Date Published:
February 2005

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Dominican Nuns

Dominican Nuns are sisters following the rules which St. Dominic traced for his male disciples. There are various branches of Dominican nuns, the eldest enjoying the privilege of forming a separate category known as the "Second or Great Order", while all other are grafted on the main trunk as "Third Order". The "Second Order" has been represented in Canada since 1925 by the Contemplative Dominicans of Berthierville, Quebec, whose cloistered life is altogether consecrated to contemplation. Three different branches also represent the "Third Order" in Canada : (1) The Dominican Sisters of the Child Jesus, founded in 1887, conduct in the archdiocese of Quebec seven establishments. (2) The Dominican Sisters of the Rosary, originally from the Quebec branch, are now autonomous and constitute a congregation for the temporal care of colleges, seminaries, and rectories, and for the direction of orphanages. The sisters, who are engaged in the dioceses of Three Rivers, Ottawa, and Montreal, number 120, in charge of eight residences. (3) The Dominican Sisters of the Teaching Order were introduced into Canada by Cardinal Rouleau, who, in 1927, established them in Valleyfield, where they conduct a school and a novitiate for the order. See R. P. Archambault, S. J., Sur les pas de Marthe et de Marie (Montreal, 1929).

Source: W. Stewart WALLACE, ed., The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., pp. 222-223.