Papal Nuncio in Canada Joins Joyous Celebration of Catholic Italian Heritage at a Church that Suffered from Montreal's “Quiet Revolution” in Quebec - by Fr. Jean-Marie Kabesa Bilwala

Emerging from the Vandalism of the “Quiet Revolution” an Italian Heritage at Sainte-Madeleine Church in Outremont Now Shines!
Fr. Jean-Marie Kabesa Bilwala writes for Catholic News World- Dear friends in the Lord,
This time, I would like to introduce you to my home: the parish where I serve as pastor. Sainte-Madeleine in Outremont, in the Archdiocese of Montreal. This church celebrated its centenary last year, 2025. Long- time residents of Outremont (the Outremontais) once nicknamed the church the & Chapel of Saint-Sixtus;. This is because it is lavishly decorated with frescoes throughout, just like the Chapel of Saint- Sixtus in the Vatican. These paintings, which adorned the walls and ceiling, were created by the Italian-born artist Guido Nincheri, who also painted the walls and ceiling of the Church of Our Lady-of- Defense (Dante) in Montreal.

 Unfortunately, during the “Quiet Revolution” of 1960, a fierce movement against the Catholic religion emerged. A group of parishioners stormed the church and demanded the removal of the frescoes, considering them to be the primary evidence of the Catholic Church’s influence. They defaced the paintings by covering them with layers of ordinary paint, whether on the walls or the ceiling.

For nearly half a century, the interior of the Church of Sainte- Madeleine had lost its artistic beauty. Following the pandemic, the parishioners of Sainte-Madeleine felt the need to restore these covered paintings. Hubert Sacy, a parishioner, led this project, tirelessly driving the initiative forward until the restoration of certain sections of the paintings was completed. He is a man brimming with good ideas for convincing benefactors to support us. The paintings depict the Canadian Martyrs in pairs on the two wings of the transept, totaling eight.

This group of eight 17th -century French Jesuit missionaries — six of whom are currently visible in the transept, with the other two to be revealed upon completion of the next restoration phase — were canonized in 1930. They were killed between 1642 and 1649 by the Iroquois while carrying out their evangelization missions among the Huron. The martyrs are René Goupil (killed in 1642), Jean de La Lande (killed in 1646), Antoine Daniel (killed in 1648), and Jean de Brébeuf, Charles Garnier, Noël Chabanel and Gabriel Lalemant (all killed in 1649).

A Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated on Sunday, September 20, 2026 to give thanks to God for this extraordinary service that helps us contemplate the beauty of the Lord. His Excellency Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, presided over the Mass, which was also concelebrated by Monsignor Paul Bultaru (secretary of the nunciature), Father Yoland Ouellet (national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in French-speaking Canada) and myself, Jean-Marie Kabesa Bilwala (parish priest and episcopal vicar of the pastoral region of the center of the archdiocese of Montreal).

In his homily, His Excellency Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič urged us to reflect on the generosity and mercy of the Lord towards us. He also emphasized that the restoration of these paintings strengthens our faith, and invited us to give thanks to the Lord. The paintings depict saints who have become models of missionary life for us. The service was beautifully accompanied by organ music and a singer with a meditative and devout voice.

This beautiful celebration was
followed by a well-organized cocktail reception offering something to suit every taste. Dear friends in the Lord, you are always welcome at the Church of Sainte-Madeleine in Outremont, so please come and visit us whenever you have a little time. Our church doors are open, and I, the pastor, await you with open arms! Come and you will be welcomed.

by: Fr. Jean-Marie Kabesa BILWALA
Parish priest and episcopal vicar of the Centre (pictured right)
Archdiocese of Montreal, Canada

(A regular contributor to Catholic News World from Quebec, Canada)