Mother House
Eighth Congrégation de Notre-Dame Mother House
By Michelle Renaud
Photo Search: Josée Sarrazin
Since April 2005 the eighth Mother House of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame has been located at 2330 Sherbrooke Street West. It is the residence of the Sisters, gathered together as an international community, who welcome and offer hospitality to all Sisters throughout the Congregation who are visiting or passing through Montreal, or participating in international meetings. The building also houses the administrative offices of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame and the Central Office of Associate Relationship.
The History of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame Mother Houses1
1658
Marguerite Bourgeoys establishes the first school in Ville-Marie in a former stable. Known as the stable-school and situated between Saint-Paul Street and the Saint Lawrence river, it is considered to be the first Mother House of the Congregation (1658-1673).1673
Around 1669, the stable-school is enlarged. This addition, completed in 1673, becomes the second Mother House of the Congregation (1673-1683). It is known as la Grande maison de pierre (the Large Stone House).1684
The third Mother House of the Congregation is established on Notre-Dame Street and is known as la maison sur le haut (1684–1844).1844
The fourth Mother House of the Congregation is established on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Street (1844-1880).1880
The fifth Mother House of the Congregation, known as the “Mother House on the Mountain,” is established (1880-1893).1893
The Mother House is destroyed by fire. The Sisters return to the Mother House on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Street (1893-1908).1908
The Congregation’s sixth Mother House is established at 3040 Sherbrooke Street West (1908-1985). In 1985, it became Dawson College.1985
The seventh Mother House of the Congregation is established on Westmount Avenue (1985-2005).2005
The eighth Mother House of the Congregation is established at 2330 Sherbrooke Street West, in the former École normale Jacques-Cartier.
Commemorative Low Relief
On the corner of Notre-Dame and Saint-Laurent Streets in Montreal can be found a low-relief sculpture under which is inscribed, “Close to this site stood the first school in Montreal estabalished in 1657 by Marguerite Bourgeoys 1620-1700 foundress of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame.”
This school was also the first Mother House.
Références
- This history is based upon the Timeline of the virtual exposition: Faith in Action, 350 years of Education by Marguerite Bourgeoys and the Congrégation de Notre-Dame, http://www.archivesvirtuelles-cnd.org. [return to text]