“Think of the favor God will deign to give as you collaborate in the beautiful work of education.”

Elodie Paradis was born on May 12, 1840, in the village of L’Acadie, Quebec. She was the only daughter and the 3rd in a family of 6 children. They were religious and struggled to earn a living in a rural area. She boarded with and was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame.

A boy who was a friend of the family and who joined the Congregation of Holy Cross, told Elodie about the Marianite Sisters of the Holy Cross. She entered their novitiate at the age of 14, and took the name of Sister Marie of Sainte Leonie. She was admitted despite her poor health.

She taught in several towns before being sent to New York at the age of 22, to assist with an orphanage. She remained for 8 years until she chose to move to the American community of the Holy Cross Sisters of Indiana in 1870, with the hope of fulfilling her aspirations.

She taught needlework and French while also mastering English.

She was in Michigan briefly before being called to direct a team at Memramcook College in New Brunswick. The director was her old family friend who was now a priest. She felt drawn to offer service in colleges as they were becoming more numerous in the area.

She opened a sewing workshop for young Acadian women attracted to the consecrated life, and the community evolved. In 1877, 14 young women donned the religious habit, and several years later, the new community was recognized by the Holy Cross Fathers.

For 20 years she persisted in asking the Bishop to approve her Institute as an autonomous religious community. In 1896 it was approved by another Bishop, who had welcomed the motherhouse.

Mother Marie-Leonie pursued the work of educating and promoting the human and spiritual welfare of the poor illiterate girls who were attracted by the new community. She understood the importance of the service they offered to the diocesan colleges. She traveled regularly to respond to new needs and to oversee the formation of her Sisters.

Upon her sudden death on May 3, 1912, The Institute of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family consisted of over 40 active foundations in Canada and the United States.

“She was always ready with a hearty, open laugh, welcoming each person as if they were God Himself.” – Bishop Paul LaRocque

Her feast day is May 3.

For God’s Glory.