Fr. Jason Nesbit, CSV, Pastor of Maternity BVM Church traveled to Quebec this month with a delegation of officials from the
Fr. Jason Nesbit, center, waits to sign the guest book in Boucherville.
Villageof Bourbonnais. Their mission? To explore some of the area’s French-Canadian roots and advance the relationship with Boucherville, located along the St. Lawrence River, home to many of the early settlers who emigrated to Bourbonnais.
However, for Fr. Jason, he described the trip as more of a pilgrimage.
“I was able to visit the holy places and communities instrumental in the foundation of Maternity BVM Church,” Fr. Jason said to his congregation, “such as the Chapelle Bon Secours in Montreal, where St. Marguerite Bourgeois, founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame is buried, the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Quebec in Quebec City, and the communities of Boucherville and Cap St. Ignace.”
St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Cap-St. Ignace, reminded Fr. Jason of Maternity BVM.
The delegation included members from the Kankakee County Museum, the French Heritage Museum, the Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society and Bourbonnais Village Administrator Michael Van Mill. The group formally visited with city officials in Boucherville but they also explored churches that could have served as the inspiration for Maternity BVM Church in Bourbonnais.
But it was visiting the Chapelle Bon Secours, which is the oldest chapel in Montreal, and the tomb of St. Marguerite Bourgeois that really moved Fr. Jason.
“I think of the many holy places I have been fortunate to visit,” he said. “These are places that really connect us to our mission, and celebrate key figures. It was spiritually moving to be there, and ask for her intercession on behalf of Maternity BVM Catholic Church.”
Tomb of St. Marguerite Bourgeois
St. Marguerite Bourgeois was the foundress of the Congregation de Notre Dame/USA. It was the CND sisters who preceded the Viatorians in the Bourbonnais area. They arrived in 1860, before the Viatorians arrived in 1865, and they served in the area until 2022, which was the 175th anniversary of the parish.
Fr. Jason said simply: “Since their departure in 2022, we miss them dearly.”
A portrait of St. Marguerite hangs on the back wall of Maternity BVM Church opposite a portrait of the Venerable Fr. Louis Querbes, founder of the Clerics of St. Viator.
Fr. Jason wishes to share images from the trip with his parishioners. Consequently, his photos of the cities and churches will remain available through the end of the year.