About the same time as Father Gaire was asking for sisters for Grande Clairière, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate were seeking them, through Msgr. Langevin, for their extensive mission field in Canada. Lac Croche (Crooked Lake) Assiniboia, the centre of a Cree Indian Reserve, about 280 miles west of Winnipeg, was chosen for the second group to leave the Mother House.

Mother M. St. Irenee, who was chosen to be the superior, had made her vows in 1890 after a novitiate directed by Mother Foundress. She had taught school and later directed the work room at Armentieres. In the spring of 1898, she was recalled to Lyons and enjoyed the gracious advantage of preparing for her future mission under the guidance of our first superiors. Blessed with a keen and practical intellect, excellent judgement, and the rare gift of perception and initiative, she was destined to render great service until her early death in October 1917. Sr. M. St. Euphemie was professed in December 1896 and had begun her apostolate at Deal. Sr. M. St. Peter Damien, who was professed in November 1897, had spent a few months at Fribourg and at Armentieres. Sister Mary Saint Pauline, also at Armentieres, had given proof of her active devotedness.

Leaving Deal at the end of November 1898, they were accompanied by Monsignor LeGal, O.M.I., Bishop of Saint Albert, who was returning to Canada and who readily agreed to be their guide.

Sister Mary St. Euphemie‘s aged father, who lived in Waterford, Ireland, met the ship. He was able to reach it in a rowboat and go aboard. In the short meeting, he kissed his daughter, received the bishop’s blessing, and renewed the offering of his sacrifice. Leaning over the parapet of the steamer, slowly moving towards the ocean, surrounded by four thoughtful sisters, the missionary bishop gave a last blessing to the white-haired man, piously prostrate in the fragile boat that carried him, as if with regret, to his native land. The other passengers were impressed by the scene, and the press, aware of the interest such a touching episode would inspire, published it in the local papers.

We regret that we do not have more details of the sisters, departure and crossing, but we will take up their story at Grande Clairière, where on December 7, they visited the sisters there. While anticipating many sacrifices in missionary life, they were greatly surprised and affected by the sight of the destitution in which the sisters lived, and could not repress their tears of sisterly sympathy. After trying to mutually encourage one another, they had to say goodbye.

The travellers left Our Lady of the Snows on December 10 in an alarming blizzard, which soon subsided. To protect themselves from the cold, they allowed themselves to be wrapped up together in a large blanket, which prevented them from seeing anything around them. The roads, buried in deep snow banks that formed hills and valleys, were difficult to follow. Suddenly, the roads buried in deep snow banks that formed hills and valleys, were difficult to follow. The sleigh overturned in a ditch treacherously hidden under the folds of its ample white mantle, and they rolled pell-mell into the downy trench. Happily, they were not hurt and experienced only fright. The trip ended without further accident.

We will continue this account on the next ‘first-Wednesday-history’ on August 2.