Little Sisters of the Holy Family
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY
(Les Petites Soeurs de la Sainte Famille, PSSF, Official Catholic Directory #2320); a congregation with papal approbation, founded in Canada in 1880 for the purpose of providing domestic help for the clergy. The foundress, Alodie Virginie Paradis (1840–1912), was born in Nova Scotia and joined the Holy Cross Sisters at the age of 13. After 20 years as a teacher, Mother Marie Leonie (her name in religion) was put in charge of the domestic work at St. Joseph's College, Memramcook, New Brunswick. Finding that there were many young women eager to join her in this work, Mother Leonie decided, with the advice and help of Camille Lefebvre, a Holy Cross priest, to form a new community. In 1895 the novitiate was transferred to Sherbrooke, Quebec, where the motherhouse was later established. The sisters devoted themselves exclusively to work in the kitchens, laundries, and sacristies of colleges, seminaries, and episcopal residences. The first foundation in the U.S. was made in 1890. The motherhouse is in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The U.S. headquarters is in Lowell, Mass.
[a. j. ennis/eds.]