1947 Marian Congress

My dad attended the Congress and kept the programme for me because it took place the year I was born. Daddy told me that for each of us 6 kids he kept something from the year of our birth: sort of as a souvenir. Over the years I often wondered why we never heard anything about this important part of Canadian History: never a homily at Mass, absolutely nothing. So I decided to do something about it. I began by scanning each page of the booklet to make a simple website but that wasn't very much information really although it was a start. It was fascinating to see all the Special Events that were scheduled for the week of the Congress. After scanning the pages ( which can be found in the attachments above) my curiosity peaked and I did internet searches on the Congress but couldn't find anything. Then I took my search further and went to the Archives of the Ottawa Journal and the Ottawa Citizen and that was where I was able to find most of the information for this website. As I read article after article I was absolutely amazed at the Faith and love for God and the Church shown by the hundreds of thousands of souls who made this pilgrimage. I was astounded also by the sincere and heartfelt hospitality shown to the Pilgrims by the Prime Minister, Members of Parliament, Governor General, the Mayor etc.

The Marian Congress was Ottawa’s greatest pilgrimage of faith and drew over a quarter million people to the city. No other occasion in the History of Ottawa induced as many people to come as far, and stay as long, as did the Marian Congress. All who attended said the experience was unforgettable. There were pageants, beautiful floats, heavenly music. There were spectacularly robed Cardinals, numerous dignitaries and throngs of people who came from far and wide. The event ended with what the Catholic Northwest Progress newspaper called “the greatest fireworks display ever held in Canada” depicting scenes in the life of the Blessed Virgin. So why did we never hear anything about it for so many years?

The more I read about the Congress the more I felt blessed by the Faith I received from my parents and what a gift they left me and the more I wanted to tell everyone about it. I pray for a re - awakening of this love of God and Holy Mother Church that was so prevalent that week in 1947.

Fast forward to three years ago when Dennis Girard of Blessed Sacrament happened to come across a French Video of the Congress on youtube. Un film de Maurice Proulx. Voir la notice BAnQ Films d'archives

Dennis told me he was blown away by this news because he had never even heard about this Historic Event. He had been searching for something entirely different when he came across the video, which, just a year or two before ( Nov 3, 2014 ) had been uploaded to youtube.

Shortly thereafter, Dennis and his wife Angelina met with the Archbishop of Ottawa, Terrence Prendergast as well as Bishop Tremblay from Cap de la Madelaine. Before you know it an English video was in the works, and put in motion were plans to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Historic Congress, which just a few months before had been virtually unknown.

Thanks to Dennis and Angelina and Mother Mary, on Mother's Day, 2017 the pilgrim statue, subsequent to a series of seemingly Divinely orchestrated happenings, was installed at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Ottawa.

Events which Celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the Historic Marian Congress

• 2017 Mother's day, the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of the Cape is installed at Blessed Sacrament Church in Ottawa. The parish is located just a few blocks from the historic 1947 Marian Congress.
• 2017 August 22nd on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, the Marian Devotional Movement is officially launched at the Our Lady of the Cape Shrine.
• 2017 September 26th, the bishops of Canada Consecrate Canada to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica in Ottawa.
• 2017 November 27th - The Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Bishop Pierre-Oliver Tremblay, OMI, Rector of the Our Lady of the Cape Shrine reestablishes enrolment in the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary and authorizes the Marian Devotional Movement to begin enrolment.

For Mass times at Blessed Sacrament Parish & Pilgrim Statue Kiosk hours visit: http://www.BlessedSacrament.ca and https://catholicincanada.com/

A short summary ( I put together ) from various newspaper articles here

contact: Maureen Ward maureenmaloneyward@gmail.com

The Inaugural "Cape - Capital Pilgrim Experience"

August 21st - 25th, 2019

The second anniversary

of the launching of the Marian Devotional Movement ( MDM)

For videos from the Pilgrimage organizers ( MDM)

click here

For my recap of the pilgrimage

click here

Article in the Catholic Register

click here