Born in France in the early 17th century, Marguerite joined the confraternity of Notre Dame when she was in her mid teens and soon became a teacher. She applied for entrance into the Carmelites but was not accepted. 

Not long after, the Governor of the new French settlement in what is now Montreal, met Marguerite while visiting his sister and asked her to come to Canada to start a school. 

When she arrived in 1653, the settlement had just 200 people and no children yet. So, she used her time and efforts to build the first permanent Church, Our Lady of Good Counsel. 

Eventually, children did come along and Marguerite realized she would need help, so she traveled back to France and recruited her friend Catherine Crono and two others. 

She was given a stone stable to teach her students in, and started her school, going back to France a second time to recruit six more women to teach. 

Marguerite founded the Congregation of Notre Dame, and in addition to teaching, she and the others provided care and housing for young women coming to the new world while interviewing the young men who hoped to marry them. 

She also started a school for indigenous girls. She once wrote: 

“,all I have ever desired, is that the great precept of love of God above all things and of, neighbor as oneself be written in every heart.” 

She died on this day in 1700, at the age of 79. 

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, please pray for us.