Province of Canada
On Saturday 11 September 2010, a thousand Marists, Brothers and Laity, assembled in the Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Cap at Trois-Rivières to thank the Lord for 125 years of Marist presence in the Americas and more especially in Canada. It was in 1885, that six French Brothers landed on the shores of the American continent aiming for Iberville, a town situated thirty kilometres from Montréal. From September, they took in 180 pupils from 16 to 18 years old. Their reputation spread so quickly that, in 1886, a school was opened in Lewiston, Maine, U.S.A., counting on the arrival of new Brothers from France. In 1911, two separate entities were created: the Province of Iberville and the Province of the United States. The number of Brothers at the time was 227 for both. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Mgr François Lapierre, Bishop of the Diocèse of St-Hyacinthe, the diocese which had welcomed the first Brothers in 1885 at the request of the then Bishop, Blessed Basile Moreau. He was accompanied by Mgr Raymond Saint-Gelais, Bishop of the Diocese of Nicolet in which our present provincial house is situated. About twenty priests, friends of the Brothers, took part in the concelebration. The feast was distinguished by the presence of Brothers Emili Turú, Sup. Gen., Eugène Kabanguka and Joseph Maria Soteras, Couns. Gen. and Ben Consigli, Libardo Garzón, Hipólito Pérez, and Eduardo Navarro, the four Provincials of the Northern Arc. Brother André Déculty represented the Province of the Hermitage.After thanksgiving to God for the 125 years, a hot meal was served in the cafeteria of the Basilica. In the afternoon, the visitors were able to visit several displays presenting our works in Québec. Students from our two Colleges of Iberville and Laval also offered presentations of music and dance in the Sanctuary?s basement.The guests departed after cordial thanks to the organisers for the beautiful day.With Mary and Champagnat, we can sing : « The Lord has done great things for us, alleluia ! ».______________Br. Gabriel Bolduc.