PLEASE SHARE THIS POST ABOUT THIS AMAZING WOMAN ON HER WAY TO SAINTHOOD, LITERALLY. SHE IS PART OF MY ANCESTRY AND EXPLAINS A LOT OF THINGS.
F. Louis Tetreault was my maternal grandfather, who was a descendant of Louis Tetreault. My cousin Paula just sent me a Tetreault website that was established for all of us Tetreault descendants. I clicked on Tetreault personalities and discovered Delia Tetreault, who was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II, my favorite Pope, on December 18, 1997. Delia was the founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate-Conception in Montreal, and a religious community of women missionaries which were the first in America, that is now implanted in fourteen countries of the world and counts members from seventeen different nationalities.
It was after a long period of discernment of God’s will on her life that Delia rented a small house at Cote-des-Neiges, Montreal, on June 3, 1902, to begin an “apostolic school” as she named it. Her purpose was to train young women who wanted to enter missionary orders, most from European foundations at that time. Two years later, when Archbishop of Montreal Paul Bruchesi, went to Rome and met Pope Pius X, he mentioned the existence in his diocese of this small group of women. To his surprise, the Pope reacted immediately and told him, “Found, found it, Excellency! And the blessing of God will come upon the new foundation. You will name it the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception!”
It was in this way that the “small work” of Delia received its approval and developed rapidly under the leadership of the Foundress. In 1909, a first group of six M.I.C. Sisters left for Canton, China, thus opening the road to the foreign missions.
Mother Marie-du-St-Esprit (her religious name), is also credited as being the initiator of multiple apostolic works in Canada: revitalization of the Propagation of the Faith and the Holy Childhood, opening closed retreat houses for women, schools and shelters for Chinese immigrants in Montreal and in Vancouver.
In 1920, she launched a missionary magazine, Le Precurseur, now in its 96th year of publication, and in 1923, the English version now known as MIC MISSION NEWS. Departures of M.I.C. Sisters for Asia, the Caribbean countries, Africa, and South America became a yearly event, except in time of war.
In 1933, the Foundress suffered a stroke and became paralyzed. She died on October 1st, 1941. She was credited with a very large part of the missionary impetus of the Canadian Church at the beginning of the 20th century. Her discreet action was acknowledged in the foundation of the Societe des Missions Etrangeres. She founded the inspiration of her apostolate in her spirituality of thanksgiving: God has given us everything, even his own Son. What better way of making returns – insofar as a weak creature is able to do so in this world – than to give Him children, chosen ones, who will sing His goodness throughout the centuries!”
These words appear on the stained-glass window at the Tomb of the Venerable Delia Tetreault. Persons who want information or to report favors obtained through the intercession of Delia Tetreault are invited to contact Sr. Micheline Marcoux, M.I.C. in charge of the Office of the Cause, at the same address or by email: causedeliatetreault@micpontviau.ca.
Visitors are welcome at the Delia Tetreault Center, 100 Place Juge-Desnoyers, Pont-Viau, Laval, H7G 1A4. Telephone: 450-663-6360. The exhibition “Sunshine in their Baggage,” was presented at the Musee de la Civilisation, Quebec, in 2002, the remembrance room, and an art gallery including forty paintings created by Marie Bilodeau M.I.C. and the tomb of the Venerable Delia Tetreault.
Visitors are invited to call Sr. Jeanne Gauvin, M.I.C. Telephone: 514-405-1551 for an appointment. Printed material in several languages is available at this address as well as the History of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception “Women without Frontiers” by Chantal Gauthier, edited by Carte Blanche in 2008.
Finally, information on the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and on the Cause of Delia Tetreault is available in French, English, and Spanish on the MIC website: www.soeurs-mic.qc.ca.
The open hours of the Delia-Tetreault Center are: Monday – closed. Tuesday to Saturday: 9:30 – 11:30 am; 1:30 – 4 pm. Sunday: 10:30-11:30 am; and 1:30-4:30 pm. For a guided tour contact: Jeanne Gauvin M.I.C. at telephone: 450-663-6460 ext. 5127.
God Bless Everyone Everywhere