Our Lady of Lourdes de Vanier

Marian Advocation of Ottawa (Vanier) (Ontario)
Popular devotion (not officially recognized by the Church)

Our Lady of Lourdes (Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes) gives name to a parish of the French-speaking district of Vanierin Ottawa, within the archdiocese of Ottawa- Cornwall. The parish was founded in the late 19th century - its parish history mentions the year 1899- to attend to the French-speaking Catholics of Eastview, today Vanier. It was specifically dedicated to the advocation of Lourdes, in continuity with the strong French-Canadian devotion to this apparition.

Main data

Origin and history

Our Lady of Lourdes (Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes) gives name to a parish of the French-speaking district of Vanierin Ottawa, within the archdiocese of Ottawa- Cornwall. The parish was founded in the late 19th century - its parish history mentions the year 1899- to attend to the French-speaking Catholics of Eastview, today Vanier. It was specifically dedicated to the advocation of Lourdes, in continuity with the strong French-Canadian devotion to this apparition.

The image and the sanctuary

The devotion is lived in the parish church of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes from Vanier. The temple conserves several French thank you plates (simple votes: «Merci à Marie», «Reconnaissance à N.-D. de Lourdes»), a testimony of the people's piety, although not accompanied by canonical processes of miracles. No consta a canonical coronation of the parish image.

Sponsorship and coronation

The Virgin of Lourdes is venerated as patron of the French-speaking community of Vanier. No consta a documented canonical coronation of the image.

Party and devotion

The main party is the 11 February, memory of Our Lady of Lourdes. The parish maintains processions and ninth around that date, with numerous intentions for the sick and candles in thanksgiving. No stories of extraordinary miracles officially recognized have been published; devotion focuses on intercession for health.

Link to the Rosary

The parish especially promotes the Rosary prayer for the sick and organizes rosaries during the ninth of Lourdes. No consta a co-fraternity of the canonically erected Rosary, but the Rosary, so linked to Lourdes' devotion, occupies a central place in community prayer.