En route to Canada   The crossing   Departure for Sainte-Adélaïde de Pabos 
 A Letter Instead of a Trip   Letter From Mother Marie-Fidèle   School opening 
Second  Departure to Canada   Arrival of the Second Group   Stay at Halifax   A trip to Rimouski 
  Letter March 26, 1903     1897, A difficult end of year    October 9, 1897   On the way to England 
  Arrival in Minehead    A decisive meeting   Seeking Answers to Puzzling Questions
 Sr. Marie de Jésus, delegate of Mother Marie Fidèle   From on attempt to the next  New attempts
Endeavors of Mgr. F.-X. Bossé   Unusual offers   Mgr L-N Bégin Accepts the SCSL
The North American Branch Takes Root

Foreboding of a refusal

Mother Marie Fidèle, General Superior of the Congregation whose Mother House is located in Vannes*, wrote the following letter to Mgr. Blais, who had returned both the letter of recommendation from Monsignor of Vannes and the book of Constitutions. (RCG)
*  Mgr. Amédée Jean Latieule was named bishop of Vannes in 1897, 
    following the death of  Mgr. Jean-Marie Bécel, 
    first cousin of Mother Marie Fidèle.
 


1824 - 1906
Mother Marie Fidèle
General Superior

Vannes, January 7, 1903

Monsignor,

Allow a simple French sister from Brittany to offer her humble and respectful homage and to commend two women religious who were given hospitality in your diocese prior to my having asked for your authorization. I do not wish to take too much of your precious time, Monsignor by enumerating the reasons.

Our Sisters left Vannes with the blessing of our venerable Bishop, together with a letter for Your Highness. Their first trial on Canadian soil was their inability to reach you, Monsignor; they had hoped to fulfill this duty as soon as the rigors of winter would allow them to do so.

I am confident that if you authorize them to remain in your diocese to work for the glory of God by teaching christian education, I would be happy to increase the number of sisters according to the needs of the population.

Would it be premature, Monsignor, to ask, even now, for the favor of your assuming the leadership of our small newly born community of St. Adelaide? It would be the guarantee of God's blessing and of the success of our work in the Rimouski Diocese.

Please accept, Monsignor, the expression of the religious and deep respect with which I am honored to be, of Your Highness, the humble servant in Our Lord Jesus Christ. (RCG)


Sr. Marie Fidèle
General Superior

This letter also remained unanswered. Mother Marie Fidèle considered it as her official request for the acceptance of the Srs. of Charity of St. Louis in the Rimouski Diocese.

Next instalment :

Hope and uncertainty    

SCSL au Québec