The story of Mother Marie-Leonie and The Little Sisters of the Holy Family- Centre Marie-Léonie Paradis, Sherbrooke

To remember the story of Mother Marie-Leonie Paradis is to keep her alive so that she may continue to be a witness of her faith and values, today and for generations to come. What was experienced in her presence was that everyone returned comforted by her great faith in God, her attentive listening, her compassion, her love and her sharing.

The existence and story of The Little Sisters of the Holy Family prove that she has attracted more than 2,000 women to give their lives to God to support the ministry of priests. The grouping of the "Friends of Mother Marie-Leonie" results from her kindness because she remains the mother of all needs for all those who pray to her.
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Click on each photo to enlarge it and read its description

Insignia of the Marianites of Holy Cross’religious habit with a Marian blue cord and rosary to Our Lady of Sorrows worn by Mother Marie-Léonie from 1857 to 1904

Statue of the Virgin Mary on Mother Marie-Léonie’s desk in her bedroom

Insignia of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family’s religious habit with a brown cord and a 5 decades rosary worn by Mother Marie-Léonie from 1904 until her death in 1912

Statue of Saint Joseph. This statue was installed in St. Jospeh’s College chapel in Memramcook, NB, in 1868. Sister Saint-Edouard sent it to Mother Marie-Léonie in 1907 at Sherbrooke QC.

Suitcase worn out by a lifetime of travelling across Canada and the United States due to the expansion of the Institute and visit to her Sisters

Boots worn out by a lifetime of travelling across Canada and the United States due to the expansion of the Institute and visit to her Sisters

Inhalant and medical kit used by Mother Marie-Léonie because of her frail health

Writing kit and pen used when travelling to update her correspondence

VISIT THE FOUR ALCOVES AND THE SHRINE

1 The story of Mother
Marie-Leonie and the
Little Sisters of the
Holy Family

2 The arrival of the
Little Sisters of the
Holy Family in
Sherbrooke

3 Charisma
and mission

4 Charisma
and spirituality

The shrine of
Blessed Marie-Leonie
in the southern
transept