Life and Times of Delia

The Life and Times of Délia

May these photographs and stories be a window to the past.
Through this book of memories,

we relive each person’s unique contribution to Délia’s great project,
which still today fills us with wonder.

Our deepest admiration goes to this, our glorious past!



The Life and Times of Délia



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Two years later, exhausted by closely spaced Célina Ponton
pregnancies, Célina Ponton was once again (1832-1867)
expecting; she gave birth to another little girl Délia’s mother
who died shortly after. With her health seriously D(A1é8lle3ixa0i’-ss19fTa0ét4ht)reerault
compromised and feeling her end was near, she
begged her sister Julie and her husband Jean
Alix to adopt Délia. Célina quietly passed away
at the age of 35, leaving behind her husband
Alexis Tétreault and their seven children:
Célina, Joseph, Alexis, Benoit, Pierre, Victoire
and Délia, then only two and a half years old.

With his family thus broken, Alexis Tétreault
made a difficult decision: he emigrated to the
United States with a few of his children, leaving
the rest in the care of close relatives.



Major influences

Now under the responsibility of Julie Ponton
and Jean Alix, our blossoming little Délia quickly
adapted to her new home. A stern man, her uncle
slowly adjusted to his role as a father, war ming
up to his new affectionate daughter. Julie for her
part worked tirelessly to provide Délia with a solid
education and a strong sense of family, always
inviting her brothers and her sister Victoire during
the holidays. Délia, in this loving and privileged
home, could not help being in awe of the beauty
of the world, a feeling which nurtured her deep
appreciation and gratefulness towards life.

JDeéalniaA’sliaxd(1o8p2t3iv-1e9p1a0r) eanntds Julie Ponton (1825-1900)



Délia, her sister Célina and her brother Joseph

Délia, age 3



Célina Tétreault Joseph Tétreault Alexis Tétreault

Délia’s sisters and brothers, as years went by…

Benoit Tétreault Victoire Tétreault Pierre Tétreault



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Délia Tétreault at 18 As a teenager she was captivated by the
stories and apostolic experiences of the
missionaries from Northern Canada who
visited her parish. Her dream to become a
missionary grew steadily. Although at the
time, since there was as yet no missionary
community for women in Canada, this dream
seemed all but impossible. Délia was still
finding her way… Drawn to religious life,
she asked to be admitted to the Carmel of
Montreal, but was refused no doubt because
of her delicate health. Later, when she went
to the Grey Nuns in Saint-Hyacinthe, an
epidemic there forced Délia to go back to her
parents in Marieville.

December 1883. Then 18, Délia noticed the
health of her aunt Julie deteriorating. As
she stood by her side and nursed her, Délia
would still participate in parish activities.



One day she met a missionary, one of the Born in France in 1843, Almire Pichon joined the Jesuits in
White Fathers of Africa. At once, her dream of 1868. Appointed to Canada in 1884, he became an ardent
becoming a missionary resurfaced. But alas, after missionary, as well as a prominent retreat master and
preparing eagerly for the jour ney, on the eve of
her departure, she fell sick. spiritual guide. Délia worked in Béthanie, the community
centre founded by Father Pichon in one of Montreal’s poorer
In 1889, she met Father Almire Pichon, neighbourhoods. She spent 10 years there helping immigrants.
s.j., who was at the time laying the plans for a
community centre for immigrants – the majority
of whom were Italians – in Montreal, and
preparing the foundation of a secular institute in
order to move the project forward. After just one
meeting with her, he considered Délia a potential
pillar of this organization, offering her a part in
his nascent project…

In 1891, Father Pichon opened a community
centre on Saint-Philippe Street in Saint-Henri,
one of Montreal’s poorest neighbourhoods. For
Délia, the sharp contrast between the quiet
countryside and the bustling city was brutal.



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significant figure in her life.



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Joséphine Montmarquet was born in Montreal in 1864. A great friend of Délia, she also
closely collaborated with her on the foundation of the Missionary Training Centre,
which was to become the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Society.
This highly cultivated and profoundly spiritual woman, later known by her religious
name Sister Saint-Gustave, greatly contributed to the life of the community.



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leaving Béthanie in the care of Father
Gustave Bourassa. As Délia shared her
projects with this remarkable priest, a profound
friendship grew between them. Father Bourassa
understood the importance of this training
centre, going so far as to propose to discuss the
matter with the Archbishop of Montreal, Paul
Bruchési.

Upon his return to Montreal, and learning
about the initiatives taken by Délia, Father
Pichon became irritated. It would seem that
this disagreement was at the source of Délia’s
departure from Béthanie.

For Délia, the curtain had fallen on her
last ten years of labour and devotion. In
hindsight, however, she came to see Béthanie
as an opportunity for her missionary project to
mature and to better acquaint herself with the



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Born in Saint-Paul d’Abbotsford in 1861, Marie-Aveline Bengle was
a pioneer in the fight for higher education rights for the women
of Quebec. In 1880 she joined the Sisters of the Congregation of
Notre-Dame as Sister Sainte-Anne-Marie, and in 1908 founded the
first classical college for young francophone women. In 1926, she
established an institute that offered in-service training courses for
women teachers. She was introduced to Délia in 1901, sharing with her
newfound friend invaluable advice for the development of her project.



Paul Bruchési, born in Montreal in 1855, was well known for his keen intelligence, his open-
mindedness, his eloquence and his love for the Church. As the Archbishop of Montreal
he recognized the importance of Délia’s project. With his help, Délia was able to lay the
groundwork for a training centre for young women interested in the missionary life. He
forever remained a loyal mentor and great supporter of the community.

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In response to Father Paul Bruchési’s request concerning Délia’s project, Pope Pius X
answered: “All blessings will go to this new institute. You will name it the Missionary
Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.” The date was November 30, 1904. And so it is to

this Pope that the community owes its existence.



( 1880 - 1952 ) Louis-Adelmar Lapierre was the parish priest of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Church in Montreal. One day, after a long walk, he stopped by the Mother
House to rest. Délia Tétreault welcomed him in, offering him a fresh cup of
coffee. They discussed the possibility of having a seminary for the Canadian
missions. Father Lapierre was fascinated by this project, as he had always
wanted to become a missionary ever since his ordination. This encounter
yielded many concrete projects for the foundation of the Foreign Missions
Society, of whom Father Lapierre became the first member. He later left for
Manchuria, and served as a bishop in the Diocese of Szepingkai.

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On February 2, 1921, in Montreal, the Quebec Assembly
of Catholic Bishops decreed the foundation of the
Foreign Mission Society of the Province of Quebec.
This was the launch of Délia’s cherished dream, the
work for which God had asked for her collaboration.

Délia at 57 years old

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Province of

Texts : Céline Gauvin, MIC and Jeanne Gauvin, MIC
English translation : Alexandre Payer
Layout and design : Alexandre Payer
Photos : MIC Archives, 2016