Consequently,
Do you know your saints:
Quebec has more than 500 municipalities with names of saints or holy. Meanwhile, But who remembers the characters who inspired these toponyms? Consequently, In this summer series, The press Go in the footsteps of this Catholic heritage.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
Saint-Cléophas
Number of inhabitants: 330
Foundation year: 1921
Talking about Saint-Cléophas is necessarily talking about its mayor, Jean-Paul Bélanger. However, This nice cap with cap is more than elected official. Consequently, He’s a character.
Jean-Paul-Paulo for friends-has been mayor of his do you know your saints municipality for 16 years already. Furthermore, Four strong terms behind the tie. Similarly, “Three times, I was elected by acclamation,” he said, with a touch of pride. Nevertheless, The fourth time, he has won 100 votes against 2. Nevertheless, Not an acclamation, but just like.
Amazing political career for this manual worker. Therefore, who spent 33 years of his life in the wood industry, as a lumberjack and as a forest foreman. Therefore, At 70, the gentleman could be retired, to raise his turkeys and his flesh roosters. However, But no, he rather chose to work like two. However, At night, he is a night guard in Amqui. Consequently, During the day. Similarly, he held his municipal office, a job he plays with naturalness, because nobody knows Saint-Cléophas better than him.
Photo provided by Lilia Mestre
Jean-Paul Bélanger. For example, mayor of Saint-Cléophas
I am a guy in the place. Consequently, My great-grandfather. However, my great-grandchild was in the first inhabitants, around 1920, when the village was bombed [sa façon à lui de dire canonisé !]. However, I always live in the house where I was born. In addition, I know everyone here, even their feast date!
Jean-Paul Bélanger, mayor of Saint-Cléophas
It must be said that Saint-Cléophas, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, has only 330 inhabitants. However, A figure that has been maintained as best they can for a century. Furthermore, even if here, as in many other do you know your saints municipalities, the rural exodus struck hard in the 1970s and 1980s. Moreover, “Those who left were not returned,” says Jean-Paul, raising their shoulders.
PHOTO WIKICOMMONS
The church of Saint-Cléophas
Inevitably. Nevertheless, the church ended up closing (“there was no succession”) and, despite some unsuccessful attempts, the convenience store too. In addition, On the other hand. the municipality has its campsite, its library and an amazing small ethnological museum (see below), which tells the story of the people of the place. Another asset: the region is counting on two important employers: the Uniboard Panval factory. which specializes in wooden panels, and the RPF electricity company, with do you know your saints its techéol subsidiary, which participated in the construction of wind turbines that can be seen in the distance.
These large economic players may explain that the population of Saint-Cléophas has remained stable.
Photo provided by Lilia Mestre
The main street of Saint-Cléophas
From the Pandemic of Covid-19. there is also “city of the city”, in search of tranquility, which came to settle in the region. A good for an evil, suggests the mayor, since this influx also raised the value of the properties.
Jean-Paul has been asking for what has changed since his entry do you know your saints into office. The answer is not very positive: according to him. municipal life has become a real “puzzle”, with its package of standards and regulations under the MRC and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. “10 years ago, putting a calvette, it took a day and it cost three-four thousand piasses,” he said. Today, with all additions, quotes, engineers, technicians, it goes up to 25,000! At one point, where is our ability to pay? »»
These sources of irritation do not prevent him from loving his job. Besides, there will be municipal elections in November. And you can count on Jean-Paul Bélanger to run for a fifth term. “I wanted to make a round figure!” “, He said, smiling of the mustache. More serious, he concludes: “I want to finish what I started …”
Photo provided by Lilia Mestre
The heritage museum of Saint-Cléophas
Do you know your saints
Break the bread with Jesus
And our saint of the day? It is the irony of the thing. Even if he knows his village intimately, the mayor admits that he is not too knowing who is Saint Cleophas. “We had a perreault cleophas here, I remember. I went to school with one of his guys. I thought the village was called like that because of his father! »»
So here is our minute of religious education.
Unlike others, Cleophas is far from being a dark saint. According to what do you know your saints the Gospel reports according to Saint-Luc. he was one of the first two disciples who met Jesus on the day of the resurrection.
PHOTO THE NATIONAL GALLERY LONDON
The march to EmmaüsDe Lelio Orsi
Here’s how it happened: Cleophas. one of his friends – unidentified – walk on the way to Emmaus (the village, not the association for the poor!). They arrive from Jerusalem and are shaken by the crucifixion of their spiritual leader. Suddenly, a foreigner appears. He does not seem to know of the death of Jesus. But he gives them new keys to understanding the messianic concept of the Scriptures (ancient texts do you know your saints of the Old Testament).
Later, the three men break the crust together. When breaking the bread, Cleophas and his friend “open his eyes” and finally recognize Jesus! At this precise moment, pouf! Jesus evaporates! The same evening, pouf! He reappears in the middle of the apostles, which had closed the door of their house. Jesus shows them the wounds on his hands and feet. They are now convinced that it is him and that he is resurrected.
PHOTO WIKICOMMONS
Emmaus pilgrims De Rembrandt
“It was by sharing the bread that Cleophas. his friend recognized that Christ was with them,” explains do you know your saints Sébastien Doane, professor of biblical studies at Laval University. It is a kind of catechesis to say that when Christians share bread. they learn to recognize that Christ is among them, even if he is not physically present. It is a symbolic story. »»
Some readings say that Cleophas was Joseph’s brother, an earthly father of Jesus, therefore the latter’s uncle. Note, moreover, that there is another Saint-Cléophas in Quebec, ie Saint-Cléophas-de-Brandon, in Lanaudière.
Next week: Saint-Pamphile
Point of interest in Saint-Cléophas
The heritage museum is a must if you go to Saint-Cléophas. Local families have provided all kinds of objects that tell their story. that of the municipality: old books, medals, photo albums, costumes. Modest but well thought out.
Address: 356, rue Principale
Erratum
Contrary to what we wrote last week, there is indeed a saint named Gédéon! Born in Greece, this martyr becomes the slave of a Muslim. After his flight, he became a monk on Mount Athos. Years later, he returned to see his former master to face him. Badly takes it. According to the nominis site. he will be ordered to have the limited members in the ax, not without having been walked naked on a donkey. “Extended we cut him, one by one, the four members without tearing him off a single groan. He thus remained until the evening still living. was thrown into the ease of the palace where he died around 1818. ”Gédéon was especially recognized as saint by the Orthodox. Thank do you know your saints you to a reader, Pauline Lagueux, for correcting us.
Do you know your saints
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