Pilgrimage to Notre-Dame de Québec

Our 2014 pilgrimage to Québec began early on Tuesday July 2, following Dominion (Canada) Day. A long drive through a very busy Montreal brought us to our first stop - Notre Dame du Cap near Trois Rivieres, PQ.

We joined pilgrims from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in the nightly candlelight procession in the beautiful setting of the grounds to the image of our Lady in the centre of the pond fed by a holy spring.

We went into Trois Rivieres for dinner and, of course, frogs legs.

On Friday we made our way to the old city of Québec whose first bishop, now St. François de Laval, was bishop for all of North America from Newfoundland to Louisiana. He founded the first parish and diocese north of Mexico 350 years ago.  

In the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Québec we prayed at the shrine of St. François de Laval and learned how the only Holy Door outside of Europe was constructed. We then prepared to enter, confess and celebrate Mass to share in the pilgrimage plenary indulgence.

The unique baldacchino over the high altar depicts the victorious resurrected Christ hovering over his blessed mother, Notre Dame.

Later that day and in preparation for our celebration of the first ever Ordinariate (Anglican) Use Mass in the Cathedral we walked down the street to the Ursuline Convent and first school for young women in North America. 

The segregated area of the Chapel for the Ursuline sisters next to the Shrine of St. Marie de L'Incarnation is still in use.

Jane Hodgins prays at the Shrine of St. Marie de L'incarnation in the Ursuline Convent and School Chapel where Maria Baldwin, daughter of Robert Baldwin (first Co-Premier of the united Canada with Louis Lafontaine) attended school in the 19th century. Jane is a descendant of Robert Baldwin.

Chapel of the Ursulines and Shrine of St. Marie de L'Incarnation. first educator of women in the North America.