Delia Tetreault

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Delia Tetreault was born in Marieville, Quebec, on February 4, 1865. At the age of two, her mother died and was brought up by her aunt and uncle. She had a weak health and was usually sick.

When she was a child, she had a very significant dream. She was kneeling by her bed when all at once, she saw a wheat field. The heads of the wheat each changed to heads of children from different parts of the world. At the age of 13, she felt a calling for the religious life. At the age of 15, she made the vow of perpetual chastity. At the age of 18, she asked to join the Carmelite order of Montreal but they refused her. She went to Sisters of Charity of St-Hyacinthe where she was accepted as a postulant. However, her poor health brought her back to her uncle. In 1891, Delia joined the Bethany and stayed there for 10 years. It was in this time that Delia realized her dream. Her dream was an apostolic school for women and a seminary for the foreign missions.Around this time, she met Father Gustave Bourassa who was her guide and led her to all the important persons she needed to fulfill her dreams. In 1902, Mgr. Bruchesi went to Rome and spoke to Pope Pius X about this new foundation. Pope Pius X immediately answered,"Found, found and all the blessings of Heaven will fall upon this new Institute and you will call them the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception."

In 1905, Delia had her perpetual commitement and took the name Sr. Marie du Saint Espirit. In 1909, the first six Sisters of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception left for Canton, China. Within a short time, several convents opened in the Province of Quebec to support the missions. In 1920, they launched a missionary review, Le Precurser.On Feb 2, 1921 the Seminary for the foreign missions came to life. Officially, the founders of this new group were known to be the bishops of the Province of Quebec, however, the inspiration truly came from Mother Délia. On 1933, Delia became seriously ill and on October 1, 1941, Mother Delia passed away.

On 1958, the first steps were taken for the beatification of Delia. Finally, on 1982, Archbishop of Montreal approved of the stages in view of the introduction of the cause in Rome. On 1987 was the canonical closure of the Diocesan procedures. Presently the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception are in 13 countries and of 17 nationalities including 582 professed sisters and 87 sisters in initial formation.