Could these walls of the Église Saint-Gilles speak, what stories would they tell? This church stands as a testament to faith and community in Laval. Église Saint-Gilles is more than just a building. It is a focal point for the Catholic parish of Saint-Gilles. This parish merged with Saint-Julien-Eymard in 2000.
Église Saint-Gilles is located at 231, rue des Sables, Laval. You can reach them at 450-669-0909. The fax number is 450-669-5270. The diocese website provides more information.
The parish of Saint-Gilles was established in 1956. The church itself was built in 1960. It is considered to have exceptional heritage value. The Conseil du patrimoine religieux du Québec recognizes this.
Today the territory of Saint-Gilles is part of the new parish. This is the Bienheureux-François-de-Laval parish. It also includes Saint-Louis-de-Montfort, Saint-Julien-Eymard, and Saint-Christophe.
Let’s step back in time for a moment. Pont-Viau was created in 1926. It separated from St. Vincent de Paul. It became a town in 1947 and a city in 1958. Pont-Viau was dissolved in 1965. This happened when the city of Laval was created.
Église Saint-Gilles has a rich history of pastors. Gérard Lapointe was the first pastor in 1956. He served until 1967. Henri Robillard became the second pastor in 1967. He served until 1974. Roger Beauchamp was the third pastor. He only served from 1974 to 1975. Jacques Gagnon took over in 1975. He remained until 1978. Gérard Beauchemin then served from 1978 to 1994. Gérard Beauregard also served from 1978 to 1994. Yvon Pépin was the sixth pastor. He served from 1995 to 1997. Jean Pierre Langlois was the seventh pastor. He served from 1997 to 2005.
In 2021, Laval had a population of 438,366. This includes the area of Saint-Gilles. The population has steadily grown over the years.
Église Saint-Gilles continues to offer regular services. Mass is held on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 AM. Saturday mass is at 4:00 PM. Sunday mass is at 11:00 AM. Adoration takes place on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM. Online masses are also available. These are broadcast on the church’s Facebook page.
Église Saint-Gilles stands as a symbol. It represents community, faith and heritage. Its doors remain open. All are welcome.