Today marks the 49th Anniversary of the death of Very Reverend Vincent Marchildon, O.P.
Father Marchildon arrived at St. Anne’s on October 27, 1905. He served as Assistant Pastor of the parish until 1928. However, in 1923, he was excused from his parish duties to devote all his time to the apostolate of the Shrine.
In 1928 he was named as the first official director of St. Anne’s Shrine.
Father Marchildon spent over 60 years of his priestly life at St. Anne, and is known as the founder and ‘Great Apostle’ of the Shrine. An extremely holy and extraordinary man, his service and dedication to Good St. Anne, the Shrine, and its pilgrims is honored by his burial in the Dominican crypt of the shrine.
If you’ve the occasion to visit, please stop by the Crypt (found in the north ambulatory corridor) and offer a prayer for this wise and holy priest and apostle of our patroness.