A PILGRIMAGE WITH SHIRLEY LANGLOIS

(STORY & PHOTOS BY SHIRLEY LANGLOIS)

This past Monday I left on a Pilgrimage with a group of forty four people on a pilgrimage to Canada. We left by bus from Saint Joseph's Co-Cathedral in Burlington. This is the second year I have done this, and it is so beautiful and relaxing. We travel through both Montreal, and old Montreal, to Three Rivers. We all stay at the Madonna House at Notre-Dame-du-Cap (Our Lady of the Cape), on the St. Laurence river.

01 Pilgrimage Our Lady Of The Cape

Monday was a very long day, we were suppose to leave at 8am, but the bus we were issued broke down, so we were given a brand new bus, and left an hour later than usual. We arrived in Three Rivers at 5p.m. We went to our rooms, freshened up, and went to the cafeteria in the building for supper. After supper we were able to look around until 7:30p.m. at which time we went to the Peace Chapel for Benediction and Mass.

02 Pilgrimage Chapel At Cape

After Mass there is a candlelit procession around Our Lady. It is very beautiful, as there is about 500 people who participate.

03 Pilgrimage Procession At Night

I have enclosed a picture of where we process, it is taken during the day. After that the group has a short meeting for evening blessings and social time to discuss what were are going to do the next day. After that we gladly retire for the day.

04 Pilgrimage Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre

Tuesday we are up bright and early for a trip to St. Ann de Beoupre in Quebec City, which is over a two hour ride. It is well worth the trip because this church, and all you can see are absolutely beautiful.

05 Pilgrimage Saint Anne and Mary

We spent the whole day there, but I still didn't see everything. Last year we did the Stations of the Cross that go up a steep hill in back of the church but didn't do that this year. I am enclosing a picture of the chapel that is downstairs in the main church. It is a wonderful experience to see it.

06 St. Ann Chapel

We left St. Ann's at 3p.m. and headed back to Cap-de-la-Madeleine in Trois-Rivieres. After supper we had Benediction and Mass. This evening I did not do the procession around the Lady of the Lake, but watched and took pictures, I am enclosing one, hope it goes through ok. After evening prayers and meeting we retire for the night - thankfully, as I am very tired. We are up early Wednesday for mass in the chapel and breakfast before loading up the bus for the trip home. Our plans are to stop in Old Montreal to visit the beautiful church of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours.

07 Pilgrimage Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours

After we left this beautiful church we headed for St. Joseph's Oratory, where we spent most of the afternoon. Soon after arriving we did the stations of the cross. They are modern statues but very inspiring. I have enclosed a picture of the Eight Station.

08 Pilgrimage Stations

At the end of the stations was a gorgeous pond where someone took my picture, look at the pond, not at me as I was pretty pooped by then:)

09 Pilgrimage After Stations

After that we were on our own to look around, of course we couldn't see everything. I chose to look down in the bottom floors where I lit candles to ask for special favors. There is so many crutches and signs that prayers have been answered. It is so humbling to see these things. I have enclosed a picture of one of the alters. This one is to pray for safe travel. We left the Oratory at 3p.m. and headed for home.

10 Pilgrimage Safe Travel

We had a little surprise at the border, they made us all get off the bus with ALL our possessions, go inside the building and one by one go up to the desk. They did not look in our suitcases, we just had to show our ID and tell them if we had anything to declare. The bus driver had warned us this might happen. They were very nice and we were on our way in less than a half hour. I was able to be dropped off at the Wagon Wheel at exit 19 where my husband picked me up. As I waved good-bye to everyone I reflected on the wonderful, spiritual time I had and was sad to see it end. The people I had just spent the last three days with were gracious, and hopefully I will be able to go again next year. I hope everyone enjoys this little time in my life.

Henry A. Raymond
vtgrandpa@yahoo.com
August 11, 2005