1

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Celebration
1930
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

2

Here, on June 24, we celebrate the Saint-Jean-Baptiste. This celebration is a tradition that comes from France but it is now dedicated to honouring the patron saint of French Canadians. After mass, we have a parade with a little St John the Baptist, his attendants and his lamb, sports and various amusements.

3

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Celebration (next)
1928
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

4

Audio: "The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Celebration was always held on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. There was no question of holding it another day. It was a grand celebration. Decorations were placed all around the church and there was the little St. John the Baptist with his lamb. He was always placed at the head of the procession. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day was a tradition. Mass would often be held outside. When the weather was bad, mass would be said inside the church but it would usually be held outdoors. The procession would leave from the church and then we would all walk to the sporting grounds where entertainment had been set up...lawn bowls..."
Albert Augert

5

The Feast of Corpus Christi
1928
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

6

June 25, we celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi. It is a celebration of the Holy Sacrament. After high mass, there was a procession around the town. The children wore white and carried flower petals in little baskets. Houses were also decorated with flowers. This was the procession order: the cross, the children, young girls, women, the musicians, the singers, the children throwing flowers, the Holy Sacrament surrounded by the canopy bearers, then the men.

7

The Feast of Corpus Christi (next)
1928
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

8

Audio: "For the Corpus Christi procession, there would always be an altar of repose for the Blessed Sacrament at the Convent. An altar of repose is an altar decorated with flowers and lace. During the Blessed Sacrament procession, the priest would go to the altar and bless the congregation and then, little girls dressed in white would throw flowers at the head of the procession. I'm very sorry that we don't have this anymore."
Thérèse Bazin

9

Les Croisés de la Communion
1927
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

10

I am part of an active Catholic movement called les Croisés de la communion. This movement is for students from grades three to seven. First and foremost, it encourages children from different schools to take turns reciting a novena of communions.
Audio: "In those days, there were lots of religious organizations. There were the Croisés and it was the Nuns who would organize that with help from a few recruited lay persons. They would hold regular meetings and teach religious practice. It was very good training for children between the ages of 11 and 13 or 11 and 15 who participated."
Thérèse Bazin

11

Baseball
1932
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

12

In winter, my favourite sport is hockey and in summer, it's baseball. I don't play often because it's hard to gather enough friends to form two teams. On the other hand, I often go see games in town. Four teams compete against each other: the Lourdes team, the Cardinal team, the farmers' team and a youth team. My brother plays in this last one and he is a very good pitcher.

13

The baseball equipment
1920
Musée des Pionniers et des Chanoinesses, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

14

To play baseball, you absolutely must have a glove, a ball, a bat and shoes with cleats to prevent you from sliding. I don't have any real equipment yet but I dream of getting some soon, like my brother has, so I won't have to borrow a glove and a ball from him and get a sermon on what I should do...I don't need his advice.