The Catholic Church of Montreal will hold a Triduum to celebrate the 375th anniversary of the founding of Montreal, Archbishop Lépine has announced. The key event will be the consecration of the cathedral on October 13, 2017.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

As I highlighted in my letter to you last December, the 375th anniversary of the founding of Montreal is an opportunity to highlight the spiritual dimension of our city's origins and its history, the desire to live harmoniously together that has been a goal since the beginning, and our deeply rooted tradition of solidarity with the poor and the sick. It is a time of thanksgiving during which the People of God here in Montreal can gather together with the living and ever-new strength that comes from the Joy of the Gospel. As the City of Montreal evolved into the metropolis it has become today ­­-- a francophone city with rich anglophone and allophone components, where all cultures meet -- it is the duty of the Church of Montreal to continue the ongoing missionary impulse and pastoral conversion inaugurated by its valiant founders.  

Following the official celebrations, held earlier this year with representatives of the City of Montreal and of various levels of government, it is with great joy that I now invite all the members of the archdiocese to gather together as People of God to mark the 375th anniversary of the founding of Montreal, Ville-Marie, with a spiritual Triduum. In order to give as many faithful as possible the opportunity to participate, these "three days" will be spread over three consecutive weeks.  

We will begin by joining the Angels and Archangels in their perpetual adoration on the feast day of the archangels. We will then seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Finally, I invite you one and all to a major diocesan celebration marking the consecration of Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, whose very stones represent each of us, the living stones that form the Catholic Church of Montreal. This is such an important event for our Church that we will highlight its anniversary every year both at the Cathedral and in all our churches within the diocesan territory.    

The three days are:

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Friday, September 29, 2017
On the feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
At Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, at 7:30 p.m.

Joining the angels and archangels through Eucharistic Adoration.

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Saturday, October 7, 2017
On the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
At Notre-Dame Basilica, at 7:30 p.m.

Rosary led by the Archbishop, Mass and consecration of Canada to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as requested by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

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Friday, October 13, 2017
At Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, at 7:30 p.m.

Solemn celebration of the consecration of Mary Queen of the World Cathedral on this 100th anniversary of the last apparition of Our Lady of Fatima to the three children: Saints Jacinta and Francisco and Servant of God Lucia.

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As witnesses of God's Love in this city, continually called to enter more deeply into our covenant relationship with God, I invite all Catholics and Catholic communities of the archdiocese to pray together so as to offer a renewed, invigorated presence to our society and to all its people, in the name of our faith.


With Mary, in Jesus our Saviour,


† Christian Lépine
Archbishop of Montreal

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