The Society of the Priests of
Saint Sulpice was founded on December 29, 1641 by Jean-Jacques
Olier, the future pastor of the Parish of Saint Sulpice in Paris
for the realization of two objectives: "one is the renewal of the
Church in her districts, the other the establishment of a new
church in Canada, where a new Christian city will be built, which
is a work of wonderful importance." (Dominique Deslandres, John A.
Dickinson et Ollivier Hubert,
Les
Sulpiciens de Montréal. Une histoire de pouvoir et de
discrétion 1657-2007, Montréal,
Éditions Fides, 2007, p. 30 ; our translation).
The Priests of Saint Sulpice, who arrived in Canada in 1657, were
the landlords of Montreal, of Saint Sulpice since 1663 and of the
Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes in Oka from 1717 until the abolition of the
seigniorial system in the 20
th century.
Missionaries, explorers, priests and landlords, the Sulpicians
have worked with indigenous people, the population of Montreal and
religious sisters. Educators and humanitarians, they established
schools from primary to university faculties, hospitals,
institutions for the poor, libraries to encourage reading. Mindful
of the beautiful, they have supported artists who have marked the
fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, and music.
They have contributed to the development of religious, social,
economic and cultural life in Montreal. More than 70 names of
avenues, roads, parks, squares and streets in the city highlight
the contribution of the Sulpicians. Through the influence of their
members, they have exercised an influence in Canada and the United
States, then in Rome, Japan, Colombia, in various countries of
Central and South America, and mainly in Brazil.
The Corporation Cultural Universe
of Saint Sulpice
In order to continue the
Corporation
Archives
of the Priests of Saint Sulpice of Montreal (1991), the
Priests of Saint Sulpice of Montreal have formed in 2006 the
Corporation Cultural Universe of
Saint Sulpice. They have entrusted to it the management
of cultural assets that are divided into three departments:
The Corporation's mission is to make known and appreciated the
role of the Priests of Saint Sulpice, landlords of Montreal, of
the Lake of Two Mountains and of Saint Sulpice, in the religious,
political, economic, social and cultural history of the country
since the founding of Montreal (1642) until now. It aims to
acquire, preserve, manage and make accessible the archives, the
patrimonial goods and the rare books for the benefit of all who
are interested in them.
In 2010, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is formed of
the following persons:
- Vacant, President
- Fr. Pierre Bougie p.s.s., Vice-President
- Fr. Robert Gauthier, p.s.s., Secretary
- Mr. Marc Lacasse, Administrator
- Mrs. Monique Lanthier, Treasurer
