Oblate presence: 1925-2011. Geographical Location: Near Trois-Rivières, Province of Quebec.

On March 26, 1919, the pilgrimage work was financially separated from the parish, that is, it had its own cashbox and accounts. “Authorized for this purpose by the Most Reverend Bishop, we approve the above provisions, on the condition that in practice they do not affect in any way the agreement made in 1902 mentioned above. On March 26, 1919, U. Marchand, Vic. Gen., Chancellor.”

Short history of the church of Sainte-M. Madeleine parish in Cap-de-la-Madeleine.

1) First church, built in 1659, called Pierre Boucher’s chapel, situated on the Sainte-Marie fiefdom, along Route 138, in the municipality of Sainte-Marthe; 2) Second church, built at the request of Bishop de St-Vallier (1714) and used from 1720 onwards; this is the current Petit Sanctuaire;? 3) Third church, begun June 18, 1879 and blessed on October 3, 1880. 4) Fourth church, built on the northwest corner of Sainte-Madeleine and Sanctuaire streets, on June 21, 1951, inaugurated on December 25, 1952 and blessed on July 12, 1954.

In early May 1953, the Oblates of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape took possession of the former Sainte-Madeleine Church. It will be called “Sainte-Madeleine Oratory”. This will be used for Sunday masses, and even during the week for certain pilgrimages. It was demolished in October 1963 to clear this space in front of the gentle slope (north side) of the basilica.

The Oblate parish residence in Ste-Madeleine. On May 24, 1925, Father U. Robert, receives a letter in which the provincial writes:

“Attached are the documents relating to the foundation of the Parish Residence of Ste-Madeleine; you will put them in the archives of our new residence.”

The end of Oblate responsibility. In a letter dated September 6, 2009, Father Jacques Laliberté, Provincial Vicar, wrote:

“We could meet with the parish community on September 22 to announce the end of the Oblates’ responsibility as of 2011. If there were individual Oblates who would like to continue, it would be on a personal basis, but not as a responsibility of the Oblates whereby they must ensure personnel for this parish ministry. Age and staff availability constraints force us to make these decisions.”

Eugène Lapointe OMI