Abbey of Notre-Dame du Lac (Oka, Quebec) facts for kids

The Abbey of Notre-Dame du Lac, also known as the Oka Abbey, was a special kind of monastery in Oka, Quebec, Canada. It was home to Trappist monks, who are a branch of the Cistercian Order. The main building was made of grey stone, and there were many other buildings on a large property. Over time, fewer monks lived there. So, in the early 2000s, the monks decided to close the monastery. They turned the property into a non-profit center to protect its history.

History of Oka Abbey

Why the Monks Came to Canada

The story of Oka Abbey began in France. In November 1880, the French army took over the Cistercian monastery called Abbaye de Bellefontaine. Because of this, the Trappist monks living there were forced to leave France.

Luckily, Father Victor Rousselot from Montreal, Quebec, invited them to Canada. In April 1881, eight Trappist monks traveled to Quebec to start a new monastery.

Building a New Home

The Sulpician Order, which owned a lot of land in Quebec, offered the Trappists a piece of property. This land was near the Lac des Deux Montagnes (Lake of Two Mountains) in Oka, Quebec. The monks named their new home "La Trappe." This name came from Soligny-la-Trappe in France, where their Order was first started in 1662.

Within a few years, the monastery also created an agricultural school. It was called the Oka Agricultural Institute and was connected to the Université de Montréal.

How the Abbey Supported Itself

To support themselves, the monks at Oka Abbey became famous for making cheeses. They produced well-known cheeses like Oka and Port-Salut.

The Decline of the Monastery

At its busiest time, the monastery was home to more than 200 monks. However, by the early 2000s, the number of people becoming monks had dropped. Only 28 brothers remained, and half of them were over 70 years old.

Because of this, the monks decided to stop operating the monastery. They donated the property to create a non-profit center. This center helps to preserve the important history of the site.

The Trappists have since built a new, smaller monastery. They have also changed their name to Abbaye Val Notre-Dame.

See also

In Spanish: Abadía de Nuestra Señora del Lago para niños