Benedict Labre House
308 Young Street,
Montreal, QC
H3C 2G2
(514) 937-5973

Contact Info
Kat Gray

kgray

benedictlabre.org

House Events
Evenements de la Maison

Keep up to date with the House Events in this section.

Summer 2007

Our Garden
As we noticed last year, something very special happens when we plant our garden. Not only do we enjoy fresh herds and vegetables daily, but we see the excitement it brings to our staff and guests. It is truly a healing experience. Here are some pictures of our garden so far:

Please keep checking back to watch our Garden Bloom with us!!!

Week 4:

What a difference two weeks and some TLC makes!!!

Ann and her Prized Tomatoe, Basil, and Flower Bed!!!!

Week 2:

Fall 2006

A Special Donation
The Simpson children handcrafted book marks in seasonal colours and printed Psalms of Thanksgiving on them.  They then decorated them with embroidery floss and beads.  They prepared an information board  about Benedict Labre House; who it helps and how they do it.  At each of the three masses on the weekend of September 23 -24, 2006, they stood at the church door exits and gave their hand-made bookmarks out to those who donated to the cause.

A total of $933.55 was collected and the children are both excited and proud to have done a good deed.

Our Heart Felt Thank You Simpson Family and the parishioners of  St. Edmunds of Canterbury, Beaconsfield.

Turkey Dinner for Thanksgiving Sunday
On Thanksgiving Sunday, a large group from the Seventh Day Adventist Church brought a bountiful Turkey Dinner that they served to 170 happy and thankful guests that day.  Thank you.

The Father Dowd Foundation Hosts a Special Meal
On Thanksgiving Monday, a wonderful roast beef dinner was offered  to our guests by Desmond Lartigue, Patrick Gillespie, Patrick Shea, Norman Hannan and Murray Quinn.  They served 210 roast beef dinners. Thank You

Summer 2006

Cool-Aid Kids
Following an idea begun by Vivien, our new Community Development Manager, I decided this year to ask for clothing donations instead of gifts at my birthday party.  The response was fantastic and our guys had a van full of socks, underwear, shirts, jackets—even two foot baths, searched out by my friend Heather, at garage sales.

An interesting offshoot developed from this event.  Four of the neighborhood kids, delivering invitations for me, asked their parents “what is Labre House?”.  When they were told that it was a place where people who had no food could come to eat, they decided to help too.  So Robbie, age 6; Hailey, age 7; Emma, age 8; and Madison, age 10 organized and ran a lemonade stand for two days.  This business endeavor was very successful, and they managed to fill an envelope with $22.90 in change, which  they presented to me for the House.  I’m very proud of these kids, and would like to thank them again for their valiant efforts.
Lorna Townson

A  Source of Pride
Our new garden has become a source of great pride.  Early this year a decision was made to create a working garden that would be built, maintained and enjoyed by guests.   From the Atwater Market the garden crew planted two types of tomatoes, green peppers, onions, carrots, celery, cucumbers, broccoli, radishes and snow peas.  We even have a small pumpkin patch.  Creating the garden space required a lot of hands, our gardening team included Eric,  Frank, and Marc.

Over the course of the summer, the harvest has been surprisingly bountiful.  The kitchen has been using all the vegetables.  Our best performers in our garden are the cherry and beefsteak tomatoes; also the cucumbers with a special one measuring in at 21 inches; and our green peppers

Winter 2005

March 26th, 1942
to
November 20th, 2005

Albert Pine“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal”

In Loving Memory
of
Anthony James Gray

On November 20th, 2005, after complications with infections, Anthony James Gray passed away peacefully. A proud and loving father of four; Mathew, Timothy, Katheleen and Christopher; a devoted husband to Marie Nicole; a friend and father-like figure to many: he Lived, he loved, he laughed.
The last few years after contracting the Flesh eating disease, he suffered quietly, but he never let his pain stop him, or even slow him down.
He had dedicated the last few years of his life to a non-profit organization, The Benedict Labre House, where he was director. Through out his years, he touched the lives of many.

Memorial
On December 8th, 2005 at 2:00pm
The Benedict Labre House,
308 Young street, Montreal Quebec,
will host a memorial service.

Funeral Service
His family and friends invite you to Celebrate his GREAT life at a service held on
January 7th, 2006 at 1:00pm
at
St Francis of Assisi Parish
844, Notre-Dame street, St-Lambert Quebec.

12/01/05
Dear friends,

My family and I thank you for all the support that we have received in the passed month, while my father, Tony Gray, was hospitalized, and after his passing on November 20th 2005.

We would like to ask, as I know it is what my Father would have wanted, instead of sending flowers, we would prefer a donation to The Benedict Labre House be made in his name. My father gave his heart and soul to this house, he loved it; its mission, the staff, the volunteers, and its guests.

Being his daughter, I love him very much and always knew he was a great man, but it has been wonderful finding out how many lives he has touched throughout the years, as well as seeing his true greatness through the eyes of others.

8 years ago, at my Grandmothers funeral, my little cousin, who was 5 at the time, was asking about death, in his very calm and soothing voice, my father replied, “Sean, when we are here on earth, we spend our lives, learning and loving and being the best person we can be, we are caterpillars, and when its time, when we are ready, we become beautiful butterflies, its not scary or painful, it is beautiful.”

So dad… I know you are enjoying your beautiful wings.

Thank You,
Katheleen Gray

October 11th 2005
On Sunday October 9^th, a traditional thanksgiving meal was served to over 170 guests of the House. The meal was prepared by our house and volunteers, the turkeys were supplied by John Brebeuf parish, Paul Anderson of Corpus Christi parish and other donors. It was a welcome haven for a cold fall day and the house echoed the sounds of joy and comfort for the short span of several hours, on this day of thanksgiving.