An unforgettable experience awaits you at the Marie-Rose Centre on September 8 and 9

During the Religious Heritage Days, come to the Marie-Rose Centre and relive history through artifacts, archives and heritage attractions that often conceal interesting anecdotes.

Visitors will enjoy a guided tour of both the exterior and interior of this unique museum space, including the chapel, the historic rooms where Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher lived, the museum and the archive exhibition room. There’s also a tour of Foundation House, which served as a small school and the first convent for the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM). Visitors can explore the heritage site with its 18th- and 19th-century buildings, as well as the Congregation’s first cemetery and the remains of the Saint-Antoine stream.

This free guided tour of SNJM’s historic premises will take place between 2 and 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, September 8 and 9, in the form of an open house.

A second, spiritual component

Also offered is a guided spiritual journey inspired by the comments of visitors who are often fascinated by the serenity and spirit of SNJM heritage sites. During this journey, a sister will accompany a limited number of people in a simple yet enjoyable experience of interiorization.

The tour includes indoor and outdoor stops. It begins in the original chapel, then goes to the crypt, which is rarely accessible to the public, and on to the founder’s historic rooms, before proceeding through the cemetery to Foundation House.

There will be a single departure for the spiritual journey at 1:00 p.m. on both September 8 and 9.  Anyone interested is urged to register in advance, as places are limited. Simply call 450 651-8104, ext. 0, or e-mail snjm@snjm.org.

These activities are free of charge. Various items, including books and medals, will also be available on site. This public event will be one of the last opportunities to visit this historic site in its current state. It’s not to be missed!

Finally, signposts have been installed along the sidewalk at 80 Saint-Charles East, allowing passers-by to discover interesting information about several historical points of interest on the SNJM site by reading the QR codes with a smartphone.