Religious Heritage Days: Telling the SNJM Story in a New Way

How can a heritage site be brought to life when its buildings are no longer accessible to the public? On September 12, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) rose to the challenge by offering a guided outdoor tour as part of Religious Heritage Days.

The half-dozen participants travelled back in time in the company of the SNJM archivist. Rather than simply presenting a series of dates, the tour focused on stories, anecdotes, and everyday life in years gone by. Historical photographs and other documents, presented using a digital device, complemented the stories shared at the various stops.

Rediscovering the SNJM Women’s Heritage in Longueuil

The architecture of the Foundation House and the Congregation House naturally attracted attention. But the buildings also served as a starting point for discovering the people who once lived there.

The tour offered an opportunity to learn more about Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Foundress of the SNJMs and a passionate advocate for the education of girls. Her determination to broaden access to education was carried forward by her successors and later, by forward-thinking laywomen such as Joséphine Marchand.

Participants also contributed to the story by sharing memories connected with the convent or Saint-Antoine Creek, as well as their experiences of being educated by the SNJMs elsewhere in Quebec. The stop at the cemetery was particularly moving for some.

A Women’s Heritage That Lives On

This guided outdoor tour takes on particular significance during the current period of transition. Following the sale of the heritage site to the City of Longueuil and the relocation of the SNJM archives to the Fondation des archives et du patrimonial religieux du Grand Montréal (FAR), new ways must be found to share and preserve this history.

The guided tour also served as a reminder that the SNJM mission is not simply a thing of the past. Today, the Sisters continue their commitment to education and social justice in many different ways.

Religious Heritage Days Continue to Grow

The Marie-Rose Centre has been a faithful participant in these annual events. For this 9th edition of Religious Heritage Days, 142 sites and heritage circuits offered free activities. One noteworthy development this year was the participation of sites in New Brunswick.

The conversation will continue on October 8 at the Religious Heritage Forum, which will bring together people involved in the field to share experiences and explore solutions related particularly to religious heritage, both immovable, movable, archival, and intangible.

The Marie-Rose Chapel Is Open Year-Round

Missed the tour? There are still opportunities to discover this history. The Marie-Rose Chapel, located in the right transept of Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Co-Cathedral, is open to the public every day. Artifacts, interpretive panels, and QR codes provide an opportunity to learn more about Mother Marie-Rose and the SNJMs. Visitors can continue their discovery at the Co-Cathedral museum, where a section is dedicated to them.