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| The Team at the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal |
Friday was our last full day in
Quebec, and since our work for the week is complete, that means it was a free,
fun-filled day. We spent the entirety of the day in the city of Montreal
learning more about the history of Quebec, especially its religious heritage,
and then go to see other parts of the city, with shopping, eating, and
sightseeing all mixed in together.
Our
trusted friend, Pastor Daniel, graciously served as our guide for our day in
the city. We left the church around 9 AM and drove over the mighty St. Lawrence
River to reach the Oratory of St. Joseph. The Oratory is a large Catholic
church that was constructed in the early 1900s and named for St. Joseph, the
earthly father of Jesus. This is a beautiful structure that sits on the highest
point in the city of Montreal. Its beautiful architecture presented
opportunities for our team to learn about the Catholic expression of the
Christian faith, as well as how its construction and presence contributed to
the distaste which lead to the French Canadian people in Quebec leaving the
church.
After
our time atop the hill and a few viewing stops on our way back down, we made
our way to downtown Montreal, where we spent some time in the giant underground
mall that is four stories tall (or below, to be more precise) and then many
blocks wide, running under many different buildings in the central city. We
spent time in the downtown area where the team was able to shop for a few hours
and eat lunch.
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Inside the Church of Sainte Marguite Bourgeoys,
the oldest church in Montreal |
Following
our time downtown, we drove over to “Old Montreal” the section of the city that
is my favorite. Here we have some of the original buildings to the city, which
is celebrating its 375
th year in 2017. Montreal is one of the oldest
cities in North America, so this section of the city, with its ancient architecture
and cobblestone streets, allows for an enjoyable experience. Pastor Daniel
guided us with explanations of the various buildings and what their original
uses were, and how the area has transformed today to become the center of the
art and music scene of Montreal. We visited many of these buildings before
breaking for dinner at a local restaurant where the menu included helpings of
poutine, a Canadian dish consisting of French fries covered with cheese curds
and gravy! After dinner, I treated the team to a special desert, Beaver Tail, a
Canadian brand of sweet pastry that is covered with toppings of your choice. I
think they loved them as much as I do.
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| Students engaging with a new prayer practice |
As our week winds down, I want to
give a special recognition to the two chaperones who have come along with me on
this trip, who without them, this week would not have been possible; Jennifer
Hissam and Donyelle Coalson. This two ladies jumped at the chance to be a part
of this team when I gave a blanket request for parents who would be interested
in taking part. This week they have been the perfect chaperones, jumping in on
all of the work, encouraging and guiding students as they needed it, assisting
with the needs of staying in the church each nigh, jumping in on the fun with
students each evening as we relaxed, driving the second vehicle, and so much
more. I am and our students were very fortunate to have them here, and I am
glad they were, because I have so enjoyed sharing in this week with them, and I
am so thankful for their service this week.
Our team now prepares to head home
on Saturday after what has been a fulfilling week. Many came with various
expectations and fears, however I think they will be returning to Union County
with a better sense of the breadth of God’s kingdom, as well as the diversity
within the body of Christ. I hope they are challenged to take the experiences
they have had this week, and allow them to change the way they view all of the
relationships they have in their lives.
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