ÉGLISE SAINT-FRANÇOIS-D'ASSISE - SANCTUAIRE NOTRE-DAME DE ROC-AMADOUR
St. Francis of Assisi Church

The construction of the parochial church Saint-François-d'Assise and the Sanctuary Notre-Dame de Roc-Amadour begins in 1918, on the same site of the first pilgrimage in Canadian ground in 1536, by Jacques Cartier and his crew. This construction was made in two stages and for two different places of worship. The crypt, inaugurated in 1919, became immediately a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Roc-Amadour, whom a Roman decree has just appointed as copatron of the parish, with St. Francis of Assisi.

In 1920, Benoît XV gave the same privileges to the sanctuary as to the most important places of pilgrimage.  The sanctuary will be use as a national pilgrimage to Our Lady of Roc-Amadour as well as to the parochial worship.

In 1927, the church dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, is finished according to the plans of the architects Bergeron, Lemay and Dumais. Inspired by French medieval architecture, the church is built with granite stone and its facade presents a bell tower hall. Its decoration is enriched by marble, mosaics and stained glasses windows in 1961, supervised by Maison Barsetti et Frère.

In 1993, the sanctuary is reorganized with its main constituents in the left nave of the superior church. We find on the altar of this nave, the miraculous statue, the work of the sculptor Jean Bailleul who was inspired by the French Madonna.

The Sanctuary  

Painting by Antonio Masselotte, Pilgrimage to Notre-Dame de Roc-Amadour in 1636 by Jacques Cartier and is crew.  1921.

On mid-February 1536, Jacques Cartier went on a pilgrimage to an image of Notre-Dame de Roc-Amadour.  On the site, the Amerindian Domagaya revealed the beneficial effects of white cedar herbal tea (Anedda), which ended up healing the entire crew.  Jacques Cartier himself recognized Mary’s intervention. 

In this church, which is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, founder of three different religious orders, you will find many religious symbols, including a mosaic of St. Francis and others made by artists of Florence and Carrara in Italie. A number of these religious symbols are found in the sanctuary which is mostly constructed of marble. The twelve apostles and their respective symbols are represented in the stained-glass windows of the sanctuary, giving you an excellent opportunity to try to guess who is who!  The Way of the Cross, moulded in plaster with a painted background, was made by the Daprato Studio in Chicago.

Points of Interest : The relic of St. Amadour  The stained glass windows and mosaics A replica of an antique French statue of Notre-Dame de Roc-Amadour in France The Way of the Cross Antonio Masselotte’s painting The miraculous statue of Notre-Dame de Roc-Amadour and ex-votos Casavant church organ In the garden of the rectory,the monument of Roc-Amadour blessed on June 15th, 1929 on the occasion of the first marial Congress of Quebec.

 

Opening hours

All year round: at mass and devotion hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4:30 pm; Saturday at 9 am and 4 pm; Sunday at 4 pm (except from June 24 to September 10)  or upon reservation : (418) 523-0725 or (418) 524-8426.

For more informations, French, English and Spanish brochures are available at the church and from the Fondation Notre-Dame de Roc-Amadour.

	Église Saint-François d’Assise - Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Roc-Amadour 1381, 1ere Avenue Québec (Québec) G1L 3L2 Parish Notre-Dame-de-Rocamadour  telephone : (418) 523-8992.
	For Notre-Dame de Roc-Amadour devotions, contact the Fondation Notre-Dame de Roc-Amadour : 131, 10e rue Québec (Québec) G1L 2M3 Telephone : (418) 523-0725