Visiting St. Joseph's Oratory- Montreal -

 This Christmas I visited my daughter

Suzanne's family for Christmas and on 

 the 26th we visited St. Joseph's Oratory,

 in Montreal, Quebec.

A mountain top Basilica,

the largest Shrine in the world,

founded in 1904 by

Saint André Bessette,

(Brother André) 

Built on Mount Royal, a mountain

 in the middle of Montreal, with

 magnificent views of the city.

I used to visited the Oratory in the 

1970's, when I worked in Montreal,

and walk up all the stairs, around

 280 of them, to the front entrance.

Statue of St-Joseph

Suzanne and my Granddaughter Sabrina

Me and Sabrina.

It was a frosty Winter's Day.

"Angels Unawares" 

 A tribute to migrants and refugees

placed outside the Oratory in 2022,

 Sculptured by Timothy P. Schmalz,

and Ontario, artist.

 Also the same sculpture 

is placed at the Vatican in Rome.

A group of migrants and refugees huddled on 

a boat from different origins and times.

Angel wings emerge from the middle

 of this diverse group of people.

inspired from the scriptures

(Letter to the Hebrews 13:2)

A Crypt Church,

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Magnificent Architecture 

The Nativity

Votive Chapel,

Also crutches, canes etc are visible

left behind by people who were healed

by Brother André.

 The tomb of Brother André

and his heart preserved in a jar,

can be viewed nearby.

The first bell

Wooden carvings of The Apostles

There is a Museum with exhibits of

crèches (mangers) from around the world.

I photographed a few of them.

Taiwan

Senegal

Ireland

Spain

Slovenia

Saint André Bessette- Brother André

passed away at the age of 91 in 1937.

 A miracle healer, healing

a numerous number of people.

In 2010 he was declared the first saint 

of the Congregation of Holy Cross,

canonized by Pope Benedict XV1.

Thanks for your visit.

Wishing you all joy and happiness

this holiday season. 

💚💗💜

Merry Christmas

 

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas,

Happy Holidays and Happy Hanukah

I am thankful and appreciate

 you all, who are kind enough 

to read my blog. 

💗💚💗

Visiting Dawson College Peace Garden

 My Granddaughter Sabrina is in her second year

 of studying at Dawson College, Montreal.

Dawson College, a former Nunnery, 

is situated in Westmount, Montreal,

The largest  CEGEP in the

 province of Quebec.

Sabrina took my sister Annie and I 

to visit The Peace Garden.

She has a course on eco-landscaping and

does some gardening in the Peace Garden.

This garden was created in memory of

Anastasia De Sousa, a student who was

killed in a senseless act of violence in 2006,

when a shooter entered the school,

also injuring 19 other students. 😠

The college decided instead of placing

more barriers etc, they would build a garden

 that lives and grows, and provides peace

 and tranquility, in Anastasia's memory.

 

Sabrina and Annie

We are in October, therefore 

the garden colours are

 fading into Winter.

Some roses still blooming in Anastasia's garden.

There is a flowering Almond tree,

(photo taken in the Spring) 

donated by the Montreal Police Force.

(photo from Dawson College Website)

Lavender 

Sabrina 

Sabrina planted some milkweed and lavender

and other plants, for the butterflies.

Also In the garden, there is a tree

 planted from seeds originating 

from the bombing of Hiroshima,

in World War II.

Seeds have been distributed all over the world

from trees that have survived the attack.

Gingko tree

A garden symbolizing peace and hope.

 

Over 1000 volunteers to date have helped in the development of this Peace Garden as it continues to attract species that have long left the downtown core and to provide a space for the Dawson community 

and its neighbours to come together, gather, reflect and learn. 

Thanks for your visit.

💚💚💚

Summer Flowers

Summer has passed very fast this year.

It's been hotter and dryer than usual. 

Im sharing some photos of my flowers.

Zinnias I started from seed.

Very bright and beautiful.

Lobelia

A new flower from seed.

Cupid's Darts.

Wild Musk

smell so nice.

Peanies

Japanese Peony

Lilies

Lupins

I had a camper in this spot

which killed the grass.

I threw some lupin seeds in the Fall

and these pretty flowers grew.

Oriental Poppy

Also some Iceland Poppies
from scattering the seeds. 


Irises

Shieldleaf

 

Delphiniums

Geraniums with Alyssums

Lemon Beebalm. 

A new flower for me this yr. 

A species of flowering plant in the mint family.

 An annual edible flower.

 My flower of the year for 2024..

Rhubeckia

We visited a beautiful

 flower garden, in July.

The Redford Gardens in Metis, Quebec.,

Home of the Blue Poppy

to view, click here

Happy Autumn

Thanks for your visit.

💚💛💚