Early this morning, around 6:45, along a rural road nearly seven kilometres east of St Thomas, I came across a little church with stained-glass windows. It really is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by farmers’ fields. The church is big enough to hold maybe six or seven people. And I noticed the door was open, so I wandered in.
Inside is an altar covered in candles, many of them lit. There are French-language religious pamphlets on a table. People are welcome to light a candle in prayer; the recommended donation is $5.00.
Outside the church is a parking lot, so maybe this is a place to which people drive regularly. There are other religious icons and statues on this bit of land, a short walking path, and a grotto with a sign “Jesus Immaculee Conception”. I imagine pilgrims walking slowly along the path in meditative prayer.
This little oasis is called “Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de la Paix”. I haven’t seen anything like it so far in Quebec. And I had the place to myself to explore. What a fascinating concept, and obviously well used.
