Bishop Georges-Marie and Sister Agnès

Born in Châteauguay in 1858, Georges-Marie studied at the Collège de Montréal from 1868 to 1876. At the same time, he took a philosophy course and then began his studies in theology, a program offered by Université Laval in Montréal.

In June 1882, he was ordained priest by Bishop Édouard-Charles Fabre. That same year, he taught English at the Collège de Montréal.

During his career, Bishop LePailleur held several positions at various levels of his profession’s hierarchy (vicar, parish priest, canon, chaplain, bishop), in addition to being involved in various associations (the Forestiers catholiques, the Société des artisans canadiens-français and the Société Saint-Vincent de Paul).

In his own way, he too followed in the footsteps of his father, notary Alfred-Narcisse, by becoming an apostolic prothonotary (who assisted in the payment of taxes, indulgences and dispensations from canonizations and played a notary role in ecclesiastical matters).

But in addition to his professional activities, Georges-Marie founded the Ordre des chevaliers de Carillon, which defended the national and religious interests of French Canadians (always abiding by Catholic principles) and the Caisse d’économie scolaire, in addition to co-founding the organization La goutte de lait, which aimed to improve hygiene conditions and nutrition for young children in order to reduce the infant mortality rate.

Bishop Georges-Marie LePailleur died on December 4, 1935, at the age of 77. Several newspapers published columns praising his achievements.

His younger sister, Agnès (1862-1951), entered religion at the age of 17. She chose the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns) who were very present in Châteauguay, where she was living. She was also known as Sister Dalton, her mother’s last name. During her career, she rose through the ranks of her Order to become Provincial Superior.