The story of the RHSJ begins in 1636 with the first foundation in La Flèche, France. Over the centuries, numerous RHSJ institutions took root in North America. The Religious Hospitallers’ community of the Hôtel-Dieu of Montréal was the first of many houses of Religious Hospitallers to be founded in Canada (Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Alberta), the United States (Vermont, Illinois, Montana, Wisconsin, and Maine), Latin America (Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico), and Africa (Benin).
It is a fascinating story to discover. The Hospitallers overcame many challenges without ever sacrificing their primary mission: caring for the sick, the disabled, the elderly, and the young. It is a story that continues to unfold today.