The history of the Augustinian Sisters in Quebec
The history of the Augustinian Sisters in Quebec bears witness to the remarkable journey of pioneering women who laid the foundations for the current healthcare system. As founders of 12 monastery hospitals, the Augustinian Sisters actively contributed to society as hospital owners and managers, nurses, and pharmacists. They thus participated in the social and economic development of the regions where they worked with dedication.
The Augustinian Sisters from yesterday to today
The Augustinian Sisters improved the living conditions of the population while playing a key role in the evolution of healthcare. In the 1990s, after centuries of dedication, they began to consider leaving their rich heritage to the people of Quebec in an innovative way.
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1639
Arrival in Quebec City and founding of the first hospital
Three Augustinian Sisters arrive from Dieppe and establish the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, the first hospital north of Mexico. They lay the foundations for hospital care and go on to establish 11 other monastery hospitals across the province.
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1936
The Hôtel-Dieu de Québec becomes a National Historic Site of Canada
Recognition by the federal government of the importance of the Augustinian Sisters in health care and education.
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From 1960 onward
Transfer of hospitals to the Quebec government
The Augustinian Sisters relinquish the management and ownership of their hospitals, while continuing to work there and pursue their spiritual and caregiving mission. In the years that follow, the Augustinian Sisters gradually transfer their monasteries, most of which become extensions of the hospitals to which they were initially attached.
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2000
A major step toward the structured preservation of their memory
Facing the decline of their community, the Augustinian Sisters hold a chapter meeting. They decide to consolidate the archives and collections of their twelve foundations and create a place of remembrance. A few months later, they agree to dedicate the monastery of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec to this purpose.
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2009
Creation of a public benefit trust and two non-profit organizations: Le Monastère des Augustines and the Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin Center
The Augustinian Sisters establish La Fiducie du patrimoine culturel des Augustines, to which they entrust their objects, archives, founding monastery, and the intentions that will guide the creation of the memorial site. They also create Le Monastère des Augustines, a living memorial site, to oversee its operations, as well as the Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin Center to oversee activities dedicated to Blessed Marie-Catherine.
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2012
Official transfer of the Hôtel-Dieu monastery buildings to the Fiducie
The site, open to the public, will be dedicated to remembrance and rejuvenation. The Fiducie receives financial assistance from the governments of Canada and Quebec and the City of Quebec to carry out the rehabilitation of the monastery and turn it into a place of remembrance.
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2015
Opening of Le Monastère des Augustines, a living memorial
On August 1, Le Monastère opens its doors, offering a wellness experience rooted in the mission of the Augustinian Sisters.
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2018
Transfer of the archives and collections of the twelve monasteries to the Fiducie
A major milestone for the preservation and transmission of their exceptional history. This heritage includes one linear kilometer of archives and more than 60,000 artifacts.
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2023
UNESCO recognition
The Augustinian Sisters’ archives are added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, highlighting their universal value.
Social transmission
The history of the Augustinian Sisters in Quebec is a lesson in humanity. Courageous and determined, these true pioneers in healthcare spread their values as caregivers throughout our society: compassion, respect for those receiving care, and a desire to advance medical thinking.
Today’s significant challenge
Mainly based at the Hôpital général de Québec monastery, the Augustinian Sisters have been facing a significant decline in their aging community for several years. They are lucidly engaged in a reflection on the future of the Hôpital général site. They wish to find a new, meaningful vocation for it, one that is community-oriented and respectful of the heritage value of this exceptional complex.
The Hôpital général de Québec
The Hôpital général monastery of Quebec City is a true jewel of Quebec’s heritage. The Récollets established the first convent in New France on this site in 1620. At the bishop’s request, the site was subsequently entrusted to the Augustinian Sisters in 1693 so that they could care for the elderly, the sick, the poor, and the wounded, particularly during times of war. In addition to providing care, the Augustinian Sisters preserved a remarkable religious, cultural, and medical heritage. Today, this peaceful place is a powerful symbol of the history of the Augustinian Sisters in Quebec. It remains a heritage and spiritual landmark in the heart of the city, bearing witness to their social and hospitable commitment.
