St. Peter's Parish

This Statue was unveiled in 1955. That is 67 years ago, 33 years after Brother André’s last visit to the area.  Brother André was in his 70’s when he visited here. He died in 1937 at the age of 91.  Joseph Cantin organized a campaign to raise funds for the statue which would commemorate Brother André’s visits. The monument was made in Montreal by a very famous artist. This artist had first approached the Oratory with his design and had hoped to have the statue placed in the Oratory in Montreal but due to construction it was not good timing and the people who ran the Oratory turned him down.  Joseph Cantin along with the parishioners raised the money to buy the statue and it was shipped from Montreal. When it arrived, it was damaged and a new one had to be sent. This one we are looking at is the second statue which was sent. They were able to salvage some of the original statue and the kneeling Brother André was placed at a cottage along the lake and remained there for many years. Just recently it was donated to the church and in 2017 some parishioners refinished the statue and now it is placed near the Rosary Garden. In 1955, when the statue was unveiled, more than two hundred people attended the ceremony. Brother André had been dead for almost 20 years but people continued to pray to him for healing. At the same time in Montreal work was continuing on a large addition to the Oratory. This large addition was consecrated in the same year as this statue was unveiled. Brother André died before he saw his dream of a huge Oratory standing on Mount Royal finished. Today it stands as Canada’s largest church and a national shine that is visited by over 2 million people each year.