Marguerite Bourgeoys, Venerable
Marguerite Bourgeoys, Venerable
(1620 -1700 ) Foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame de Montreal, born Troyes, France ; died Montreal, Canada . A member in Troyes of the lay confraternity attached to the Congregation de Notre Dame, founded in Lorraine by Saint Peter Fourier, 1598 , she volunteered to go to Canada in 1653 with Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, the governor of Montreal, and opened a free school there in 1657 . Later she returned to France for helpers, and in 1676 established the Congregation of Notre Dame de Montreal, whose rules were formally drawn up and approved in 1698 . She was declared venerable in 1878 , beatified in 1950 , and canonized in 1982 . See also, patron saints index .