Sisters of the Child Jesus (S.E.J.) in Saint Mary's, 1931-2026.
A milestone in the history of our parish occurs at the end of this month when the Sisters of the Child Jesus leave the parish after 95 years.
At the invitation of Paul Durieu, O.M.L, Bishop of New Westminster, the Sisters came to B.C. from France in 1896, to minister to the First Nations at Saint Joseph's Mission near William's Lake.
In 1931, at the invitation of Father Adrian Beausoleil, the founding pastor of our parish, four Sisters came from North Vancouver to the school that had just been built. On September 5th there were 70 students in Grades 1-7. Just as today, there were non-Catholic parents who wanted to have their children educated in a Catholic School and within 5 years the number of students in the school doubled. Each year another grade was added until 1937, when Grades 1-12 were taught. In 1949, because of increased enrollment and lack of classroom space the last Grade 12 students graduated from the school.
The Convent that the Sisters moved into was at 3996 Euclid Street.. It was the first Rectory in the parish and was already an old uninsulated building, cold in the winter months. The sisters slept in the attic.
In 1956-57, as an anniversary present Monsignor John Teague, built a new convent at 5296 Joyce Road on the corner of Joyce Road and Euclid Streets. The Sisters continued to teach in the School until 1981. The last teacher was Sister Therese Orieux who taught Kindergarten.
In 1979, a house was purchased on Austrey Street and although they no longer taught in the School the Sisters have been active in the parish as Eucharistic Ministers, on the Parish Council, as members of the CWL and of Development and Peace, and in the Centering Prayer Group.
Our thanks to the Sisters for the many years of service in the parish. Sister Margaret, Sister Normand, Sister Therese, go with God and be assured that we will remember you in our prayers.
