200 years of history

Louis-Marie BAUDOUIN, lets herself be dazzled by the mystery of the Love of God who comes among us: Mystery of Incarnation! In Sables d'Olonne where he lived in hiding after five years of exile in Spain during the French Revolution, he shared his intuitions with a former hospital nun from La Rochelle, Charlotte Gabrielle RANFRAY.

Arrival by cart of the first six companions responding to the call of Louis-Marie Baudouin, parish priest of Chavagnes en Paillers for a year. Charlotte Gabrielle RANFRAY who will become Mother Saint Benoît, founder of the congregation with Mother Saint Arsène will direct the new work; a school and a small boarding school. The following year, they professed religious life in the hands of Louis-Marie Baudouin: The congregation was born.

15 small communities have already been sent to the countryside. At their head, almost always, Mother Sainte Madeleine. In the manner of Teresa of Avila, she founded “in poverty, fervor and joy”… These small communities have the gift of attracting young girls and women. It’s a true missionary life…

“My aim in founding you was firstly the education of the poor in the countryside, then in the towns, the care of the sick poor at home, and, thirdly, the education of more fortunate girls. »

It is a fraternal, community life… “Three times a day, together, you will adore Jesus, Incarnate Word. In Him, you will adore the Father, you will thank him, you will offer your life for the world. »

And in the evening, the sisters, in solidarity with the sin of the world, hand it over to the Mercy of the Father and bring all the life of the day back to Him.

Louis-Marie Baudouin does not resist the call of the Church of Scotland. He sends sisters to the community of Edinburgh; first release outside France. On December 26, the sisters opened a boarding school and a free school, then a dispensary where they distributed food and medicine to the poor.

On September 12, 1860, the sisters arrived in Swansea. From September 17, they began their apostolate by preparing 50 children for their first Communion. They will then open a school for children aged 3 to 8 years old.

On October 5, 1882, some nuns got off at the Vitoria station.

They don't know any Spanish words! This small team of intrepid nuns thus fulfilled the desire of good Father Baudouin: to found in Spain.

In July 1894, at the request of Monsignor Martin Houwlette, some sisters embarked for London to teach in the Kingsland mission. One of them wrote: “our trip was like a journey to the ends of the earth”… That says it all!

In France, the Combe law prohibits nuns from teaching. Schools must be closed. The fourteen Ursulines of the house of Saint-Tropez, with anguish in their hearts, but with great faith, decided to cross the border to settle in Italy. They arrive at San Fedele, near Albenga. After a warm welcome to the sound of bells, and after the singing of the Te Deum, the sisters settle down in the greatest poverty.

It was from Coleraine that the call came. After a dialogue with the priest, the superiors decided to send four sisters to form a community. They were to open a boarding school for girls, visit the poor and the sick, train a musician for the church, take charge of a school.

On September 5, 1911, four Ursulines left Chavagnes to open new foundations in North America. It was on the afternoon of September 28 that the sisters arrived in Edmonton to meet Father Boutin, Father de Chavagnes and the Bishop who assigned them their new mission location: ELM-Park.

A call from the Church comes through the voice of Monseigneur Bonneau, Bishop of DOUALA and brother of two Ursulines. The sisters' correspondence tells us of their arrival on May 18. Let’s not talk about the adventures, the fears and the joy that inhabit them: “Great is your joy, O Bikok country… rejoice”… Relieving, teaching, listening: these are their first missionary tasks.

After hearing the call of Pope Pius XII, and after experiencing a moving celebration, five Spanish sisters leave for this distant country. Santander, Valparaiso: 39 days of travel, then 26 hours by train, and finally Ancud in the Island of Chiloé on November 30, with nothing... The luggage will arrive on February 2. They discover the life of the Church and life in general. The mission begins: care of the sick, education.

After an epic journey, the sisters enter Trinidad. The wish was to live in a poor house, like that of the people. This not being ready, they stayed at the presbytery: the priest went elsewhere. There too, the welcome is warm.

The Bishop gives them this advice: “Do not be in a hurry to do many things, rather have your eyes and ears wide open to contemplate reality, and have a big heart to love them very much.”

Foundation with four sisters of different nationalities. The sisters are strangers to each other in a “foreign” country: what spiritual audacity! They must listen, look, before building a pastoral project. The task is immense. The missionary team consists of eight people. Their first steps are to go towards people to get to know them.