The Clerics of Saint Viator in Canada for 150 years On May 27, 1847, three Clerics of Saint Viator, from France, landed in Montreal after sailing for about a month across the Atlantic Ocean. Their mission was to take the leadership of a college in the town of Indusrie, later called Joliette. It was the beginning of quite an adventure for this religious order which has persevered in this country for 150 years. Today, the Clerics of Saint Viator are happy to acknowledge the blessings showered upon them and invite everyone to join in prayers of gratitude to the Almighty. In 1831, Louis Querbes, a pastor in a rural parish near Lyon, France, founded the Clerics of Saint Viator, an Order of priests and brothers dedicated to assure a Christian education to the youth of the time. Through the years they have extended their services in parish ministry and in social work. In Canada they are considered pioneers in the education of the Deaf and the Blind. In this day and age, they promote pastoral team work in the parishes. They are active in Manitoba, Ontario, and many regions in Quebec. The Canadian Clerics of Saint Viator are also at work in Japan, Taiwan, Ivory Coast (Africa), Peru and Haiti. Since about fifteen years, men and women, have become lay associates with the Order to share its mission.

The following text is a list of how and where the Clerics have been working and are still involved in Manitoba. The Clerics of Saint Viator in Manitoba for 93 years. The existence of the Clerics of Saint Viator in Manitoba began in Mackinac, a small community located some 50 km from Dauphin, where an attempt, by the Southwark Emigration Society from England, was made to establish an orphanage for youngsters brought in from England and which could accept English speaking orphans from Manitoba. This project failed rather miserably within four years and, in 1900, all but one orphan returned to England. The entire property and rights were transferred to the diocese of Saint Boniface, at the time, the only diocese in Western Canada. In 1903, the Clerics of Saint Viator accepted the bishops request to take over the ìHomeî. The first members from Quebec arrived in May of 1904. The original orphanage was maintained in Mackinac until 1912. Since the land was too infertile to be a provider, it was decided to buy land elsewhere and Otterburne was the chosen place. In April of 1912, everybody and everything was transferred to Otterburne where a basic structure was erected. La Maison St-Josephi or Saint Joseph Home almost became a revolving platform around which much of the life of Otterburne, and surrounding Francophone and Catholic communities, developed. In 1958 the name was changed to Saint Joseph College, an institution where numerous youngsters received all or part of their high school education. In March 1967, when centralisation was adopted by most school divisions, it became impossible to operate without absorbing a yearly deficit. The College closed its doors in June 1967. It was the beginning of new involvements for members of the Order. The following is a list of schools, parishes and institutions where many members got involved after 1967. Schools: St.Claude and Rathwell, St. Jean-Baptiste, and Ste. Anne-des-Chênes. Parishes: St. Claude, St. Léon and Manitou, La Broquerie along with Marchand, St. Labre and Woodridge, Fannystelle and Starbuck, Christ the King in Saint Vital, St. Pierre-Jolys and Otterburne, Holy Family Parish in St. Boniface. St.Viator Parish in Dauphin dates back to the days of Mackinac and the one in Otterburne to the 1930s. Some members were later involved at St. Boniface College, both at the High School and University levels. Father Ron's Drop-In (now Teen Stop Jeunesse), a home away from home for youngsters at risk, opened its doors in St. Vital in 1980. Le Service de Conseiller Saint Viateur for the counselling of individuals and families began operating in the late 1970s. All through these 93 years, the Lord has maintained a continuous presence of the Clerics of Saint Viator in Manitoba as a part of his Church, and as a sign of his loving presence among his people. Sinite Parvulos Venire ad me. Let the little children come to me.