L'Oeuvre des tabernacles : interview with Sister Annette Boisvert
Sister Annette Boisvert and Ms. Lise Jacques discuss the origins of uvre des Tabernacles and give a brief description of their mission.
Oeuvre des Tabernacles draws its inspiration from the work of Jeanne Le Ber (1662-1714), a recluse at the Congrégration de Notre-Dame, who made liturgical vestments and linens as well as clothing for poor children. The Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame carried on her work of making liturgical vestments.
In 1866, the Bishop of Montreal, Bishop Ignace Bourget, gave canonical status to Oeuvre des Tabernacles. Today, the Sisters no longer make liturgical vestments; rather, they salvage objects of worship from churches that are closing. Sister Boisvert gave a tour of the workshop and displayed vestments and vessels that are being repaired and restored. She pointed out that, in 2008, 3,412 items were given to 110 missionaries in 30 countries. Each priest generally receives an alb, a chasuble, a chalice, a ciborium, a candleholder, an altar cross, a small holy water font, an aspergillum, cruets, a paten and liturgical linens.
