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
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| Lara, Roxie and Marie |
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| Fernanda, Phil and Marie |
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| Lara and Jess |
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| Oratory in snow covering |
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| Marie at tomb of Frere André |
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| candles |
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| Saint Joseph, patron saint of families |
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| Phil and Fer at the Oratory, the city spread out behind them |
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| Marie lighting a candle |
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| Montreal from the Oratory terrace |
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| Marie and Saint André |
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| Phil and Fer in votive chapel |
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| Gary, Mont Royal cemetery |
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| Fer and Phil at Patrick's niche |
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| At Mont Royal Cemetery, Dec 27, 2011 |
