Request by Mgr. Lartigue, Bishop of Montreal, for the return of the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame

La Prairie, Canada East (Quebec), 30 September 1838.
Request by Mgr. Lartigue, Bishop of Montreal, for the return of the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame

From the end of the 17th century, the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame were present in La-Prairie-de-la-Magdeleine (La Prairie) and established permanent residence there from 1705. The school closed in 1836, probably for financial reasons. It is possible that the establishment of fifteen trustees schools for girls, which were created and subsidized by virtue of the 1829 law, may have resulted in the decrease of students and consequently of revenues for the Congregation. With new schools closer to their homes, parents did not need to place their daughters in boarding schools, thereby saving money. However, two years after the Congregation school closed, the citizens petitioned for the return of the Sisters. Several reasons could explain this request. First, the school law expired and the schools were undoubtedly maintained at the expense of the people rather than of the state. Also, the rapid multiplication of schools led to the hiring of teachers who were perhaps less competent due to a lack of proper training. Because there were no Sisters available, the citizens’ request was granted only in 1844. At that time, the Superior General of the Congregation received a number of requests to establish schools and was able to respond favorably to only a few supported by religious authorities.