Venerable Elisabeth Bruyere

Written on: May 29, 2018

Bienvenue! Welcome! …and a kiss on each cheek, was the warm greeting for Srs. Julia Lanigan and Mary Elizabeth Looby as they arrived at the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa Motherhouse to celebrate the naming of Elisabeth Bruyère as Venerable, a step in the process to becoming canonized a Saint.

The place was abuzz with activity which did not dim the hospitable niceties of our hostesses, Srs. Louise and André. To our delight, both spoke English as they toured us through the building showing us the newly renovated Oratory that houses Elisabeth’s remains at one end and a shrine to St. Marguerite d’Youville at the opposite end. We peeked into the chapel being readied for the next day and were shown where we would be seated during the liturgy and where we would be having dinner and breakfast.

We had dinner with Frère Luigi Guarneri, FSC, the Postulator for Elisabeth’s cause in Rome. He is quite animated and filled with desire to see Elisabeth’s cause for canonization advanced! Also in attendance was the General Council of the Ottawa Greys, their Vice-Postulator, Sr. Huguette Bordeleau, s.c.o.  and Sr. Adlaidia, the Provincial from Malawi.

The next morning, after breakfast we had time to look around and take some pictures. Soon, the invited guests began arriving. There were about five bishops, several monsignors and priests, friends of the sisters, over 300 guests!  The ceremony, held in the Motherhouse chapel, was televised via closed circuit TV to the rooms of their sisters who were infirm, allowing them to also participate in this joyous occasion.

General Leadership from Montreal and Pembroke were there with us.  We had wonderful seats right up front. The Leadership from St. Hyacinth and Quebec were unable to attend due to prior commitments. Sr. Rochelle and her Council were most welcoming and extremely touched that we were able to attend the Celebration on such short notice!

View Photos from the celebration here!

This entry was posted in From our Sisters and tagged: canonization process, Grey Nun Communities, Mother Elisabeth Bruyere, Oratory, Postulator, proclamation, shrine, Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, Venerable