Timeline
August 9, 1845 – Born in Mont-Saint-Grégoire, the ninth Isaac and Clothilde Foisy Bessette’s 13 children
1854 – Father dies in logging accident
1857 – Mother dies of tuberculosis
1857 – Orphaned, moves in with extended family
1863 – Moves to New England in search of work
1867 – Returns to Quebec and settles in St. Cesaire
December 27, 1870 – Enters the Novitiate with the Congregation, after initially being rejected, receives the habit, and takes the name André in honor of his pastor
August 22, 1872 – Professes First Vows and is assigned as doorkeeper at College Notre-Dame
February 2, 1874 – Professes Final Vows in the Congregation as a religious brother
1877 – First reported miracle with the cure of Br. Alderic
October 19, 1904 – Opens first Oratory to St. Joseph on Mount Royal
July 1, 1908 – Construction begins to expand original Oratory
1909 – Released from duties as doorkeeper to be full-time caretaker of the Oratory of St. Joseph
1917 – Inauguration of the Crypt Church of St. Joseph’s Oratory
August 31, 1924 – Construction begins on the Main Basilica of the Oratory of St. Joseph, only to be delayed by the Depression
January 6, 1937 – Dies in St. Laurent at the age of 91
1940 – Archbishop Joseph Charbonneau opens the cause for sainthood
1955 – Main Basilica of the Oratory is consecrated
1978 – Declared Venerable by Pope Paul VI
May 23, 1982 – Beatified by Blessed John Paul II in Rome
February 19, 2010 – Approved for sainthood by Pope Benedict XVI
October 17, 2010 – Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome