Marguerite Bourgeoys, CND, was a French religious sister and founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal in the colony of New France, now part of Québec, Canada.
Portrait of Blessed Marguerite Bourgeoys CND by Antoine Plamondon
Portrait of Bourgeoys by Pierre Le Ber (1700)
Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal
The Congrégation de Notre Dame (CND) is a religious community for women founded in 1658 in Ville Marie (Montreal), in the colony of New France, now part of Canada. It was established by Marguerite Bourgeoys, who was recruited in France to create a religious community in Ville Marie. She developed a congregation for women that was not cloistered; the sisters were allowed to live and work outside the convent. The congregation held an important role in the development of New France, as it supported women and girls in the colony and offered roles for them outside the home.
La Venerable Marguerite Bourgeoys by Pierre Le Ber in the possession of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame, Montreal
The Maison Saint-Gabriel today