People don’t know that you do not need to be a member of the Catholic faith, or Christian, not even a believer, to visit one of the sanctuaries or churches. In Montreal, we saw muslims and Indians, even atheists, visiting our shrines; they recognize the arts that were made to teach and beautify a church. Everyone knows the St. Joseph Oratory or the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, as well as the Vatican, the Saint James Convento in Santiago de Compostela, or Lourdes in France. I saw many small shrines in Canada, and one of the nicest is Our Lady of Assumption in Acadia, New Brunswick.

Our Lady of the Assumption in Rogersville refers to two significant religious sites in Rogersville, New Brunswick, Canada: the Monument National Notre-Dame de l’Assomption (a Provincial Historic Site) and the Abbaye Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption (a Trappist nun monastery).

Monument national Notre-Dame de l’Assomption

This site is a significant pilgrimage site for Acadians and was designated a Provincial Historic Site to honour the legacy of Monsignor Marcel-François Richard, a key leader in the Acadian renaissance.

Significance: Mgr. Richard was instrumental in the adoption of the Acadian flag and national anthem (“Ave Maris Stella”) and the selection of August 15 as the National Acadian Holiday.

Features: The site includes a chapel where Mgr. Richard’s remains are interred beneath a large mosaic of the Virgin of the Assumption, an entrance arch, outdoor Stations of the Cross, and grottoes dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima.

Location: East of the Saint-François-de-Sales Church in the center of the Village of Rogersville.

Abbaye Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption
This is a contemplative community of Trappistine (Cistercian) nuns.
History: The abbey was founded in 1904 by Trappist sisters who had been forced to leave their monastery in Lyon, France, following an invitation from Mgr. Richard.

Location: In the forest near the village of Rogersville.
Both sites are central to the religious and cultural heritage of the Acadian people in New Brunswick.

On ignore souvent qu’il n’est pas nécessaire d’être catholique, chrétien ou même croyant pour visiter un sanctuaire ou une église. À Montréal, nous avons vu des musulmans, des Indiens et même des athées visiter nos lieux de culte ; ils apprécient les œuvres d’art créées pour instruire et embellir nos lieux de culte. Tout le monde connaît l’Oratoire Saint-Joseph ou la basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, ainsi que le Vatican, le couvent de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle ou Lourdes, en France. J’ai vu de nombreux petits sanctuaires ici au Canada, et l’un des plus beaux est Notre-Dame de l’Assomption en Acadie, au Nouveau-Brunswick.

Le nom « Notre-Dame de l’Assomption à Rogersville » désigne deux sites religieux importants de Rogersville, au Nouveau-Brunswick, au Canada : le Monument national Notre-Dame de l’Assomption (lieu historique provincial) et l’Abbaye Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption (monastère trappiste).

Monument national Notre-Dame de l’Assomption

Ce site est un important lieu de pèlerinage pour les Acadiens et a été désigné lieu historique provincial en hommage à Monseigneur Marcel-François Richard, figure emblématique de la renaissance acadienne.

Importance : Monseigneur Richard a joué un rôle déterminant dans l’adoption du drapeau et de l’hymne national acadiens (« Ave Maris Stella ») et dans le choix du 15 août comme fête nationale acadienne.

Caractéristiques : Le site comprend une chapelle où reposent les restes de Monseigneur Richard sous une grande mosaïque de la Vierge de l’Assomption, une arche d’entrée, un chemin de croix extérieur et des grottes dédiées à Notre-Dame de Lourdes et à Notre-Dame de Fatima.

Situation : Il est situé à l’est de l’église Saint-François-de-Sales, au centre du village de Rogersville.

Abbaye Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption

Il s’agit d’une communauté contemplative de moniales trappistines (cisterciennes). Histoire : L’abbaye a été fondée en 1904 par des sœurs trappistes contraintes de quitter leur monastère de Lyon, en France, à l’invitation de Mgr Richard.

Situation : Elle se trouve en forêt, près du village de Rogersville.

Ces deux sites sont essentiels au patrimoine religieux et culturel du peuple acadien au Nouveau-Brunswick.

A Winter Vacation Story

The story starts with the Blue Nose II, a replica of the fishing and racing schooner Bluenose, commissioned by Sidney Culverwell Oland and built in 1963 as a promotional yacht for Oland Brewery. Sidney Oland donated the schooner to Nova Scotia in 1971, and it has since operated as a sailing ambassador and promotional device for Nova Scotia tourism. In honour of her predecessor’s record, Bluenose II does not officially race. I sailed twice on the Blue Nose, the last time in 1981 with my brother Gilles, his girlfriend Gaétanne, her sister, and my girlfriend Lisette (pictures below). But for this story, we will use the 1976 version, the first time that I sailed on the Blue Nose with my friend André Branchaud during the Summer Olympics. After the tour, we went to the souvenir shop, and I purchased a T-shirt with the tails side of the 10 cents; of course, the boat on the dime is the Blue Nose II.

In June of 76, I met a woman named Helena, who would be my girlfriend for a few years. I went with André on a Maritime trip in July. Now we need to fast-forward to March 1977 in Acapulco, Mexico. There, we live at the El Tropicano Hotel with my girlfriend, Helena. As I am a big fan of Elvis Presley, I wanted to visit all the places Elvis was filmed in the movie “Fun in Acapulco”, a 1963 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley and Ursula Andress. Between 1963 and 1977, hotels changed owners and names. Still, the buildings remained the same, so we visited the El Presidente, the Holiday Inn, the Hilton, and La Quebrada, which is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Acapulco, Mexico. Divers entertain tourists by jumping off either of two ledges on the cliff: one is 40 feet (12 m) high, and the top one is 80 feet (24 m) high. The divers must calculate the right moment to jump to catch an incoming wave and avoid serious injury or death. Occasionally, jumpers dive with a torch. Most of the divers come from the Quebrada family. Although cliff diving at La Quebrada had taken place for many years, it was not until 1934 that the La Quebrada Cliff Divers was formed.

