Step Into SNJM History: A Living Heritage Experience in the Heart of Old Longueuil

What if the walls, gardens, and even the traces of an old stream could tell their stories? As part of Religious Heritage Days, the Centre Marie-Rose invites the public to step back in time on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the heritage site of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) in Longueuil.

Far more than a series of dates, this approximately two-hour outdoor guided tour will bring to life episodes that shaped both the site and the Congregation. Historical photographs, interpretive panels, a digital tool, and fascinating anecdotes will enrich the experience along the way.

In the Footsteps of Marie-Rose Durocher

The first stop is the Foundation House. Its architecture and remarkable history provide an introduction to Eulalie Durocher, the future Mother Marie-Rose. Stories of her childhood, her years as an active laywoman in Beloeil, and her call to establish a religious Congregation devoted to education will help visitors understand the founding of the SNJM in 1843.

Historical images will also offer a glimpse inside this heritage building and reveal the story of its spectacular move from its original location.

When the Convent Comes Back to Life

Around the Congregation House, the site’s educational and religious past will come alive. Once a convent and the SNJM Motherhouse, this historic building welcomed generations of young girls and underwent many transformations throughout the years.

The tour will explore daily life within its walls: teaching, novitiate formation, administration, prayer, as well as recreation and physical activities. In the backyard, imagine students and Sisters walking near the large vegetable garden and cannery!

Other discoveries await along the route, including the sometimes surprising flooding of Saint-Antoine Creek, traces of which can still be seen today; and the cemetery where the first SNJM pioneers were laid to rest.

These stories will also introduce visitors to remarkable women such as Mother Véronique-du-Crucifix, a pioneer in teaching botany and incorporating natural science museums into the convent schools, and Mother Thérèse-de-Jésus, who helped expand SNJM missions beyond Quebec’s borders.

From a Rich Heritage to a Mission That Lives On

The tour will conclude in front of Maison Jésus-Marie, creating a bridge between this rich heritage and the present day. Visitors will discover how the SNJM’s commitments to education, social justice, and communities in different parts of the world continue to evolve.

And why stop there? Just a short walk away, visitors can continue their discovery at Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Co-Cathedral. The Marie-Rose Chapel, where the SNJM foundress is entombed, and the section devoted to the Congregation in the museum provide a wonderful complement to this journey through history.

Practical Information

Saturday, September 12, 2026
Tour begins: 1:30 p.m.
Duration: approximately 2 hours
Free activity—no registration required
Cancelled in case of rain