Feast Day of Marguerite Bourgeoys January 12

On Jan. 12, Roman Catholics remember Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, who not only founded a religious congregation, but
was also instrumental in establishing the Canadian city of Montreal. She is the patron saint of: poverty, loss of parents and people rejected by religious orders. The educative and apostolic efforts of Marguerite Bourgeoys continue through the commitment of the members of the CND community that she founded. More than 2,600 Sisters of the Congregation de Notre- Dame work in fields of action according to the needs of time and place – from school to college or university, in the promotion of family, parish and diocesan endeavours. They are on mission in Canada, in the United States, in Japan, in Latin America, in Cameroon, and most recently they have established a house in France.

On November 12, 1950 Pope Pius XII beatified Marguerite Bourgeoys. Canonizing her October 31, 1982, Pope John Paul II gives the Canadian Church its first woman saint.