Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary – Manitoba to Receive the 2026 Higgins Award
The Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association (CCSTA) is honoured to announce that the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) of Manitoba have been selected as the recipients of the 2026 Justice James Higgins Award, the highest honour bestowed by the Association.
The award will be presented during the Saturday evening gala at the CCSTA AGM and Convention in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Catholic education trustees, leaders, and partners from across the country will gather.
For more than 150 years, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary have played a foundational role in Catholic education in Manitoba, helping to build and sustain schools that continue to form generations of students in faith and learning.
A Mission Rooted in Faith
The community was founded in Longueuil, Quebec in 1843 by Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, a woman of deep faith who recognized the urgent need for education rooted in Christian values. She established the congregation with a mission centered on education and the full development of the human person.
In 1874, four sisters travelled from Quebec to Manitoba, after being invited by the Archbishop of Saint Boniface to help provide education for Catholic children in the developing western territories. The sisters assumed responsibility for St. Mary’s Academy in Winnipeg, beginning a ministry that would leave a lasting mark on Catholic education in the province.
Over the decades that followed, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary became an integral part of Catholic communities across Manitoba.
Building Catholic Schools in Challenging Times
The history of Catholic education in Manitoba has not always been easy. When publicly funded denominational schools were abolished in 1890, Catholic communities were forced to build and operate their own schools, without government funding.
The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary played an essential role in this effort. They served as teachers, principals, and administrators in Catholic schools throughout Winnipeg and surrounding communities.
Their work often required sacrifice, as schools relied heavily on tuition and donations. Yet their commitment never wavered.
Reflecting on their impact, Manitoba Catholic Schools’ Superintendent, Robert Praznik, writes: “Without their tireless efforts, we would not have the Catholic school system we have today in Manitoba. These women were pioneers who lived their faith daily and became the hands and face of Christ to countless generations.”
Through perseverance and faith, the Sisters helped ensure that Catholic education continued and grew during difficult times.
Forming Faith-Filled Communities
Beyond their institutional contributions, the Sisters shaped the culture of Catholic schools.
Their presence brought a charism that influenced both educators and students, creating environments where faith and learning were closely connected.
Robert Praznik recalls: “They created an environment that was naturally faith-filled and had the charism of their religious community. Even when most of us were lay people teaching, the faith dimension and Catholic character permeated every aspect of the school.”
For many educators and leaders, the example of the Sisters helped shape their own vocation.
Leadership and Educational Contribution
The influence of the Sisters extended beyond the classroom. Members of the community also served as administrators and superintendents when a central office for Catholic schools was established in Manitoba in the 1960s.
They also contributed to broader educational developments in the province.
One notable example is Sister Léonne Dumesnil, a pioneer of French immersion education in Manitoba. As principal of the first immersion school in 1973, she played a key role in developing a program that continues to shape education across the province.
Her contributions were recognized nationally when she was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1981.
Witness Within the Church
Beyond education, the Sisters have been deeply involved in the life of the Church across Manitoba.
Their ministries have included parish pastoral work, religious education, outreach to immigrants and refugees, prison ministry, reconciliation initiatives with First Nations communities, and care for the sick and the elderly.
Archbishop Albert LeGatt reflects: “They truly were partners upon which both myself and my predecessors could count upon fully. They were fully part of the fabric of the life of the Church in our archdiocese and throughout southern Manitoba.”
Archbishop Murray Chatlain adds: “Their faithfulness, perseverance, and generosity meant that Catholic teaching not only continued but flourished, despite many political setbacks.”
Honouring an Extraordinary Legacy
The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary receive this recognition with humility and gratitude: “The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary are honoured to be selected as the recipients of the Justice James Higgins Award. It has come as a wonderful surprise to the Sisters, at this stage in our lives, to be recognized for our contribution to Catholic education. Thank you to the CCSTA for selecting us and for encouraging us in our ministry.”
As Archbishop Chatlain writes: “Thank you, Sisters, for your years and years of service. Thank you for the healthy passing on of your legacy in our Catholic schools today.”
CCSTA is honoured to recognize the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary of Manitoba as the 2026 recipients of the Justice James Higgins Award.
Their contribution will be celebrated when delegates gather in Winnipeg for the CCSTA AGM and Convention, where the award will be presented during the Saturday evening gala.
About the Justice James Higgins Award
The Justice James Higgins Award is the highest honour presented by the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association.
Established in memory of The Honourable Justice James Higgins (1913–1974) of St. John’s, Newfoundland, a distinguished Canadian jurist and Catholic school trustee, the award recognizes an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to Catholic education in Canada.
Each year, the CCSTA Board of Directors presents the award to honour those whose leadership, dedication, and witness have helped strengthen Catholic education across the country.