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Montréal, May 16, 2018 - Secondary 1 students at the Collège de Montréal visited the Bahá'í Shrine, the former home of Montréal architect William Sutherland Maxwell, on Wednesday, May 16. This house, the only sacred place in North America, was blessed by Abdu'l-Bahá's stay in Montreal in 1912.

The 25 students were accompanied by their animator for spiritual life and community involvement at the Collège de Montréal. Indeed, the college offers a course of ethics and religious culture that allows students to know the major religions of the world. Throughout the year, students explore how different religions in Quebec and elsewhere have influenced our lives, our traditions and our way of understanding our society.

The Collège de Montréal has a diverse community of students from many countries around the world. Through this activity, it is desirable for students to interact with people from different religious traditions, which will allow for a better dialogue between them and the people they live with every day. Thus, the students develop their knowledge as well as increase their horizons.

This year, the fourth year since students of the Collège visited the Shrine, we received 25 students accompanied by two teachers. During the one-and-a-half hour visit, an excerpt from the "Light of the World" video was presented and information about the history and principles of the Bahá'í Faith was shared with the students. They received pamphlets on the Bicentennial of Bahá'u'lláh's birth and the repertoire of Bahá'í Holy days and Calendar. Each student had the task to complete a questionnaire about their experience during the visit and write about the main topics they have learned. A period was allocated to questions and discussion to help them to complete this task.

The students were very respectful when visiting the Shrine. They asked many questions about the decorative objects displayed in different rooms of the Maxwell Home and their significance. They expressed their joy at having the opportunity to visit this sacred place in Montreal.

This year, the Collège de Montréal celebrates the 250th year of its founding. It was founded in 1767 by the Sulpician Jean-Baptiste Curatteau of the Blaiserie, the Collège moved then into the enlarged presbytery of the parish of St. Francis of Assisi of Longue Pointe, east of the Island of Montreal, 125 years after the founding of this city and 100 years before Canadian Confederation.

This annual visit to the Collège de Montréal has not been possible without the support of a small team of friends, dedicated to community service.

 

Bahá'í Center

 

177, av des Pins E
Montréal, QC H2W 1N9
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Phone: 514-849-0753

Click here for map and hours

 

 

Montreal Shrine

 

1548, av des Pins O, Montreal
Phone: 514-568-2104

Click here for map and hours

 

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