Canadian Martyrs Church Sixteen

Stained Glass Windows

The material below was scanned from the church brochure that describes the detail of the windows. It was written by Father Carl Kelly, OMI, in May of 1999.

This window was donated by the Doran Family while Father Cornelius P Herlihy O.M.I. was pastor (1954). The Window was designed and produced by Theo Lubbers, a Dutch artist Tom Lubbers , a Dutch artist from Montreal.

The Top Section

This section contains the words of the Motto of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who

have been given charge of the Parish. The Oblate Motto is: He has sent me to bring the Good News to the "Poor; The Poor have the Gospel preached to them" The Motto in Latin: Pauperes Evangelizantur (In Latin the V is used instead of the U.

The Middle Section

The Canadian Martyrs (Dates and places of their deaths)
St John de Brebeufat Ft St. Ignace on March 16, 1649. St Gabriel Lalemant at Ft St. Ignace March 17, 1649. St Anthony Daniel at Mount St. Louis on July 4, 1648. St Charles Gamier at Etherita December 7,1649.
St. Isaac Joques at Ossemenon October 18, 1646.
St. NoelChabanel unknown December 8, 1649.
St. Rene Goupil at Ossemenon September 29,1642.
St. John de La Lande Ossemenon on October 19, 1646.

This Section is the main part of the window. The eight Martyrs are shown surrounding the

VirginMary, who is holding her child Jesus in her arms. Jesus is shown wearing a crown, because he was King, and holds in his hand a palm Branch, the symbol ofthe martyr. Mary also has a crown because she is the Queen of the World.

The martyrs have haloes surrounding their heads. A Halo is an ancient symbol for holiness or saintliness. Immediately on the left of the Virgin is St. John de Brebeu£ He was a member of the Society of Jesus whose motto was: "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God): He is shown holding a bible with the letters A M D G on the cover. Six ofthe martyrs are shown wearing priestly vestments showing that they were priests. Two were not priests and they are shown in lay clothes. All the Martyrs are shown looking toward the Mother and Child.

At Mary's feet is a half circle. Within the circle is the Oblate Cross and the Motto of Canada: "A Mari Usque Ad Mare".( From Sea to Sea) These words were taken from Psalm 72:8, : "And he shall have dominion from sea to sea."

The Lower Section

There are five panels in the lower section. The centre panel has the Crown with the Cross and a red Maple leaf The crossed palms symbolize martyrdom and the banner has the

words: Fulgens Corona. (Shining Crown). This was the title of the Encyclical Letter written by Pope Pius XII on September 8th, 1953, in which the Holy Father declared 1954 a Marian Year, devoted to the veneration of Mary, the Mother of God. 1954 was the lOOth Anniversary of the declaration of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854.

The fact that it was the centenary of the declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, makes it very fitting for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate The Oblates have been in Canada since 1841.

The other panels have Tents and Totem Poles symbols of the
Native People of Canada, and various symbols ofthe instruments used in their martyrdom.
The new Church was opened and blessed by Archbishop Lemieux of Ottawa in January 1954.

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