The journey The journey started in 1607 started in 1607

when when St. St. Jeanne de Jeanne de LestonnacLestonnac

founded the founded the Order in Order in

Bordeaux, the Bordeaux, the famous wine famous wine region in the region in the

south of south of FranceFrance..Canonized by Pope Pius XIICanonized by Pope Pius XII

15 May 194915 May 1949

1556 marked the 1556 marked the birth of Jeanne birth of Jeanne de Lestonnac in de Lestonnac in

Bordeaux, Bordeaux, FranceFrance,, the first the first born of a very born of a very

influential family influential family of the city.of the city.

At the age of At the age of 1717 Jeanne Jeanne got married and became got married and became a mother to 7 children…a mother to 7 children…

……two of whom two of whom later became later became ODN sisters ODN sisters themselvesthemselves..

Lestonnac Eyquem de Montaigne - MonferrantLestonnac Eyquem de Montaigne - Monferrant

After 24 years her After 24 years her husband died and so husband died and so Jeanne, alone and on her Jeanne, alone and on her own, looked into the own, looked into the education of her children education of her children and administered their and administered their family’s vast estate.family’s vast estate.

It was at this time that It was at this time that she felt again the call she felt again the call she heard in her she heard in her youth:youth:

““Do not let the flame I Do not let the flame I have enkindled in your have enkindled in your heart to serve Me be heart to serve Me be extinguished…”extinguished…”

Actual ruins of Landiras CastleActual ruins of Landiras Castle

Actual ruins of Landiras CastleActual ruins of Landiras Castle

With her children grown up, With her children grown up, Jeanne de Lestonnac, the Jeanne de Lestonnac, the

favorite niece of the favorite niece of the essayist essayist

Michael de MontaigneMichael de Montaigne,, entered the entered the

Cistercian Monastery in Cistercian Monastery in Toulouse at Toulouse at 46 years old.46 years old.

After 6 months of a challenging After 6 months of a challenging initiation, her desires to follow this life initiation, her desires to follow this life grew but her physical health weakened. grew but her physical health weakened. She must leave.She must leave.

While praying to the Holy Spirit to shed light in While praying to the Holy Spirit to shed light in her darkness, she experienced an inner vision her darkness, she experienced an inner vision indicating the next step she was to take.indicating the next step she was to take.

On On April 7, 1607April 7, 1607 when when Jeanne was 50 years old, Jeanne was 50 years old, Pope Paul VPope Paul V approved the approved the foundation of the foundation of the Order of Order of the Company of Mary Our the Company of Mary Our Lady.Lady.

Jeanne died at the age Jeanne died at the age of of 8484,, leaving behind leaving behind 30 monasteries 30 monasteries throughout France.throughout France.

For more than 300 years these For more than 300 years these monasteries existed as independent monasteries existed as independent communities. It was only in communities. It was only in 19561956 that that the Company became definitively one the Company became definitively one global family of ODN sisters. global family of ODN sisters.

Cataluña, SpainCataluña, Spain

Sisters of the Company of Mary (ODN) in the World

……serving in a way that is always serving in a way that is always new as educators of faith that new as educators of faith that blossoms in works of justiceblossoms in works of justice

Catholic Center Campus Ministry Youth

……accompanying accompanying the youth in their the youth in their search for search for meaning in lifemeaning in life

Urban Camp 2006 - Urban Camp 2006 - TamboTambo

Urban Camp 2006 – Tambo, Urban Camp 2006 – Tambo, MacasandigMacasandig

Catholic Center Campus Catholic Center Campus Ministry - IliganMinistry - Iligan

Niña Maria Learning Center - Tambo, Macasandig

Lestonnac Youth Center

The The Company of Company of MaryMary is is characterized by characterized by its universality and its universality and dynamism, dynamism, adapting and adapting and responding to the responding to the newnew needs of needs of each period of each period of history through its history through its service of service of education.education.

…of God’s Faithfulness

…of Evangelizing Passion…of Service in the Church

Santiago de Compostela, Galicia - Santiago de Compostela, Galicia - SpainSpain

General Team & Provincial General Team & Provincial SuperiorsSuperiors

ODN Sisters (Ordinis Dominae Nostrae) 1607-2007