Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas 2011





Christmas at our home this year was a fairly quiet affair - dinner downstairs with Phil and Fer (she cooked a 20lb turkey to glorious perfection) accompanied by Lara and Jessie. Christina stayed back in Ontario as one of Patrick's kids had pneumonia and thought it best to stay home - we plan to drop by for New Years. We ate late and didn't start opening gifts until after midnight, Christmas morning, turning in long after 3am! We slept in late Christmas Day and later managed to call most of the family scattered here and there. Boxing Day, as the 26th is known here in the civilized world, was spent in visiting the L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal where we received a blessing for the family and lit a candle for Patrick in the votive chapel where hundreds of pilgrims pray and light candles every day. Here is enshrined Saint André from Montreal who is revered, not only across Canada, but around the world. Pilgrims travel thousands of miles to visit, what many would consider one of his biggest accomplishments, the erection of the magnificent Saint Joseph's Oratory. Today we drove up to Mont Royal Cemetery to spend a few moments with Patrick, our little angel who we think about always. And now,as the year comes to a close, we take time to reflect on what has passed the past 12 months and all the wonderful days yet to come. From our family here in Quebec, to yours wherever you may be, we wish you love, peace, health and happiness in this season and the coming year. Come back and visit again! gws


Lara, Roxie and Marie

Fernanda, Phil and Marie

Lara and Jess
Oratory in snow covering


Marie at tomb of Frere André

candles
Saint Joseph, patron saint of families
Phil and Fer at the Oratory, the city spread out behind them
Marie lighting a candle

Montreal from the Oratory terrace

Marie and Saint André

Phil and Fer in votive chapel

Gary, Mont Royal cemetery


Fer and Phil at Patrick's niche

At Mont Royal Cemetery, Dec 27, 2011