The Huron-Perth District Catholic School Board is excited to announce the arrival of a very special Reliquary today, says Director of Education Chris Roehrig
St. Brother André was most known in Quebec, but has very close ties to Huron-Perth. He was known in the French community in St. Joseph’s and created connections with the families there.
St. André was alive in the late 19th century, early 20th century. Born André Bessette in Mont Saint-Gregoire southeast of Montreal, Br. André was a humble Holy Cross brother who was instrumental in the construction of St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal.
He has been credited with many miraculous healings through his prayers for the sick and in the six days following his death in 1937 at age 91, up to a million people filed past his coffin which was surrounded by hundreds of crutches and canes from pilgrims who attested to his healing gifts.
Those crutches and canes remain on display at St. Joseph’s Oratory. Pope Benedict canonized Brother André on October 17, 2010.
St. Brother André’s Reliquary will be available for devotion and visitation on Saturday and Sunday in the St. Joseph and St. Boniface communities.
