Congregation of Holy Cross – Province of Canada
4901, rue du Piedmont, Montreal (Quebec) H3V 1E3. www.ste-croix.qc.ca

The first religious of Holy Cross – eight brothers, two priests and four sisters – arrived at Saint-Laurent from Le Mans in France on May 27, 1847 upon the request of Bishop Bourget, bishop of Montreal. Soon after their arrival, they founded a first school. In 1863, following the passing of pastor Jean-Baptiste Saint-Germain, the religious inherited the Saint-Laurent parish according to the wishes of the latter and those of Father Moreau and Bishop Bourget. From 1847 to 1945, twelve superiors, including the first Canadian, Father Camille Lefebvre, in 1872, led the province which included all the religious, priests and brothers.

In 1945, a restructuring voted by the general chapter and aimed at easing the tensions that had developed between the societies of priests and those of brothers throughout the congregation resulted in the creation of the homogeneous provinces. In 1947, as everywhere in the congregation, the Canadian Province of the Fathers of Holy Cross, which included coadjutor brothers, and the Canadian Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross were established. In 2008, following a common desire, the two entities were once again reunited into a single mixed province – fathers and brothers – bearing the name of Canadian Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross. After the integration of the district of Acadia into this new province in 2012, a new reorganization marked the union of the region of English Canada with the Canadian Province in January 2023.

In 1943, the English-speaking religious of the Province of Canada wished to become autonomous. The provincial chapter, which held its meeting in June of that year, agreed to form a dependent vice-province that will remain partly supported by the mother province. On July 16, 1943, the general council endorsed the decision of the provincial chapter and appointed an English-speaking vice-provincial. On July 1, 1946, the vice-province became independent, reporting only to the superior general. On April 29, 1958, it was elevated to the status of a province under the name Anglo-Canadian Province. In 1980, the name of the province was changed to English Canadian Province of Holy Cross. The province became a vicariate in 2007 under the leadership of the superior general, then a region in 2014 and on January 1, 2023, following a decision of the recent general chapter, the members were integrated into the Canadian Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

The religious of Holy Cross settled in the Memramcook valley in Acadia in 1864. In 1943, they formed a vice-province which was partly supported by the mother province. Two years later, it became independent and reported directly to the superior general. In April 1958, the vice-province was elevated to the rank of province under the name of Acadian Province of the Fathers of Holy Cross. In 1991, it was set up as the district of Acadia and had twelve members. This structure was again changed in 2012 to become the CSC Acadia House integrated into the recent Canadian Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross.