Brother André Bessette was a “gentle whisper” of a person. He was a frail and sickly child. By age 12 he had been orphaned. He was poor and uneducated and thought to be illiterate. On his own at a very young age, he struggled to hold down a job because of his poor health. When he was accepted into the Congregation of the Holy Cross, a religious order that is best known as educators, the only job he was qualified for was “doorkeeper.” For the rest of his life, this was the only formal position he held.

Brother André turned this position into something remarkable. With his kind, humble, loving and prayerful ways, he sought to bring Jesus to everyone he met. So, as a doorkeeper, he welcomed the sick, lonely and the suffering with open arms. He prayed with and loved every person he met. He told the sick to pray to St. Joseph and ask for him to intercede for them with Jesus. Thousands of people experienced God’s healing as a result.

When Brother André passed away in January 1937, over a million people braved the Montreal cold to pay their respects to the “Miracle Man of Montreal.” This “gentle whisper” of a man showed us how to humbly serve Jesus and each other in a kind and joyful way. As our patron, Brother Andre is a great example for all of our employees to follow. Our employees are also like God’s gentle whisper. As you get to know them, you will encounter many of their gifts, treasures like kindness, humility, simplicity and love. You, too, will draw to closer to God.