Oratoire St Joseph

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A Mini Pilgrimage to the Oratoire St Joseph du Mont-Royal

What a majestic sight the Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal is, as it towers over plush and meticulously kept gardens. The long road which leads one towards the entrance allows one ample time to reflect on the churches beauty as you make your way towards its front entrance. Before reaching the entrance however you will need to climb more than 280 steps! This can be seen as a mini pilgrimage so be sure to wear the proper shoes on your visit to the basilica if you have any intention of going inside.

The architectural style used is that of Italian renaissance complete with a dome, the 'cupola' as is typically seen in the basilica's of Italy. In fact the dome is the second largest dome in the world, the first being Saint Peter's basilica in Rome. The height of the dome is 236 meters. A variety of architects were involved in the construction and design of the church. The most notable of those were Paul Bellot, Dalbé Viau, Lucien Parent, and Alphonse Venne.

The Saint Joseph's Oratory which is situated on Mount Royal is the largest church in Canada, seating 2,400 people with a maximum capacity of 10,000 people. The height of the church towers 129 metres and the length 105 metres.

Construction of the church began in 1904 by Saint Andre' Bessette, C.S.C, however, it was a small chapel at that time, nothing in comparison to the basilica which you will see as it stands today. The church was later enlarged to accommodate for the growing congregation and this is when it was turned into a basilica. With all the expansion and alterations the basilica was finally finished in 1967.

The church was featured on a 49c stamp issued by the Canadian Post in April of 2004. The stamp was designed by Catherine Bradbury and William Stewart. Their design was based on photography of the church done by Bernard Brault.

During your visit to Saint Joseph's Oratory you will not only enjoy the beautiful gardens and lawn that lead up to it, or the magificent architecture itself; for a very small fee, you can also explore the Oratory Museum which is open daily from 11am - 4:30pm and during July and August you can participate in a fully guided tour, also for a small fee. If you get hungry during your visit you can enjoy a breakfast or light lunch along with some great views at the cafeteria.

If you would like to experience a truly Roman Catholic Church service in the largest church in Canada with the atmosphere of reverence that comes with it, then this is definitely a place to visit. If you are simply a fan of renaissance architecture, you will also want to add this to your list of places to see in Montreal.

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Facts For Your Visit

Fee: There is a small fee to visit the Oratory Museum or to participate in one of the guided tours that are available during July and August. See the offical website for more information.

Oratoire St Joseph Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

Monday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Address: 3800 Chem. Queen Mary, Montréal, QC H3Y 1N5, Canada

Phone: (514) 733-8211

Official Website: Oratoire St Joseph

Oratoire St Joseph Reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Saint Joseph's Oratory is a magnificent holy place to visit. It's a beautiful church dedicated to St. Andre Bassett who is known to have facilitating 1000s of healing through the intercession of St. Joseph. There are hundreds if not thousands of crutches in the crypt of the Oratory/basilica. They have a candle ministry where you can light candles for prayers for a loved one. They move the candles into chandelier in the hall as well as on the walls. It's a sight to behold The recent renovations are state of the art! The Basilica is majestic. I recommend going in the back of altar to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus! You can even go to confession! Beautiful and peaceful!
Chris Morelli - a week ago

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5 Star Rating Monumental scale, Renaissance Revival facade and contrasting Art Deco interior mesmerizes us. Being said that, the Oratory is recognizable not just in Montreal but around the world and is National Historic site of Canada. What differentiates is the green color dome, which is visible for far long. This Oratory sits 30 meters above the summit and is the highest building in montreal, so ideally one can get the birds eye view from the top of the oratory visitors deck - unfortunately its seems under construction and is not allowed to get to the dome. The oratory is the effort of numerous architects and thousands of workers in a process spanning six decades.
Dhruva Kumar - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Saint Joseph’s Oratory is a beautiful and peaceful place in Montreal. Its large dome stands out, and the walk up the stairs, surrounded by gardens, feels special. Inside, the space is calm and impressive, with stunning stained glass and a beautiful pipe organ. You can also visit the tomb of Saint Brother André and enjoy amazing views of the city. It’s a wonderful place to reflect and appreciate the beauty and history. Believe me it’s truly beautiful and spiritual best place this was the second beautiful place I visited 😇
Alisha Lal - 3 months ago

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5 Star Rating St. Joseph oratory is a catholic minor basilica and national shrine on mount royal in Montreal. It’s a beautiful architecture made of granite and copper. If you are visiting Montreal then you must visit this place with some time in your hand. It is the diversity of the architectural styles in its places of worship.
Farhan M. - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Very unique religious site with lots of history in the build of this oratory. Visited this as a 10-year-old but revisited after 60 years really drives home the appreciation of such a pious event. Our visit on a very cold winter morning had few tourist or church goers making this quite a private atmosphere with ample time for prayers if blessings. Did not visit the outdoor gardens or steps of the cross due to the cold. Lots of handicap support and accessible for all. Visit is free, parking is very fair $5, but always feel free to support the church in anyway that you can. Worth the visit whether for religious or for tourist reasons.
P H - 2 months ago

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Directions

Metro Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
Line 5 - Blue	Côte-des-Neiges	8 Minutes

How to get to Oratoire St Joseph by Metro

By Metro: Take Metro LIne 5 to Station Côte-des-Neiges; exit to your right (south) along Côte-des-Neiges Road then go right on Queen Mary Road to the entrance.