Over 32,000 pilgrims came to Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, Quebec, braving the cold and snow, to celebrate St. Joseph’s Feast Day on 19 March. Among tens of thousands of pilgrims was Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, and his General Council, who were in Canada for meetings. They joined the 7:00 pm Mass in the basilica, at which the Most Rev. Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montréal, presided and preached.

Leading up to the feast day celebrations, the oratory held its traditional novena from 10-18 March. This year’s theme was "Saint Joseph and God’s Unexpected Action,” which was developed by Fr. Darrien Dias, O.P., and the Most Rev. Valery Vienneau. The novena was offered once a day in English and twice a day in French.

Fr. Dias is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Michael’s College in Toronto, where he has worked since 2008. Since 2022, he has also served as Executive Director of the Toronto School of Theology. His research and publications focus on interreligious dialogue, relations, and decoloniality. He preached from 10-13 March.

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Archbishop Vienneau retired as the Archbishop Emeritus of Moncton in 2023, after having served the archdiocese for 11 years. Before that, he was Bishop of Bathurst from 2002 to 2012. Prior to his Episcopal Ordination, he had served in several parishes as well as in university and hospital chaplaincy. He preached the novena from 14-18 March, and remained to celebrate the main English Mass on the Feast of St. Joseph.

Nine Masses were held for pilgrims on 19 March, the first beginning at 7:00 am in the crypt church. Four were Solemn Masses, including three in French in the main basilica. The Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal (Little Singers of Mount Royal) sang at all three of those Masses.

In addition to all the Masses, throughout the day, thousands upon thousands of pilgrims cycled through the oratory, lighting candles in the votive chapel, stopping by the blessing office, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and praying silently at the tomb of St. André Bessette. The spirit of prayer and of faith was truly palpable.

Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross’s first canonized saint, St. André Bessette, Saint Joseph’s Oratory is the largest church in the world dedicated to the foster father of Jesus. Along with Notre-Dame de Sainte Croix Church in Le Mans, France, it is one of two Congregational Patrimonies for Holy Cross, given its importance in the congregation’s history and to its charism.