On a cold and snowy Feb. 13, Montreal's St. Joseph’s Oratory officially opened a newly constructed, four-level welcome centre to visitors.

Construction of the pavilion began in 2018 and is part of a larger $150-million project for the renovation of the Oratory, one of six national shrines recognized by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and a national historic site of Canada.

“It is a joy to finally inaugurate this new reception pavilion, which will allow us to receive pilgrims and visitors in an environment that enhances St. Joseph’s Oratory — our shrine that combines beauty and rich heritage — while honouring the legacy of St. Brother André,” rector Fr. Bernard Antoine told assembled guests on opening day.

City councillors, members of the National Assembly, senators, as well as the General Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Cross were on hand to mark the opening, along with donors to the project. Both federal and provincial governments contributed to the project, $21. 9 million and $30.8 million respectively. The “campaign cabinet” boasts the leadership of Guy Cormier, president and CEO of Desjardins Group, Jean-Pierre Leger, president of the board of St. Hubert BBQ Ltd., and Serge Godin, founder and executive chairman of CGI. 

A prominent feature of the new building is the tower which houses the 62-bell carillon. The bells were cast in Annecy-le-Vieux, France, and were originally intended to be placed in the Eiffel Tower. Loaned to the Oratory in 1954 and later purchased by devoted pilgrims so that they could reside permanently at the shrine, the bells are an important part of the life of the Oratory. Ten carillon concerts are performed, free of charge, each week.

The next stage of the project, due to take place over two years, is the construction of a new museum and public access to the dome of the basilica, which will include an observation centre at the “lantern level” of the basilica, “the city’s highest vantage point of Montreal,” according to the plans.

The Oratory is the world’s largest shrine devoted to St. Joseph and receives some two million pilgrims every year.

One week following the grand opening, three seminarians from the United States stopped at the Oratory as part of a pilgrimage to Quebec’s national shrines. When asked about their impressions of the new welcome centre one asked, “Which part is new?” But they expressed gratitude for a well-heated place to have lunch.

“I’m not cold, so that is a plus,” one of them joked.

The real draw for all three was to St. Joseph, to whom the shrine is devoted, and St. Brother André Bessette, the little religious brother who was responsible for the creation of the shrine.

“A number of seminarians and other priest friends just have various intentions that they asked us to bring to St. Joseph and St. André. It has been a privilege and blessing to bring those intentions in prayer before the tomb and the heart of St. André.”

In his closing remarks, Antoine expressed the hope that the new building “will continue the Oratory’s legacy of welcome to people of all faiths — people who seek healing, solace or sacramental grace from their life’s challenges and struggles.”