Portrait of a saint

Our Mother Saint Joseph

Marie de Savonnières de la Troche, known as Marie de Saint-Joseph, was born in 1616 in France to a noble family. At the age of 14, she entered the Ursulines of Tours. When she heard about Marie of the Incarnation’s future mission to New France, she volunteered to go. She was 23 years old. Once she arrived in North America, she learned two native languages and became comfortable with the Native Americans. She fell ill after the first fire of the Monastery. Her parents urged her to return to Europe, but she remained dedicated to her mission until the end of her life. She died at the age of 35. Her death saddened not only our religious community, but her friends the Hurons, as well.