History Grey Nuns

the congregation founded when marguerite d youville , 3 of friends formed religious association care poor. rented small house in montreal on 30 october 1738, taking in small number of destitute persons. on 3 june 1753 society received royal sanction, transferred them rights , privileges granted letters patent in 1694 frères hospitaliers de la croix et de saint-joseph, known after founder frères charon. @ time took on work of bankrupt frères charon @ hôpital général de montréal located outside city walls. (in seventeenth century, “general hospital” institution took in old people, ill, , poor. medical care dispensed @ hôtel dieu.)

in 1755 sisters cared stricken during smallpox epidemic. sisters not cloistered, go out visit sick. assisted included first nations people in oka, among benefactors later helped rebuild hospital after fire in 1765.

after 1840, order rapidly expanded, , on next 100 years became major provider of health care , other social services throughout quebec, western , northern canada, , northern united states. in 1855, grey nuns called toledo, ohio, care many suffering cholera.