Marillac Villa, Howe Island in the early 2000s.
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST
One of the Sisters’ favourite places is somewhere that rarely gets mentioned in the ‘official’ history of the congregation: Marillac Villa, the congregation’s cottage on Howe Island. This beautiful property has been a respite for the Sisters of Providence since 1954. The congregation first rented this island retreat for three weeks in 1954, rented it again in 1955, and purchased it that Fall, which I think shows that they fell in love with the property right from the beginning. This little slice of heaven, named Marillac Villa in 1956, has been owned by the congregation for 70 years!
Here are a few early mentions of the cottage in the Congregational Annals of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, and a few early photographs:
July 5, 1954 – The Novitiate Sisters accompanied by the Mistress of Novices, Sister Mary Anicetus, left for a holiday. They occupied a cottage on Howe Island, which was rented for three weeks at $30.00 a week. The Sisters were divided into three groups, each group remaining one week. The cottage is nicely located for privacy and close to the water for bathing etc. They had a row boat which helped considerably to make the time more enjoyable.
June 19, 1956 – Sister Mary Roberta with a group of Junior Sisters went to Howe Island to prepare our summer cottage “Marillac Villa” for the arrival of the Novitiate Sisters next week. The cottage which we had rented for the past two summers was purchased last autumn. It was enlarged so as to now accommodate at least thirty Sisters at one time. The new row boat is called “Stella Maris”.
July 1959 – During the month Sisters have been coming and going, and other visitors, as holidays season goes on. A treat our own Sisters seem to enjoy is a visit for a few days at “Marillac Villa” our pretty summer cottage on Howe Island. It is an ideal place for an outing and rest, with privacy for swimming, boating, fishing etc. and no seculars allowed.
September 4, 1960 – Mother Mary Lenore, Sister Mary Roberta and a number of Sisters went to spend a few days at the cottage. Outings to this delightful resort on Howe Island during the summer months seem to be the order of the day. Some Sisters like to spend a full holiday of ten days, others naturally prefer to go to their homes instead and cannot expect more, but if they are lucky it may be possible for them to get a few days extra on Howe Island. Primarily this summer resort was intended for the Novices and Junior Professed Sisters. Novitiate Sisters spent the first two weeks of July and then the Professed Sisters. The Notre Dame nuns have been using the cottage in our absence during the July retreats, and are happy and grateful to be able to do so.
Sisters in the rowboat Stella Maris at Marillac Villa, Howe Island in the 1950s
Sisters at Marillac Villa, Howe Island, Ontario, ca. 1960s
