In the Footsteps of Emilie

The arrival of immigrants at the Montreal port in the 18th century.
Painting by William Raphaël 1866.
"National Museum of Canada - Ottawa.

 

Knowing the life of Emilie Tavernier Gamelin
is a source of personal enrichment.
  Not only does it stir up our love for this great lady but it also awakens in us a desire to follow her example.  

A pilgrimage called

In the Footsteps of Emilie"

is an excellent way to deepen our knowledge and understanding of that too short time, which the Venerable Foundress of the Sisters of Providence spent on earth.

Mrs. Gamelin, and later Mother Gamelin, called
"Providence of the poor",
walked through Old Montreal first as a young girl, then as a wife, a mother, the "Angel of the Prisoners", in fact, as a friend of the poor of all kinds.

It will be good to walk these sites and to believe
that inanimate objects really do have a soul
and can revive countless memories.

We wish you a wonderful tour
"In the Footsteps of Emilie"

Emilie Gamelin Center
December 1998

Emilie's Birth

Emilie Tavernier


Date: February 19,1800
Place: Montreal
Father: Antoine Tavernier
Mother: Marie-Josephte Maurice

Terre Providence

The land originally belonged to the Basset brothers who donated it to the Hospitallers of Saint Joseph (Hôtel-Dieu)
who gave it the name of Terre Providence. In 1791, the land was rented by Mr. Antoine Tavernier.

Address of the
Tavernier home

Probably the location of
4572 Jeanne-Mance Street,
near Mont-Royal Street.
This was Emilie's birthplace.
Boundaries of Terre Providence in Montreal

North: Bernard Street
South: Sherbrooke Street
West: Du Parc Street
East: St-Urbain Street

Emilie's Place of Prayer

  
Emilie enjoyed praying at
Our Lady of Bonsecours Chapel
 
The chapel is located at 400, St.Paul Street in Old Montreal. It was built in 1657 at the request of Marguerite Bourgeoys, foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame. Though it was destroyed by fire on several occasions, the chapel has remained a favorite place of pilgrimage since 1673.
The present-day building dates back to 1771.
  
The small miraculous statue of Our Lady of Bonsecours was installed permanently in 1988.
The chapel tower provides a very beautiful view of the river and the city of Montreal. It was built in the 17th century.
The sisters of the Asile of Providence, and later of the Mother House on Fullum Street, used to make an annual pilgrimage on foot to Our Lady of Bonsecours Chapel.


Painting by Théophile Hamel

Upon entering Our Lady of Bonsecours Chapel, we can see on the ceiling a painting that shows typhus victims being cared for by a Grey Nun, a Sister of Providence and a Sister of the Hôtel-Dieu Hospital.
The painting was commissioned by Montreal Bishop, Ignace Bourget, in compliance with a vow that he had made during the epidemics.

The work was painted by artist
Théophile Hamel

We can find a replica of this painting at the Museum of the Sisters of Providence at their Mother House.

Ex-voto

 

 

The small boats testify to the sailors' gratitude for the protection they received from the Blessed Virgin. The small hearts hanging in the sanctuary were also reminders of the pilgrims' gratitude towards Mary.

On May 26, 1849, Mother Gamelin offered two golden bronze hearts in which she is believed to have included the names of the sisters living at the time, and those of the elderly ladies.
  

Mrs. Gamelin Walked in Old Montreal

 
Maison du Calvet

The Maison du Calvet, built in 1725
and named after its owner, Pierre de Calvet,
is one of Montreal's oldest houses still standing.

At one time the house contained a table from the refectory of the Sisters of Providence. The table is now at the Museum of the Sisters of Providence.

 

Saint Paul Street
Mother Gamelin walked on one of the oldest streets in town,
Saint Paul Street, paved in 1672.
The street was named after Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, founder of Montreal, who built a home for himself here in 1650.


 
Bonsecours
Market
 

The Bonsecours Market was built between 1845 - 1852. Here local farmers displayed and sold their produce and Mother Gamelin begged for food to feed the poor.

 

  

Emilie Grew up on Saint Vincent Street


Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Perreault, uncle and aunt of Emilie, adopted her at the age of four, at the death of her mother. They lived on Saint Vincent Street. Emilie spent her childhood and teenage years with them.

She developed a lasting friendship with her cousin Agathe Perreault, who later became Mrs. Maurice Nowlan,
and a benefactor of the congregation.

Mother Gamelin and
the Old Court House

The Court House was built between 1850-1857,
and was also used as a prison.
Mother Gamelin visited the prisoners there.
It is located on Notre Dame Street East,
at the present-day number 85.

Emilie at school

Emilie was a student of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame, at their Saint-Jean-Baptiste Street boarding school.

Today, the bas-relief on the building at the corner of Le Royer and
Saint Laurent Streets, reminds us that the convent where
Emilie Tavernier studied was the first school of Ville Marie (the former name of Montreal), and was founded by Marguerite Bourgeoys.

 

Emilie's parish church

The current structure of Notre Dame Church, was built between 1826-1829. In the former church Emilie Tavernier and Jean-Baptiste Gamelin were married on June 4, 1823 and their three children were baptized. Mr. Gamelin and the children were prayed for and had their funeral rites here at the time of their deaths.

Mother Gamelin knelt frequently at the communion rail and knocked on it as she begged the Lord for food to give to the poor.

Emilie and the Saint Sulpice Seminary

The seminary was built in 1683. It was the place where Mrs. Gamelin and later, Mother Gamelin, met her spiritual advisor, Mr. Jean-Baptiste Bréguier dit Saint-Pierre, Sulpician. He was the priest who, in 1828, gave her a picture of our Lady of Sorrows. As she looked at the picture, Mrs. Gamelin was inspired to be compassionate for all human miseries.

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