On Friday, September 19th Canada’s former Governor General, The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Colonel-In-Chief of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was at Église Ste Anne to preside over a special ceremony of re-dedication of the commemorative plaques cared for by St. Clement Parish, plaques which honour the war sacrifices of this important Canadian regiment.   The plaques go back to our time at the Precious Blood convent and so have been part of the Latin Mass community since our founding in 1968.  Fr. Bélanger, who said the masses for us, served as this regiment’s chaplain.

The PPCLI was the first Canadian infantry unit to enter the theatre of operations, arriving in France on December 21, 1914.  In total 1,272 officers and enlisted men of the Patricias were killed (500 in Flanders) and 82 officers and enlisted men were captured during this war.   This year marks the one hundredth year of the regiment’s  creation and so we are honoured to be part of the centenary tributes.  Requiem aeternam, dona eis Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.  Requiescant in pace.  Amen.