The outdoor space between the Cathedral and the multi-use building will be a garden of reflection and healing, paying tribute to our city’s early European origin through the erection of an image or figure of ‘Our Lady at the Rapids’. It will be a place of peace, hope and love for all who visit there. Historically, we are told that the site of the rapids or ‘sault’ was given the name ‘Sault Ste. Marie’, by the Jesuits in the mid 1600s and dedicated the settlement to The Blessed Virgin.

Gardens of Reflection with Our Lady at their center have symbolized ‘peace, hope and love’ around the world. There is to be a life size image or figure of “Our Lady at the Rapids” standing in a reflective pool of moving water. The intention is to create the impression of the rapids. Our Lady will be looking straight ahead with arms open to welcome all peoples. It is traditional for all Catholics to turn to Our Lady in times of joy and times of need. Places dedicated to Our Lady have become extremely popular in many places in the world, a large part due to her appearance to St. Bernadette in 1858 at the Grotto at Lourdes, France. The grotto at Notre Dame University was dedicated to ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’ in1878. In 1916-17, the famous apparitions of ‘Our Lady of Fatima’ appeared to the three children in Fatima, Portugal. Popular movies were made of these appearances in Lourdes and Fatima. Pope John Paul II visited both Lourdes and Fatima. Research of the major religions confirms that they all have respect for Mary as the Mother of Christ.
All Catholics are reminded that we can only move forward with active participation. The latest fundraisers are the Gala on December 12 (for tickets contact Linda Simonini @ 705-945-7038) and ‘the Journey’ Lottery drawing for total prizes of $49,000 - $1000 per week commencing January 25 (to assist in selling tickets – contact Bob Barbeau @ 705- 256-5454).