Montreal’s St Joseph’s Oratory seeing less tourist traffic due to COVID-19

Montreal’s St. Joseph’s Oratory is expecting a drop in its revenues this year with just a fraction of the two million tourists who typically frequent the landmark church visiting due to COVID-19.

As the church’s rector, Rev. Claude Grou, was preparing to celebrate a mass marking the birthday of church founder Brother Andre on Sunday, a maximum of 250 seats were available due to public health rules on gatherings instead of the typical 1,500 worshippers who cram into the basilica for the event.

On a typical summer Sunday, anywhere from 4,000 to 5,000 people will attend one of the masses during the day, dropping by the coffee shop or perusing the gift shop.

Grou says there are sure signs of financial pain — the gift shop is getting about 20 per cent of the business it typically does.

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The church’s rector says while the Montreal institution gets funds from private donors, a significant percentage of the budget is from regular activities within the walls of the church, which has been limited since the pandemic.

“This percentage is not zero, there are still people at the celebrations and people coming to the store,” Grou said. “I believe that we must spend the summer period to make a more global assessment.”

Surveys carried out a few years ago suggest nearly 50 per cent of those who visit the church come from outside Quebec and nearly 35 per cent come from outside Canada — a group that isn’t coming this year.

In the absence of tourist crowds, Grou invited Montrealers and Quebecers to rediscover the oratory.

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Grou also believes some regulars are likely fearful of COVID-19, preferring to watch the mass from home.

Grou, 78, also spent the first months of the crisis in isolation as public health officials recommended it for those 70 and older.

Since then, he’s resumed most of his regular duties, while respecting public health protocols.

“Whether you’re 78 or 38, you have to put on a mask in public, you have to follow all the rules and you follow them very faithfully,” Grou said. “Myself, I respect them like the others.”