Last week, I attended the launching of the book " Femmes sans frontières ". It recounts the history of the " Institut des Soeurs Missionnaires de l'Immaculée-Conception (Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception) ", founded in 1902 by an exceptional woman, Délia Tétreault, whose story is most inspiring. Providence would entrust to her the task of founding the first female missionary community in Canada and of inspiring the creation of the " Société des Missions Étrangères ".

Born in the South Shore town of Sainte-Marie-de-Monnoir on February 4, 1865, the fragile Délia survived her twin brother, Roch, who died at the tender age of seven months. Two years later, her dying mother asked Délia's godparents to care for her; they become her new parents. As a child, she was fascinated by the missionary stories she read in the " Annales de la Propagation de la foi " and those of the " Sainte-Enfance (Holy Childhood) " today called " Mond'Ami ". Later on, she recalled that as a child she had pictured herself as a missionary working with children in foreign countries.

As a teenager, she felt the first stirrings of a religious vocation while listening to the visiting missionaries who worked in the Canadian North. Although fascinated by their stories and their apostolic experience, she dismissed the idea because, at that time, no female missionary communities existed in Canada. However, God's call became more and more persistent. Délia Tétreault was accepted as a postulant with the " Soeurs de la Charité de Saint-Hyacinthe " in 1883, after a failed attempt to enter the Carmelite community in Montreal. Despite her deep desire to embrace religious life, health problems forced her to return home soon after.

Still driven by the desire to be a religious and a missionary, Délia considered going to Africa to assist the " Pères Blancs (White Fathers) " in their missions. Unfortunately, poor health once again barred the way. Although deeply disappointed, she did not, however, lose the hope of seeing her dream come true one day.

In 1891, Délia Tétreault joined forces with Father Almire Pichon, a Jesuit priest, who had been working for several years in poverty-stricken neighbourhoods of Montreal. The same Father Pichon was spiritual director to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, even though he returned to Canada in 1888. He then stayed in regular contact with Thérèse and her family. The years spent at Bethany - the name of Fr. Pichon's Montreal mission - became quite important in Délia's missionary preparation. There, she witnessed the physical and moral misery found in underprivileged neighbourhoods. Working as a catechist with immigrants, she also learned other languages. For ten years she devoted herself to this work, ever mindful of the goal that drew her closer to the great mission of announcing the Gospel in foreign lands.

Finally in 1902, her childhood dream began to unfold. On June 3 - with the help of Archbishop Paul Bruchési of Montreal and of Fr. Gustave Bourassa, brother of Henri, the founder of the newspaper " Le Devoir " - Délia Tétreault opened an apostolic school dedicated to the formation of young ladies wishing to serve the foreign missions. Two years later, on December 7, 1904, Pope Pius X officially approved the foundation of the " Institut des Soeurs Missionnaires de l'Immaculée-Conception ". When Délia Tétreault pronounced her solemn vows within this new institute, she chose the name Mother Mary of the Holy Spirit (Mère Marie du Saint-Esprit). Her choice was not made lightly; it expressed her lifelong journey. She wished to live like Mary, yielding to the presence, the enlightenment and the guidance of the Spirit. She lived this ideal in an exemplary manner.

Délia Tétreault's zeal knew no bounds in the service of her Institute during the next three decades afforded by Providence. She oversaw the erection of 36 houses: 19 were in Oriental missions (China, Japan, Philippines), 16 in Canada, and a General House in Rome. She publicized the work of the Holy Childhood and of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. She started the magazine " Le Précurseur (MIC Mission News) ", which is still published today. She also founded a lay association.

Délia Tétreault also contributed to the foundation of the " Société des Missions Étrangères (Quebec Foreign Mission Society) ". After founding her Institute, she hoped to establish a major seminary for foreign missions. She recruited the first priest, Msgr. Louis-Adelmar Lapierre, then pastor of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Parish in Montreal. He left for Manchuria a few years later. Her dream became a reality in 1921 when the Québec bishops decided to found the " Séminaire canadien des Missions Étrangères " and to create the " Société des Missions-Étrangères ".

In 1933, Délia suffered a stroke. Paralysed, she spent her last eight years in prayer. She died October 1, 1941, leaving a missionary family at work in 13 countries. Pope John Paul II recognized the heroic quality of her virtues and declared her venerable on December 18, 1997.

The life of Délia Tétreault has inspired many people in discerning the path for their lives. I hope that we will all share her enthusiasm and tenacity in following the mission entrusted to us.

+ Jean-Claude Turcotte
Archevêque de Montréal
Wednesday E-mail
Catholic Church of Montreal
June 11 2008