Poverty, wars, persecutions, imprisonment, floods, slow communications, difficulty in learning another language, problems in acclimatization, divergent views, illness, death… The list of painful events would be long in the history of our first centenary; events that required additional courage, hope and faith so that life could triumph and the future remain open.

As already mentioned in A Time for Growth, the Institute's first foreign mission was founded in Canton, China, in 1909. But only a few years later, civil troubles started brewing, troubles which had repercussions on the missionaries' work.

During the years 1911-1914, China was in the midst of a revolution. The Manchurian dynasty which had been governing China since 1644 was living its last moments. Rebellion spread everywhere. In Canton, the Sisters lived in great insecurity for a long time. The continual alarm signals obliged the students to leave the city and take refuge either in Hong Kong or Macao. Those who were unable to flee remained curled up in their homes. Often, gunfire could be heard near the Sisters' house. The Bishop wrote the following to Canada : "The least fright did not affect their soul even in the most perilous moment." (RAGUIN, Yves, S.J., Au-delà de son rêve… Délia Tétreault, p.239)

The continual social upheaval in continental China finally culminates in the expulsion of all foreign missionaries. Delia Tétreault's daughters, with the exception of the Chinese Sister Lucia Ho, leave, in 1953. (Cf. Positio, p.185-186)

In almost all the countries where they were present, our missionaries have had to live difficult years. Together with the people, they lived through the war, more than one coup d'état, dictatorial regimes, rationing and restriction of rights and freedoms. They also accompanied the people in their struggle for liberation.

In June 1918, the Shek Lung leprosarium experienced anguishing moments : We are actually going through a real calamity : the flood is more appalling than ever. The water is still rising. Our poor patients had to leave their quarters where they could be swept away by the current along with their beds. (…) Some are presently lodged in the new infirmary and we are sharing our house with 130 others. (…) The water is also rising there but, at least, they can sleep dry in their beds. After several requests made to the Government, we were given a barge that can accommodate 100 persons. Some thirty people are still left in the house. All these trials do not dishearten us. We even rejoice at the opportunity of sharing our shelter with the most destitute in the world. (The First Thirty Years of the Institute, p. 219)

A third flood has kept us underwater the whole month of August. This means we have been flooded all summer. Communications are rendered difficult. The roads have been destroyed by erosion. There is a considerable loss of lives, of food supplies and of boats. A terrible typhoon that lasted twenty-four hours caused extensive damage. Our Sisters in Canton have suffered heavy losses both in their buildings and in their garden. We almost got drowned for there was no one there to help us - no boat dared meet the fury of the winds. However we felt so well protected by the Good Master that we did not experience any anxiety. (The First Thirty Years of the Institute, p.220)

Floods, typhoons, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and fires were part and parcel of the history of our different mission countries. They were moments of suffering and especially of great solidarity with the victims of these natural disasters.

As the years went by, Mary of the Holy Spirit (Delia Tétreault) becomes ever more aware of what the Institute should be. She alone can discern whether what is being done is in line with what God inspired her to do. She will defend that inspiration against those who would like to orientate the Institute in other directions. (RAGUIN, Yves, s.j., Au-delà de son rêve... Délia Tétreault, p.241)

No matter how stressful storms originating from the outside can be they are less stressful than those which shake an Institute from the inside. Two M.I.C., sincerely believing that they were responding to a particular call from God, dissociated themselves from the Institute in order to found two other missionary congregations. All the years that preceded these departures brought a lot of suffering to Mother Delia, the Institute and the Sisters bearers of a charism other than that of our congregation.

If the Institute prospered, it is due to the fact that the Foundress was faithful to her inspiration received from God. That others be inspired by God to found congregations having another spirit and another goal, she saw no inconveniences, but she was convinced that a nascent Institute can not express two inspirations pulling it in two different directions. The Institute she had founded came out of this long and very painful crisis more than ever united and strong and Delia always remained its clear-sighted interior driving force. She could not have acquired this clear-sightedness without the confrontation with two vocations different from her own. (RAGUIN, Yves, s.j., Au-delà de son rêve... Délia Tétreault, p.380-381).

Illness, under different forms, often came to visit our missionaries, obliging some of them to come back home sooner than foreseen or preventing others from leaving for other countries. A few died of tuberculosis, a disease that was frequent at the time of the foundation. The first death was that of Sr. Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste (Rachel Lalumière). She was in Canton (China) and was only twenty-three years old.

For our Institute, then celebrating the first decade of existence, this was an unprecedented farewell of one of its members, and how painful for the entire family! However, it was accompanied by a great consolation : that of seeing our young Society implanted in the heavenly abode. (The First Thirty Years of the Institute, p.144)

Because of her frail health, Mother Delia's great dream of visiting her missionaries working in different countries never came true. The last years of her life were particularly marked by suffering. In fact, after having suffered a stroke, Mother Delia became paralyzed, was in great pain and unable to speak.

During the eight years of Delia's secluded life, the Institute was worried and concerned. The doctor often said : "Your Mother will die suddenly…Her days are counted." (…) Her illness progressively isolated her from her Sisters. But for quite a while she was able to communicate with them and write to them through a Sister who acted as secretary. (Raguin Yves, s.j., Au-delà de son rêve... Délia Tétreault, p.440)

On January 25, 1939, during the first General Chapter of the Institute, Mother Marie-de-la-Providence (Anna Paquette) was elected Superior General to replace Mother Delia.

In the evening of the day when Mother Mary of the Holy Spirit (Delia Tétreault) learned that she was discharged from her function, she showed great joy. Resting her hand on that of the newly elected Superior, she was able to utter these words distinctly : "I am very happy." Yes, Mother Delia had reason to be happy because the new Superior General had been her right hand woman, her assistant and her confidante.

At the end of her life, Delia could proclaim, as Mary had done, her great Magnificat. She wanted that her attitude towards God be that of Mary. She wished to be like Mary was towards the Father, energized by the Spirit. Thus, she was for her time, a messenger of the Spirit, a likeness of Mary totally devoted to the work the Father accomplishes in this world by His Son Jesus Christ.

On October 1st, 1941, Mother Delia Tétreault died peacefully at the new Motherhouse of the Institute, situated at 2900 Côte St. Catherine Road, in Montreal. In its October 4th edition, the newspaper La Patrie paid homage to her in a long article entitled : A saint has just died leaving behind an immense work.