Euphrasie Barbier was a French woman who was born in Caen, Normandy in 1892. Her family were very strong in the practice of their Catholic faith and had to work hard to earn a living. Euphrasie helped her mother as often as she could and developed a very strong work ethic while running her own laundry business. Alongside this her faithfulness to prayer, her love for the Mass and a yearning to be a missionary was growing stronger every day. As a teenager she became very attracted to the missionary work that was taking place in other parts of the world, especially in the islands of the Pacific. [Image above: Caen-L’Église-St-Pierre ]
Euphrasie heard about a new missionary congregation called the Sisters of Calvary founded in Cuves, France and asked to join these Sisters in 1848. They welcomed her into their Novitiate and although life was difficult at times her zeal and love for her vocation was very evident. In 1851 their foundress died and these sisters could no longer support themselves so Father Philpin decided they should try a new foundation in England. Euphrasie (Sister Marie) and a companion were chosen for this mission and they went to work in London for the Oratorian Fathers. This mission expanded quickly and the Sisters became so involved that foreign missions were forgotten. Euphrasie became concerned that their business crowded out time for prayer and contemplation. Her call to be a missionary in other lands strengthened her resolve to search for her place in this calling so she obtained permission from Rome to leave the Sisters of Calvary.
About the same time Euphrasie heard that Monsignor Philippe Viard, a Marist Bishop in Wellington was seeking out some religious sisters to teach in his diocese. So she set out for Lyon with a young English novice as her companion. On August 15, 1861 they arrived in Lyon and met with the Marist priests who were impressed by their enthusiasm. Euphrasie was disappointed to hear that Monsignor Viard had found Sisters to take charge of his schools.
Father Favre SM Superior General of the Society of Mary saw in this setback a sign from God. Instead of setting out for the missions Euphrasie would be the foundress of a new missionary congregation. She discovered that there were other French women who were keen to join the Marist mission in the Pacific so she began a formation programme for these women. Euphrasie was filled with hope that her vision of a congregation founded for missionary women who would be dedicated to prayer and contemplation, community life and working with women and children, was becoming a possibility.
On December 25, 1861 in Lyon, her dream became a reality. Euphrasie and her companion, Sister Mary Wilfred, began their novitiate. They both made Perpetual Vows on June 3, the feast of the Sacred Heart, in 1863. Euphrasie took the name of Mother Mary of the Heart of Jesus and together with Sister Mary Wilfred they took the habit of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. The long wait was over and the new journey had begun. [Images: 7 Rue Cleberg, Lyon]
