Lac La Biche - History - Religious Communities

Education/Schools/Students | Nuns | Oblates

NUNS

Les Filles de Jesus

The Sisters of Charity, perhaps better known as the Grey Nuns had left Lac La Biche Mission in 1898. Then, in 1905, three sisters of the order of the Daughters of Jesus were appointed. This group operated a school, and was joined by more nuns several years later.

***

The sisters of Charity (Grey nuns of Montreal) had left Lac La Biche. Reverend Father Grandin, Bishop Grandin's nephew, called upon "Les Filles de Jesus" to take on La Mission -Rev. Mother Marie Ste. Elizabeth granted his request. In March 1905 three Sisters were appointed: Sister Marie St. Guenole, Sister Marie Vincente of Jesus and Sister Marie St. Hermenegilde. The first was already in Pincher Creek; the other two, with Sister Marie Angelique had to travel from Three Rivers. This was a very long journey with no other beds than the benches of a third class compartment. When they arrived in Calgary they could scarcely stand on their feet.

However, the hearty welcome given them by Sister Marie St. Lin, Sister Marie Albert of Jesus and Sister Marie Adelie of Jesus made them forget the hardships of the journey and, that night, they slept soundly on mattresses laid on the floor.

Sister Marie St. Guenole came and joined them here. Her heart was heavy at leaving the convent she was building in Pincher Creek, and the more so when she heard that the newly arrived had only seven cents in their pocket.

They left Sister Marie St. Hermenegilde in the hospital in Edmonton. The other two went as far as St. Albert to await the arrival of Reverend Father Grandin. The journey to Lac La Biche fifty years ago was not so quickly done as it is today. If they left on Sunday afternoon they would reach their destination only the following Friday or Saturday. They had to provide themselves with woolen blankets for they would spend the night in tents. Happily they found charitable Sisters in St. Albert for, what could they get with seven cents. Provisions were soon heaped up in the "democrat" and off they went. They traveled through forests, hills and dales, swamps and lakes. At meal time they made a fire, put the kettle on and got some boiling water for their tea. All night long a big fire was kept burning to keep away the wild beasts that were roaming in the neighborhood. They slept on mattresses in the Church of Father Comiré's mission where the spent a lovely night. The next morning Father Comiré kneaded the paste for the day's bread. It was laid in a basket and cooked at the following mission. Finally they saw Lac La Biche - just one or two houses, the Church, the Presbytery and the Sisters' abode, a shed and that was all.

They lived on fish and game - "If the wild hares fail us what shall we eat?", said the cook one day to Father Legoff. "We never eat a better meal than when everything fails", replied the latter. They had pancakes, doughnuts, etc., etc. The Sisters also found the means of making lovely golden butter from a churn that once gave black butter. It was easy to make jam from the wild fruits that grew at random.

Sister Marie Vincente of Jesus, however, got very sore eyes. The left one was so swollen that she could hardly open it. There was neither doctor nor oculist about; the city of Edmonton was the nearest place where they could find one. Father Grandin had his uncle's ring in his possession. A novena was begun in honour of the holy Bishop and the Sister rubbed the ring on her eye. At the end of the first novena, the eye was no better. A second novena was started and on the third day the eye was completely cured. It was a miracle, but one which will not help in the beatification of Bishop Grandin since there was no doctor to testify the illness or cure.

Lac-La-Biche is a real inland sea with its waves and storms, its pebbled and sandy beaches, its islands and promontories. Its coasts are wooded and very picturesque, its climate healthy, fishes are plentiful in its waters, wild ducks swim on its surface, numerous seagulls flutter about and pelicans are often seen.

In the neighbouring woods much fruit is to be found. Gooseberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, crabapples, blueberries are there to be picked and made into excellent jams or desserts. No wonder the Sisters and children alike love this charming and solitary spot, with plenty of space to run about. There is the farm with its animals, the chicken-run and its birds, the lake which in winter, becomes a splendid skating rink.

The Convent has neither luxury nor modern comfort. In the dormitories the small beds are very close together; the dining and recreation rooms are small. In spite of this, faces are bright and wide awake. The children are very happy and feel so much at home. After school hours, the boys and girls find it a real pleasure to do the washing, peel the potatoes, cut wood, iron the linen, run after the cows, jump on a tractor or into a truck.

On the other side of the lake, at a distance of about eight miles, the village of Lac La Biche is daily increasing its population. The Northern Alberta Railway leads to it and another railway line is being planned to connect it with important northern cities.

The Hospital and the small church, Reverend Father McGrane's pride, have a magnificent view of the lake. Oil and gas wells, fishing, hunting and fine crops are the riches of the district.

However, "La Mission" has not changed much in fifty years. The first Church, which was Mgr. Faraud's Cathedral and which had Mgr. Grouard as decorator, was completely destroyed by a violent tornado in 1921.

The new Church is built near the lake and the parishioners are scattered in the country around. Reverend Father Levert is the "Good Shepherd" of this colony which consists mostly of Indians or half-breeds which he sincerely loves.

All the sisters who, at one time or another, have been working at the Mission, keep in their minds the remembrance of the happy days they spent there. God has always in store plenty of favours which He so profusely bestows on those who deny themselves for His sake.

Sister Marie St. Isaie who worked at "La Mission" for many years, left behind a remarkable reputation and is still unanimously regretted by this simple and kind hearted people. May she, in her solitude of Kerustrum, often speak about Lac La Biche to the young "Juvenistes" and put in their hearts a great longing for the North-Western Mission of Canada!

Previous Page | Next Page