(1620-1700)
When Marguerite was just nineteen, her mother died and the young girl realized that it was time to prepare for her own future. She'd had suitors and certainly considered marriage; but on October 7, 1640; during a procession in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, it became clear that she wanted to become a servant of God.
She was recruited by the head of the colony, Maisonneuve, who chose Marguerite because of her charity work with the Congregation of Troyes, an association of young girls devoted to teaching children in the poor districts of town. She left Troyes in February, 1653; to teach French and Native children in the new colony, and became a close freind of another 'founding mother', Jeanne Mance.
Both women poured their hearts and souls into making Ville Marie a success. This settlement in itself was unique, since instead of beginning with settlers and then building a church, they built the church first and then added the settlers, designing it to be a religious community. Jeanne Mance, as a nurse, was the driving force behind a hospital, while Marguerite undertook the construction of a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bon Secours.
In 1658, she opened the first school in Montreal, in a stable given to her by the governor; where she could respond to the needs of the women and young girls.
When the Filles De Roi (King's Daughters) arrived Marguerite was always on hand to welcome and comfort the young ladies before they were put on the auction block as future wives of the habitant's sons or widowers. This earned her the fond title of "Mother of the Colony".
But Marguerite Bourgeoys owes her success to her own initiatives, and in the way she dealt with people; especially the young women in the community. She never sat in judgement and made herself available to everyone, for whatever reason. When one young King's Daughter ran frightened from her home upon realizing what her new husband expected from her; Marguerite offered comfort, as well as sex education, and encouraged the young man to be patient. It all worked out in the end and the frightened young lady would eventually become the mother of a large brood. She also organized 'courting' events, like 'Taffy on the Snow'; to bring young people together, and was not afraid to roll up her sleeves and lend a hand where and when required.
Marguerite died on January 12, 1700, after almost half a century of social work in what would become one of the most successful French colonies, and later a major city: Montreal.
