La Broquerie’s holy landmark seeks help with renovations

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This article was published 19/02/2025 (400 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cracks are spidering up the walls of the St. Joachim Roman Catholic Church in La Broquerie.

“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand,” reads the Bible’s Matthew 7:26.

But in order to hear those words of Christ inside a church in La Broquerie 124 years ago, the foundation needed to be built on the area’s sandy soil under the supervision of Father Alexandre Giroux. All the bricks were made by hand locally, and the lumber cut by locals.

St. Joachim has shifted on those sands since being dedicated in 1901. That is why a team of worshipers is seeking to start a series of renovations on the municipally designated heritage building.

An engineer has taken a look, and has pointed out the short-term, medium-term and long-term fixes that are needed over the next four years.

Committee president Lucien Grenier said they are seeking $1 million for the renovations, and have already seen a great response from residents and businesses with over $200,000 raised so far. He added that was raised since September and is before counting any grants and promised labour and donations to come.

That has allowed the first phase to be planned and built this spring, hopefully starting in May according to Grenier.

That work focuses on getting more people in the doors through improved accessibility. A ramp will be added on the north side, cutting the commute for those walking or wheeling over from The Chalet assisted living home across Normandeau Bay. Door access will also be improved with a better placement of the buttons to open them. A pad will also be added so there is no step to get in.

Grenier’s committee recently presented plans to locals that included accessibility improvements and the planned next upgrade: replacing the woodchips in the walls with modern insulation.

A small area of the church is mostly off limits until floor joist fixes occur. That is also a priority on the list.

And the hope is to preserve the historical pillars holding up those floors and the rest of the building.

Other areas of improvement on that list include installing energy efficient windows outside the stained glass, replacing the 60-year-old lights, flattening out the floor that is sinking on the sides with the heavy walls, some masonry and cleaning of the bricks, replacing the HVAC system, and cleaning out the chimneys without disturbing the federally protected chimney swifts living there.

Help has so far come from CDEM, Francofonds foundation, Caisse Populaire, La Broquerie Knights of Columbus, La Broquerie Pharmacy, and other private donors.

Anyone who wishes to donate can do so through the website paroissestjoachim.com. The fundraising is registered as a charity on the website.

People and businesses wanting more information on improvements and to help raise funds or put in some labour or supplies can contact Grenier. His email is ljgrenier@icloud.com and phone number is 204-981-7549.