Professional artists have an opportunity to make a lasting contribution to the artistic collection of the Archdiocese of Montreal’s mother church, Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral.

An open call for sacred art was issued on June 2, and artists with expertise in figurative painting have until June 21 to submit their proposal for a new commemorative work called “Maisonneuve Sets a Cross Upon Mount Royal."

Applicants will depict the moment on Jan. 6, 1643, when French military officer Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, founder of the French missionary settlement Ville-Marie (“City of Mary”) on the Island of Montreal, erected a Cross to God in gratitude for sparing Ville-Marie from flooding in December 1642.

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The overflowing of the Saint-Laurent River could have submerged the entire settlement. Maisonneuve made the solemn vow to carry a Cross alone to the summit of Mount Royal and plant it there if the Lord spared this setting from catastrophe. On Dec. 25, the floodwaters halted just shy of the fort's doors and then receded.

“The inclusion of a representation of Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve in the Cathedral would help complete the historical narrative of Montreal’s foundation already conveyed through the artworks displayed within the building,” said Caroline Tanguay, the director of the archdiocese’s parish services department. “While many of the existing paintings depict the origins of the city and the contributions of its founders, the absence of Maisonneuve — the principal founder and first governor of Ville-Marie — leaves a significant gap in this story.”

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The winning entry will be announced in September, and the finalized work will be unveiled on Jan. 6, 2027, the 384th anniversary of Maisonneuve’s historic prayerful tribute. The victorious painting will be installed in the northwest alcove of Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, opposite Georges Delfosse's paintings depicting Jeanne Mance, the devout laywoman who founded Montreal’s first hospital in 1645, and the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph.

Archbishop Christian Lepine, chair of the selection jury, hopes the painting “will serve as a reminder of a defining act of faith and hope in Montreal's history” and “carry forward, for generations to come, the memory of our spiritual roots.”

Tanguay also expressed belief that the painting will strike a deeply resonant chord as the “event conveys a timeless message.”

“It reminds us of the courage, perseverance and hope that inspired the city’s founders,” said Tanguay. “For Catholics, it stands as a powerful testimony of faith put into action and of thanksgiving. For the broader public, it represents a foundational moment in Montreal’s history and a symbol of the spiritual, cultural and social heritage that helped shape the city.”

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Tanguay subscribes to the conviction that “sacred art remains a powerful instrument of evangelization and cultural transmission” as it “invites contemplation, discovery and dialogue.” Additionally, it helps “future generations reconnect with Montreal’s Christian roots and recognize the role that faith played in shaping the city’s identity, heritage and development.”

Visit diocesemontreal.org to learn more.