One day, we decided to go to the Bullfight. Acapulco historically hosted bullfights, notably at the Caletilla Bullring, featuring matadors like Javier Bernaldo and Amado Luna, as seen on old postcards. Still, traditional violent bullfighting is largely phased out in many Mexican cities, with Mexico City even moving towards non-violent versions. In contrast, bullfighting exists in Mexico, but Acapulco’s scene isn’t a primary modern draw like Mexico City or Spain’s Madrid, focusing more on cultural nostalgia and, if any, smaller events. So we took a taxi to get there. After the corrida, Helena and I decided to walk around. The place is entirely on the other side of the Bay, and from our hotel, we usually go around the downtown, called the Zocalo, and the hotel. While walking, I noticed a yacht club. Is it the one where Elvis anchored at the beginning of the movie? I wanted to go in, but a guard stopped us, saying it was a private yacht club and only members could enter.

Disappointed, and it is starting to get late for supper, so we spotted a restaurant where we could have Canadian or American food. After the meal, on our way out, a guy stopped me and said, “I know this boat.” Of course, I was wearing my Blue Nose T-shirt. We chat about the Blue Nose when I declare my deception about the Marina Yacht Club, and he replies, ” Hey, I am a member. Come with me, I’ll take you guys to the club.

In the 1963 Elvis Presley film Fun in Acapulco, the Tropicana is a hotel and club where Elvis’s character, Mike Windgren, negotiates a singing job.

Role in the Film: Mike’s young manager, Raoul (played by Larry Domasin), secures him a performing fee of 1,500 pesos at the Tropicana.

Filming Location: While exterior shots of Acapulco were used as background photography, all of Elvis’s scenes, including those supposedly at the Tropicana and the “Acapulco Hilton” (now the Emporio Acapulco Hotel), were actually filmed in Hollywood studios. Replicas of hotel pools and cabanas were used for studio filming.

Real-World Connection: A character actor, Martin Garralaga, is credited as the “Manager of the Tropicana Hotel” in the film’s cast list. There is a famous Tropicana Cabaret in Havana, Cuba, which is a well-known entertainment venue, but the references in the movie are to a fictionalized Acapulco location.

So now you know our hotel, the El Tropicano, exists, but not Elvis’ Tropicana.

Brother Eric Michel or JEM Gagnon

The Quebrada

Photo: Arturo de Albornoz from México D.F., México

We pronounce Lizette, but we write Lisette.

The El Tropicano Hotel

With Helena

Photos Album

The bulls were little veals that didn’t want to charge, then somebody told us that the dead veals are sent to the butcher for poor people.

Note:

Pictures of the marina and the guy at the restaurant are in slide format; one day, I will convert them to JPGs.

Christmas Day – The Lighting of the Christ Candle

Today, on this sacred celebration of Christmas Day, the fifth candle of the Advent wreath was lit—the Christ Candle. After a season of prayerful waiting and preparation, this candle signifies the fulfillment of God’s promise and the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Placed at the center of the wreath, the Christ Candle symbolizes Christ as the Light of the World, whose coming dispels darkness and brings hope, peace, and salvation to all. As Scripture proclaims, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

As we rejoice in the Nativity of the Lord, may the light of Christ dwell within our hearts and guide our lives in faith, humility, and charity. May this holy day renew our commitment to live as bearers of His light in the world.

Wishing you a blessed and joyful Christmas.

Bro. Eric Michel

Previously posted on September 8 at https://franciscanseucharist.ca/

Previously posted on September 9 at https://franciscanseucharist.ca/

Previously posted on September 11 at https://franciscanseucharist.ca/

Previously posted on September 20 at https://franciscanseucharist.ca

Previously posted on September 28 at https://franciscanseucharist.ca/

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, formerly known as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory and the Feast of the Holy Rosary, is celebrated on 7 October in the General Roman Calendar. 7 October is the anniversary of the decisive victory of the combined fleet of the Holy League of 1571 over the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto.

In the Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, the feast is optionally celebrated on 7 October, under the title The Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Notre-Dame du Rosaire est, dans la tradition catholique, un titre donné à la Vierge Marie associé à la prière du rosaire. Ce titre serait issu d’une apparition mariale survenue au XIIIe siècle, à Prouilhe, dans le sud de la France, au cours de laquelle la Vierge aurait apparu à Dominique de Guzmán, fondateur de l’Ordre dominicain.
L’Ordre dominicain fut l’un des principaux propagateurs de cette dévotion mariale sous ce vocable, notamment par la promotion du rosaire, son objet. D’autres figures, telles que Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort et Alphonse de’ Liguori, contribuèrent également à la diffusion de cette dévotion.

La fête liturgique de Notre-Dame du Rosaire est célébrée le 7 octobre dans l’Église catholique, en souvenir de la victoire de la bataille de Lépante, attribuée à l’intercession de la Vierge Marie invoquée par la prière du rosaire.

Previously posted on October 2 at https://franciscanseucharist.ca/

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