MONTREAL — The beauty of icons is in their ability to allow people to encounter the sacred and to apprehend what is essential to their lives. Following a long-standing Church tradition to write icons of the saints, two official icons of Canada’s newest saint were written. The new icons of Brother André, written by Quebec ...read more

MONTREAL — The live broadcast of the canonization Mass for Br. André October 17 and the vigil held the night before drew several thousand people to St. Joseph’s Oratory. Some came to participate in a major historic event; others came to pay tribute to their close ties to the saint. Judith Boyce arrived at the ...read more

MONTREAL — Quebecers have been rejoicing for months, ever since the Vatican announced February 19 that their beloved Br. André would be made a saint. Now that Pope Benedict XVI formally canonized St. André Bessette, or St. Brother André (a more intimate title approved for him for local use), the celebrations can officially begin. In ...read more

MONTREAL — Anticipation is high in Montreal with only hours to go before the canonization of Br. André in Rome. “There’s a constant flow of pilgrims coming and going,” said Danielle Decelles, a communications officer at the oratory, October 17 at 1 am. Reams of people continue to stream into the crypt church of St. ...read more

MONTREAL — St. Joseph’s Oratory was overflowing with pilgrims on the eve of Br. André’s canonization in Rome. An estimated 1,500 pilgrims attended the evening mass Oct. 16, which led into a six-hour vigil of prayer, meditation, adoration and song. Every seat in the crypt church was filled for the mass; people stood in the ...read more

MONTREAL — Today, Oct. 16, is the eve of Brother André’s canonization. It is also a day of fine coincidence, call it Providence. It was on this day, in 1904, that the first, small, wooden chapel built by Brother André in honour of St. Joseph on the slope of Mount Royal in Montreal was inaugurated. ...read more