The Sainte-Madeleine de Rigaud church: a pilgrim’s journey

The Sainte-Madeleine church was built in 1920 and lies in the heart of the town of Rigaud. Prior to the concept of religious tourism, this town’s favorable reputation was built thanks to the presence of religious institutions on its territory.

Old black and white photograph, wide aerial view of steeples breaking through trees and houses, in the background, a river.

Rigaud and the Catholic church around 1940

The arrival of the Clerics of Saint-Viateur and their establishment of the College Bourget in 1850 at the foot of the Rigaud mountain largely contributed to the town’s growth. During that same period, the Franciscan Sisters built a large convent and the Saint-Anne Sisters established two large schools including the Jardin d’enfance du Sacré-Coeur.

Color photograph, side-view of the façade of an orange brick church topped with two large steeples.

Sainte-Madeleine Catholic church, Rigaud, 2010

Geographically, the town developed around the Rigaud mountain, which has always aroused great interest. Firstly, it was a geological curiosity, later becoming historical one, as it became a place of legends and mystery. But it is thanks to the Clerics of Saint-Viateur that it became famous worldwide.

Old black and white photograph, a crowd is assembled at the foot of a large hill, a large staircase leads to a rotunda that is surrounded by trees.

Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes sanctuary in 1924, Rigaud

Attracted by its surroundings, brother Ludger Pauzé, a Saint-Viateur cleric, decided in 1874 to place a statue of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes in the mountain’s cave for the purpose of contemplation and prayer. This cave became so popular that the Clerics of Saint-Viateur chose to build, in 1887, a small outdoor sanctuary behind their building for the benefit of students and parishioners.

Old black and white photograph, close-up of two women each holding a cup and bending to draw water from a small stream flowing between large boulders.

Miraculous stream of the Rigaud mountain around 1925

In 1890, a miraculous healing was confirmed. A Rigaud parishioner, suffering from severe inflammatory rheumatism, was able to walk again following her pilgrimage to the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes cave. The news of this miracle spread around the area and has contributed to the sanctuary’s notoriety. Throughout the years, it was expanded and landscaped to welcome pilgrims.

Old black and white photograph, long shot, in the foreground, pilgrims stand at their benches during an outdoor religious ceremony, in the background, an outdoor chapel in the middle of a hill topped with a rotunda and surrounded by trees.

Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes sanctuary in 1956, Rigaud

Today, the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes sanctuary welcomes pilgrims every summer from around the world come to contemplate and enjoy the beautiful grounds. Since its establishment, it plays a part in the regional economic development by what is now called religious tourism.

Color photograph, long shot of a crowd assembled outside near an outdoor chapel surrounded by trees and gardens.

Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes sanctuary, Rigaud, 2017

Beyond worship: a comforting presence Religious tourism: the historic church’s new vocation