Standing on the shore of the majestic Saint Lawrence River and surrounded by magnificent gardens, Our Lady of the Cape Shrine is a peaceful and welcoming harbour and a spiritual beacon set in a jewelry box of beauty.
In response to the call of Pope Francis to all of humanity in his encyclical letter, Laudato Sí (Praise be to you), the Shrine wants to do its part to safeguard our common home.
The Shrine already hosts occasional conferences on ecological and economic justice and also integrates creation spirituality within its preaching at various times during the year. The family and youth ministry, Cape-Youth, is concerned with presenting ecological themes in its activities.
Recycling is an established practice in the Shrine offices and in collaboration with the municipality, recycling bins are installed on the site during the nine days of the Assumption Festival in August.
Well aware that what we already do is only a beginning, we hope to improve upon these practices at all levels. For example, improving energy efficiency and relying more on green energy sources; becoming a water-bottle-free zone; installing charging stations for electric cars; etc.
It is imperative that the choices we make in the major redevelopment of the site (basilica courtyard, parking lots, path between the basilica and the original chapel) be ecological. Thus, we want to have green parking lots for a significant reduction of asphalt surfaces (which generate heat islands) and of lawns (which demand large quantities of water).
The successful implementation of more environmentally-friendly modifications, requires ecological awareness and conscientious participation on the part of the entire Shrine community: staff, Oblates, volunteers, pilgrims and visitors.
Our ecological conversion is a challenge, albeit, a realistic one. It is up to us to make the right choices so that the Shrine sets a good example and does its part for the safekeeping of creation.