Delia Tetreault
Encyclopedia
Délia Tétreault was a Canadian religious community founder who was born in Marieville
, Quebec
, on February 4, 1865. At the age of two, her mother died and was brought up by her aunt and uncle. She had a weak health and was usually sick.
When she was a child, she had a very significant dream. She was kneeling by her bed when all at once, she saw a wheat field. The heads of the wheat each changed to heads of children from different parts of the world. At the age of 13, she felt a calling for the religious life. At the age of 15, she made the vow of perpetual chastity. At the age of 18, she asked to join the Carmelite order of Montreal
but they refused her. She went to Sisters of Charity of St-Hyacinthe where she was accepted as a postulant. However, her poor health brought her back to her uncle. In 1891, Delia joined the Bethany and stayed there for 10 years. It was in this time that Delia realized her dream. Her dream was an apostolic school
for women and a seminary for the foreign missions.Around this time, she met Father Gustave Bourassa who was her guide and led her to all the important persons she needed to fulfill her dreams. In 1902, Mgr. Bruchesi went to Rome and spoke to Pope Pius X
about this new foundation. Pope Pius X immediately answered,"Found, found and all the blessings of Heaven will fall upon this new Institute and you will call them the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception."
In 1905, Delia had her perpetual commitment and took the name Sr. Marie du Saint Espirit. In 1909, the first six Sisters of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception left for Canton
, China
. Within a short time, several convents opened in the Province of Quebec to support the missions. In 1920, they launched a missionary review, Le Précurseur.On Feb 2, 1921 the Seminary for the foreign missions came to life. Officially, the founders of this new group were known to be the bishops of the Province of Quebec, however, the inspiration truly came from Mother Délia. On 1933, Delia became seriously ill and on October 1, 1941, Mother Delia died.
On 1958, the first steps were taken for the beatification
of Delia. Finally, on 1982, Archbishop of Montreal approved of the stages in view of the introduction of the cause in Rome. On 1987 was the canonical closure of the Diocesan procedures. Presently the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception are in 13 countries and of 17 nationalities including 582 professed sisters and 87 sisters in initial formation.
Marieville, Quebec
Marieville is a city in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is located within the Rouville Regional County Municipality in the Montérégie region about 30 kilometers east of Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 7,904.-History:...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, on February 4, 1865. At the age of two, her mother died and was brought up by her aunt and uncle. She had a weak health and was usually sick.
When she was a child, she had a very significant dream. She was kneeling by her bed when all at once, she saw a wheat field. The heads of the wheat each changed to heads of children from different parts of the world. At the age of 13, she felt a calling for the religious life. At the age of 15, she made the vow of perpetual chastity. At the age of 18, she asked to join the Carmelite order of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
but they refused her. She went to Sisters of Charity of St-Hyacinthe where she was accepted as a postulant. However, her poor health brought her back to her uncle. In 1891, Delia joined the Bethany and stayed there for 10 years. It was in this time that Delia realized her dream. Her dream was an apostolic school
Apostolic school
An apostolic school is a missionary college of the Roman Catholic Church, having for its object to cultivate vocations for foreign missions.-History:...
for women and a seminary for the foreign missions.Around this time, she met Father Gustave Bourassa who was her guide and led her to all the important persons she needed to fulfill her dreams. In 1902, Mgr. Bruchesi went to Rome and spoke to Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
about this new foundation. Pope Pius X immediately answered,"Found, found and all the blessings of Heaven will fall upon this new Institute and you will call them the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception."
In 1905, Delia had her perpetual commitment and took the name Sr. Marie du Saint Espirit. In 1909, the first six Sisters of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception left for Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Within a short time, several convents opened in the Province of Quebec to support the missions. In 1920, they launched a missionary review, Le Précurseur.On Feb 2, 1921 the Seminary for the foreign missions came to life. Officially, the founders of this new group were known to be the bishops of the Province of Quebec, however, the inspiration truly came from Mother Délia. On 1933, Delia became seriously ill and on October 1, 1941, Mother Delia died.
On 1958, the first steps were taken for the beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
of Delia. Finally, on 1982, Archbishop of Montreal approved of the stages in view of the introduction of the cause in Rome. On 1987 was the canonical closure of the Diocesan procedures. Presently the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception are in 13 countries and of 17 nationalities including 582 professed sisters and 87 sisters in initial formation.