The former Abbey of Our-Lady-of-Good-Council
The former Abbey of Our-Lady-of-Good-Council

The former Abbey of Our-Lady-of-Good-Council

The former Abbey of Our-Lady-of-Good-Council

The abandoned Cistercian community of St. Romuald

Saint-Romual (Quebec), Canada

Abandoned since 2002, the huge complex that has formed the abbay of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil in Saint-Romuald is now completely destroyed. Vandalized and burned several times, its owner, the Ultramar refinery, had no choice and have razed the last vestiges of this religious complex following a ultimate arson.

Owner of the site since 2007, Ultramar had a project for the place, a park but it has never been realized. In fact, this territory was, for its owner, a buffer zone between the company activities and the residential area.

The site had a rich history of more than one hundred years. It is also in 1902 that settled a group of Trappist who came from France to devote their lives to God in silence and prayer. While the construction of the monastery ends in 1903, the site is placed under the patronage of Our-Lady-of-Good-Counsel. Until 1906, the community has 14 recruits, 8 novices and 4 postulants.

Life is organized around God and the community is self-sufficient with their 200 acres of land where fruit and vegetable grow. A farm is also built where members of the religious community are taking care of animals. The neighbors also recall that the sisters were making Cistercian's chocolate. Excellent chocolate by the way.

In 1960, a new wing will be built to allow the sisters to be less cramped in these buildings. At this time, nearly 95 religious was living in this abbey. Unfortunately, the following decades were marked by the decline of the community. Whereas in 1993 they were only 42, they will be only 26 in 2001 to leave St.Romuald to their new homes located in the Beauce region. At the same time, has begun the long agony of a decade of this places marked by two major fires, some projects of real estate projects who has been abandoned and the final demolition in the last years by Ultramar.

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