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

 


December 1897

In those trying days, the Authorities of the Institute lived with the anxiety of what might happen next. Their concern about the future of the Congregation is shared with their friends and acquaintances and thanks to their help, Mother Marie-Fidèle can make daring decisions.

 After the resignation of Maréchal de MacMahon*, the French Voters sent to the Legislative Chambers a radical majority whose sectarianism rightly alarmed the advocates of order and religion. The Authorities of the Institute soon looked for an opportunity to find a pied-à-terre in a foreign country. (R-3)
* Edme-Patrice de MAC-MAHON, President of the Republic (1873-1879)


A New Opening

GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING
December 2, 1897

Our Superior General, Mother Marie Fidèle, convened her Council (Sr. Marie Marguerite, assistant, Sr. Marie de Jesus and Sr. St. François) on Thursday, December 2.   Sr. St. Amélie (Lorient) and Sr. Therese de Jesus (St. Gildas) were also invited to take part).
Mrs. Christierson, who was brought back to the Catholic faith, four years previously, by our late Mgr. Becel, and whose son had been converted by the kind Bishop, spoke about us to Cardinal Vaughan.*

Cardinal Vaughan, 
London

The Prelate would be happy to welcome us in England. To begin with, he would even offer us three small houses. The General Superior also read a letter from Father Chichester;** he too would like to have Sisters who could teach the poor little girls in his parish.

Mrs. Christierson would graciously offer us two rooms on a temporary basis. (…) she would to do everything she could to help us.
*Cardinal Vaughan was archbishop of the Westminster Diocese in London. In 1866, he founded the Missionary Society, known as the MILL HILL Missionaries.
**Pastor of Minehead, Somerset who heard about the Sisters of Charity
 of St. Louis through Miss Viel, Mrs. Von Christierson's friend.

Having considered on the one hand the necessity of a foundation abroad, imposed by the insecurity of the French Government, and on the other hand, the advantages offered by England, the Council votes in favour of a foundation in England*  and deems it necessary to visit the sites as soon as possible in order to examine everything in greater details.
* It is an approval  in principle. The Sisters' visit, the following  week, will help them decide as to the place.

Sr. St. Amélie, superior of Carnel and Sr. Therese de Jesus, general councillor, were selected by the General Superior  to fulfill this task.  They left Vannes en route to London on Wednesday, December 8. (RCG)


MINEHEAD IS THE FAVOURITE


General Council meeting
December 21, 1897

On the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, the Council assembled (…) Our two Sisters had just returned from England. They had visited various places where we could establish a foundation. Many of them required a considerable capital outlay (…) On the contrary, at Minehead we could settle at little cost. It is a beautiful little town of 12 000 inhabitants of which, unfortunately, there are only 42 Catholics. (…) Father Chichester, pastor of Minehead, suggests, at the start, 12 to 20 fee paying pupils. The kind pastor wishes the Sisters to play the harmonium in his little church. He is willing to teach them English. (…) The Minehead foundation was approved unanimously by the Council. (RCG)


SCSL au Québec