Discover Montreal’s Religious Heritage: It’s Also Our History!

Montreal, May 27, 2010 – Launching of the second annual contest organized by Montreal‘s Religious Heritage Sites. Seven Montreal institutions unite to invite the public to visit the city’s religious heritage sites and appropriate their own past. From Downtown to Lachine by way of Cartierville, more than 350 years of history are revealed at seven different sites. Along the way visitors are brought to admire architectural gems, listen to touching stories and discover the unknown builders of Montreal.

Contest « Discover Montreal‘s Religious Heritage: it’s also our history! » -Each visit to one of the seven religious heritage sites gives the visitor a chance to enter a draw for a gift basket. The contest ends December 1st, 2010. The drawing will take place during that month.

Montreal‘s Religious Heritage Sites…

…in Downtown Montreal

The Grand Seminary of Montreal, property of the Sulpician Priests, reveals an oasis of history in the heart of the city that is the « Fort de la Montagne ». The Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montreal Museum looks at the missionary origins of Montreal, its first hospital founded by Jeanne Mance, the treatment and medical care of the era dispensed by the nuns.

… in Old Montreal

Located in the first Montreal General Hospital, the Maison de Mère d’Youville tackles the story of assistance to the city’s most deprived by Saint Marguerite d’Youville and the Grey Nuns since 1737. The Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum relives the beginnings of Montreal and the life of one of its founders, Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys. You will also discover the historical and heritage jewel that is the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel.

… in the Montreal boroughs

Established alongside the Lachine Canal, the Sisters of Saint Anne Historic Centre looks into the heritage of 19th century schooling and the life of Venerable Marie-Anne Blondin, a woman with a singular experience. In Cartierville, the Misericordia Sisters Museum tells the controversial story of aid to single mothers and their children by this community and draws a portrait of the taboo mission’s foundress, Rosalie Cadron-Jetté. In the same neighbourhood, the Émilie-Gamelin Centre, Sisters of Providence Museum, uncovers aid to the needy in the 19th century Montreal and the life of the congregation’s foundress, Émilie Gamelin, who devoted herself to alleviating society’s needy.

Grand Seminary of Montreal – 2065 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, H3H 1G6 – (514) 935-7775 – www.gsdm.qc.ca

Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montreal Museum – 201 Pine Ave West, Montreal, H2W 1R5 – (514) 849-2919 www.marguerite-bourgeoys.com

Sisters of Saint Anne Historic Centre – 1280 Saint-Joseph Blvd, Lachine, H8S 2M8 – (514) 637-4616 Ext. 212 www.ssacong.org/musee

Misericordia Sisters Museum – 12435 de la Miséricorde Ave, Montreal, H4J 2G3 – (514) 332-0550 Ext. 1-393 – www.ssacong.org/musee/autres.htm

Source:

Julie Duchesne

Coordinator, Misericordia Sisters Museum

(514) 332-0550 Ext. 1.393