Le temps d’ériger un clocher

The little Sainte-Cécile chapel in Calixa-Lavallée is the brainchild of Pierre Moussard, an enthusiast of religious antiquities and Quebec history. For many years, the Calixa resident had cherished the dream of building a processional chapel to house the many works of religious heritage that this specialist has collected over the decades, including crosses of all shapes, holy-water fonts, candlesticks, a 19th-century altar, paintings and more.

The man paid over $50,000 out of his own pocket to build this chapel, which is dedicated to Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, and was inaugurated in September 2011. However, the Municipality of Calixa-Lavallée alleges, among other things, that the construction does not comply with standards for agricultural land, while the owner asserts that it is in compliance with the law.

The case was heard in Superior Court in Sorel-Tracy last April, when the judge ordered a site survey, adjourning the trial which is due to resume shortly.

It should be noted that Pierre Moussard was nominated for the Prix Gérard-Morisset, the most prestigious distinction awarded by the Quebec government in the field of heritage, recognizing an individual’s outstanding contribution to research, creation, training, production, conservation and dissemination in the fields of cultural property, museology and traditional folk culture.

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