text: The reaction of French Speaking Quebec Catholics to the flood of Irish Refugees that exploded in 1847 was very different from the reaction of the Anglo Protestants. Quarantine facilities were overwhelmed with dead and dying Irish Depopulation refugees. French Catholic Grey Nuns, Sister of Providence and even the Cloistered Sisters of Hôtel-Dieu volunteered to care for the sick and dying, knowing that they would probably sicken and die themselves. Priests in Quebec delivered their sermons holding Irish orphans in their arms to encourage parishioners to adopted the kids.
  
  http://www.aoh.com/reasons-for-learning-an-gorta-mor-the-great-hunger/
  http://lekiosquemedias.com/2013/01/17/petite-histoire-des-irlandais/
  
  "May 14, 1847, the St. Lawrence is still covered in three centimeters of ice when the first ship docked at Grosse Île to undergo quarantine there. Of the 241 passengers of the "Syria", 202 passengers are sick...
  Some days later, eight boats arrive, with 430 sick aboard...."