By a remarkable historical coincidence, it was on St John the Baptist's Day that Mass was first celebrated on the Island of Montreal. On that June 24 in 1615, on the banks of the Rivière des Prairies, Samuel de Champlain was in the midst of his seventh voyage to Canada. The priest celebrating was Fr. Denis Jamet, assisted by Fr. Joseph Le Caron. Unbeknownst to them at the time, they were celebrating what was to be the first Mass for the Patron Saint of Quebec. 

Then some 250 years later, on June 28, 1874, at the Solemnity of the Feast of St. John the Baptist, the bells of Saint-Jean-Baptiste church rang out for the first time. The church was in the middle of a village of the same name in those days, in what was later to become the Plateau Mont-Royal district. 

Since then, year after year, the community has been gathering at this "most Québécois" of all Montreal's churches to inaugurate the celebration of the Feast of St. John the Baptist. One and all come together: homegrown and adoptive Quebeckers, politicians, working people, religious and laypeople, believers and non-believers, as well as those who are still searching. 

This year will be no exception! On Saturday, June 24, 2023, Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal will celebrate St. John the Baptist's Day Mass at the church of that name in the middle of the Plateau Mont-Royal. He will be accompanied by members of several visiting congregations. 

The church will be done up in blue for the occasion and brilliant in all her finery. The pipes of the colossal Casavant organ will be resounding majestically, and, as tradition dictates, blessed loaves of bread will be passed out. 

So let’s start the summer off right! Join the fun with your friends and family.  The entire event will be streamed on the parish Facebook and YouTube pages for the benefit of those celebrating with us from afar. 

Happy St. John the Baptist’s Day! 

Date: Saturday, June 24 

Time: 10:00 a.m 

Location:  3098 Rachel E. (cross street Henri-Julien) – Plateau Mont-Royal 

Information:  info@eglisesjb.com