At the beginning of the Covid Pandemic when our Church doors were closed, Pat, Madeleine Margaret, and I met at the Grotto in front of the Rectory each morning to pray the rosary. This is where we met Al, the young man who rode a bicycle and wore a BIKER Jacket sitting before Mary holding his head and weeping.
He told us about a miracle that happened to him while in the hospital and the first thing he felt that he needed to do after he was discharged was to find a Catholic church and he did. The Annunciation of the Lord in Beacon Hill North. Our church had been closed along with all the others in Ottawa and so Mother Mary consoled AL's heart and soul again at her Grotto in front of the Rectory of the Parish. Al loved his family and regretted the sins of his past. Al was in mourning and felt great sorrow for the way he was living his life before Mary's Visitation. This was evident in everything he did from the moment of Mary's visit to the General Hospital in Ottawa. Alain made a complete u-turn in the way he lived his life.
He told us he was renting a room near the Church in a house owned by an elderly lady on Bickerton Ave. He had just been discharged (or about to be discharged ) from the Hospital but without a place to live. I can't remember the details of how he found a home but he said it just fell into his hands by a friend of a friend or something like that. He said that Our Lady found the place for him. When this kind woman passed away parishioners Ken and Janet Warren invited Al to live with them and he remained with them until his passing. Ken and Janet were like second parents to Al. God bless them
Alain's Miraculous Conversion Story
Alain often joined us when we prayed the rosary and at the beginning said his prayers in French. As time went by Al not only learned the rosary in English he meditated on each mystery of the rosary with such depth that you were transported back in time to the Annunciation or the Visitation or whichever mystery it was, whether the Joyful, Glorious, Sorrowful, or Luminous. Al would absolutely put you there. I can't even describe it.
We all know that Mother Mary led Al to The Annunciation church and over the next few years, AL's presence was something I have no words for. I have never known such a devout soul, so mournful of past sins, so grateful for everything, so in love with Jesus in the Eucharist, Mother Mary who led him back to the Father. The poor, the homeless, the unborn, those suffering from addictions......... every soul on earth I would say.
He told us that even though he was raised a Catholic, he hadn't practiced his faith for years and was so hungry to know everything there was to know that he searched on the internet for everything he could find out about the Church and our Faith, about Jesus, and our Blessed Mother and the Saints, prayers, devotions everything Catholic. He listened to podcasts and he wrote almost everything down. He must have hundreds of books of handwritten prayers. I told him about the Marian Congress in 1947 and that I had the 80-page program that my dad had given me as a souvenir and he borrowed it so he could handwrite the entire book.
He had a special place in his heart for the Biker Church and the homeless. Father Joshua and Al visited the Biker Church in Vanier weekly with clothes for their "Free Store" And, Al loved to hear Pastor Rob Preach on Thursdays.
Al was like a sponge. He wanted to know everything Catholic and do everything Catholic. Naturally, he joined our parish 40 Days for Life in 2022, but went way beyond anything expected, He spent the entire day at the corner of Bank and Queen praying with Father Joshua For more details click here
Many in our parish have been inspired by Al, with his love for the Church, Jesus in the Eucharist, our Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph, and all the Saints.
Al and a few others below praying at our Grotto In October 2023
Al's love for the poor and homeless is beyond words and has inspired many to follow his example not only here at the Annunciation but elsewhere. In the last couple of years, Al became very attached to the Queenship of Mary Community here in Ottawa and together with the Community they provided food for the homeless on several occasions Al wanted to do everything
Al Loved the Mass and participated in each one with such AWE and Reverence. I can't imagine our parish without Al's humble presence.
You know I really feel that Alain could be a saint. Of course, one should not be presumptuous when it comes to anyone's immortal soul but I really believe that God sends us holy souls to inspire and lead us to Him and I believe Al is such a soul. Well, I am an old lady and have known many very devout Catholics who have inspired me but never someone quite like Alain. I mentioned this to a friend today who told me well we shouldn't be making assumptions because it is not easy to become a saint and I agree but looking at Al, my gosh the way he expressed sorrow for the sins of his past, his profound love of Jesus in the Eucharist, Mother Mary the saints his fellow brothers and sisters. I believe God sends us souls like Al for a reason to help each one of us reach heaven as well and I feel extremely blessed to have had the Grace to have known Al. And he never judged anyone.
Striving for holiness is an ongoing thing but with God's mercy and His Grace it is attainable and within the reach of each one of us
Thank you, God for Alain, and thank you, Alain
A few photos I took
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