Val Notre Dame

Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Canada / Male

Location

Official nameAbbaye Val Notre-Dame
Number31
Address250, Chemin de la Montagne Coupée, Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Canada
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Contact Information

Telephone[1] (450) 960-2889
Community emailcommunaute.vnd@gmail.com
Websitewww.abbayevalnotredame.ca
SuperiorDom Clément Charbonneau, Supérieur ad nutum 2024

Other Information

Juridical statusAbbey
DioceseDioecesis Joliettensis (Joliette)
OCSO regionCNE Sub-région
OriginsAfter the explusions of 1880 in France, Dom Chouteau, abbot of Bellefontaine, wanted to secure his community’s future and accepted an offer from the Canadian Sulpicians of agricultural land outside Montreal.
History
  • 1881, 12 August: the four founders leave Bellefontaine and go to rejoin the fifth who has been preparing for his brothers’ arrival. They live in a small house (carefully preserved) and organize their conventual life at the beginning of September. The construction of the monastery had begun and the first buildings are blessed by the bishop of Montreal on 8 September, but they are only ready for occupation in November. With the support of the government and thanks to the charity of the Catholic faithful, construction continues at the same time the land is being cleared.
  • 1893: Creation of a school of agriculture, slightly removed from the monastery, which becomes highly respected and which produces generations of farmers and agronomists.
  • 1897, 8 September: consecration of the church.
  • 1902, 23 July: Fire.
  • 1906, 20 August: consecration of the new church.
  • 1913, 24 October: election of Dom Pacome Gaboury, superior and titular prior of Mistassini since 28 June 1901. He died on 28 June 1964 after 63 years as superior, 51 as abbot.
  • 1916: 2 fires, in May and December, destroy the agricultural buildings and the monastery, including the church and cloister.
  • 1962: Agricultural Institute is closed.
  • 1974, 29 November, sale of the cheese production.
  • 2003, 7 March: the community votes to transfer to a new location.
  • 2007, 13 August: construction of Val Notre-Dame begins.
  • 2008, 18 October: Dom Yvon-Joseph is nominated as bishop of Ste-Anne-de-la-Pocatière.
Father immediateBellefontaine (jusqu’en 2024); Resp. delégué : Mère Bénédicte Riondet d’Echourgnac (depuis 2025)
Daughter housesMistassini Prairies ; Petit Clairvaux (Spencer, 1898-1920) ; Assomption (1936-1962) ; Orangeville (1977-1996) ; Bon Conseil (jusqu’en 2022).
Past superiors
  • Guillaume LEHAYE — Supériuer — 26/08/1881 – 03/03/1886
  • Antoine OGER — Supériuer —02/09/1886 – 10/05/1887
  • Antoine OGER — Prieur — 10/05/1887 – 28/03/1892
  • Antoine OGER — Abbé — 28/03/1892 – 01/08/1913
  • Pacôme GABOURY — Abbé — 24/10/1913 – 18/06/1964 (v.43)
  • Fidèle SAUVAGEAU — Abbé —06/07/1964 – 01/10/1990
  • Yvon MOREAU — Abbé — 22/10/1990 – 18/10/2008
  • André BARBEAU — Abbé — 15/11/2008 – 31/03/2024
Work/incomeStore, production of candy and chocolates, publication of the series “Voix Monastiques”.
Guest facilities13 rooms
TransportationAéroport de Montréal : Dorval.
FoundationsMistassini (1892), Orangeville (1977-1998)
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