1876	Solemn inauguration of Saint Joseph Hospital in Victoria.

July

12	1888	The Daughters of Saint Anne title was changed to that of Sisters of Saint Anne.
16	1903	The modified text of the decree of approval of the Constitutions came back from Rome.
19	1853	Death of Mrs. Fournier, recluse at our Vaudreuil convent.
20	1924	Blessing of the cemetery Calvary at the Lachine convent.
22	1900	Death of the pastor, Father Piché, during the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the Community.
23	1907	Blessing of the cornerstone of Mount Saint Anne.
26	1888	Blessing of the cornerstone of Saint Anne’s sanctuary in Lachine.
31	1937	Blessing of the cornerstone of our general infirmary in Lachine.

August

1	1849	First death in the Community : Emilie Forté a candidate who entered July 27.
3	1860	First general chapter of the Community.
5	1855	Mother Marie Anne promised to recite daily the little Office of Saint Anne.
6	1849	Opening of the retreat preached by Monsignor J.C. Prince for the first investiture.
15	1849	Nine postulants, including Esther Blondin, received the Holy Habit. Esther received the name of Sister Marie Anne.
19	1950	Permission was granted by Archbishop Paul Emile Léger to introduce the Cause of Mother Marie Anne in Rome.
22	1853	Departure of theVaudreuil community for Saint Jacques.
29	1961	Education congress in Lachine : "Le sens de Dieu".

September

1	1864	The general administration was established at the Simpson Manor in Lachine.
3	1851	Three sisters founded Saint Geneviève, second house of the Institute.
4	1969	Arrival of the daughters of Mother Marie Anne in Cameroon, Africa.
8	1850	In Vaudreuil, profession of the first five Sisters of Saint Anne.
10	1872	Mother Marie Anne was elected to the office of General Assistant.
13	1848	The novitiate officially opened its doors for the admission of seven candidates.
15	1848	Christine Blondin signed her contract as teacher of girls in the village of Vaudreuil.
17	1850	The pastor, Father Paul-Loup Archambault, paid the Intitute’s debt, a sum of about £1481 (pounds) and 4d (sols).
18	1944	The daughters of Mother Marie Anne left for Saint Louis du Sud, in Haïti, to establish the first mission in Haiti.
24	1867	Daughters of Mother Marie Anne arrived in Oswego, N.Y., first house in the United States.

October

1	1853	The Daughters of Saint Anne began teaching in Saint Jacques.
2	1891	Nine aspirants were admitted to the postulate of lay-sisters.
6	1934	The departure from Victoria of our first missionaries to Japan.
17	1864	Arrival of Mother Marie Anne in Lachine. Transfer of the Motherhouse to Lachine.
20	1926	Decree abolishing the status of sisters known as lay-sisters.
22	1876	Celebration in Lachine of Bishop Bourget’s sacerdotal jubilee.
29	1929	Blessing of the cemetery at Mount Saint Anne.

November

2	1854	Arrival of Mother Marie Anne at Saint Geneviève as directress.
20	1944	Death in Les Cayes of Sister Marie Antonio, founding superior in Haïti.
23	1902	Installation of the first printing shop at Lachine.

December

2	1943	Homecoming of five sisters interned at Camp Sumire, Tokyo.
9	1872	Father Nazaire Piché, pastor of Lachine, had 100 copies of the Rules printed and gave them to the Community on the feast of Saint Eulalie, patronal feast of the general superior.
15	1964	Approval of the writings of Mother Marie Anne by the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
17	1881	Father Brassard, former pastor of Vaudreuil, bequeathed by will the "cradle" of the community to the Sisters of Saint Anne.
25	1889	Inauguration of the Sanctuary of Saint Anne in Lachine.
29	1904	Distribution of the Constitutions of 1903.
31	1927	Distribution of the Constitutions revised according to Canon Law.

© July 2012
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Congregation of Sisters of Saint Anne