St. Joseph’s Oratory and Notre Dame Basilica have long vied for the reputation as best place to attend Midnight Mass in Montreal. But they are just two of a variety of churches and cathedrals to celebrate the Holy Night and the birth of Jesus.
Also, Midnight Mass isn’t necessarily at midnight.
Notre-Dame Basilica — 110 Notre-Dame St. West
With room for 4,000 worshippers, Notre-Dame Basilica was the site of Céline Dion’s wedding and Pierre Trudeau’s funeral. Built in neo-Gothic style starting in 1824, it was designed by an Irish-American Protestant, James O’Donnell, who reportedly was so moved by the experience he converted to Catholicism.
The Christmas masses are so popular here that tickets went on sale in September.
As of December 21st, there were still some available for the masses on the 24th, including the “animated family mass” with a live crèche at 7 p.m., and the 9:30 p.m. and midnight masses, both of which are celebrated with the Notre Dame Choir.
There are also three masses scheduled for Christmas Day, at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
To purchase tickets, go to 424 St-Sulpice St. Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and if there are tickets remaining, on Christmas Eve until 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children 17 and under. For more information call 514-842-2925.
St. Joseph’s Oratory — 3800 Queen Mary Rd.
Visited by more than two million visitors and pilgrims every year, and the site of purported miracles that led to the canonization of Brother André Bessette in 2010, St. Joseph’s Oratory holds Christmas masses on the 24th and 25th, in the basilica and the Crypt Church, in English, French and even Spanish.
Tickets for the 9 p.m. mass (with the Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal boys’ choir) and Midnight Mass at the basilica, delivered in French, are $5 each and can be purchased at the Information and Blessings’ Office, at the Gift Shop, and by calling 514-733-8211.
But there is also a bilingual mass at 12:15 a.m. in the Crypt Church.
On Christmas Day there are two masses in the basilica, as well as seven in the Crypt Church: five in French, one in English and one in Spanish. Go to http://www.saint-joseph.org/en/event/the-holidays-at-saint-josephs-oratory/ for the detailed schedule.
St. Patrick’s Basilica — 460 René-Lévesque Blvd.
For an English mass at the “mother church” of the English-speaking Catholics of Montreal, head to St. Patrick’s Basilica, at one time a beacon for parishioners coming from all directions, now a Gothic Revival-style church set in a sea of metal and glass downtown high-rises.
There is no midnight mass per se at St. Patrick’s Basilica, but it does offer Christmas carols on Christmas Eve at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Solemn Christmas Mass, in English, at 8 p.m.
Mass on Christmas Day will be held at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral — 635 Ste-Catherine St. West
In the heart of downtown Montreal, the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral is believed to be the only church with a shopping mall underneath it, built in the 1980s. It is also one of few places of worship where you’ll see a woman among the reverends, including on Christmas Eve.
Here, the Family Eucharist and Christmas Pageant is held at 4 p.m. Christmas Eve, a French Eucharist at 7 p.m. and a bilingual Midnight Mass at 11 p.m. celebrated by Bishop Mary.
On Christmas morning there will be a Christmas Day Festival Mass at 10 a.m.
St. James United Church — 463 Ste-Catherine St. West
Its facade hidden for over 78 years by commercial buildings to help pay for its upkeep, St. James United Church returned to its former glory in 2005 and now hosts sermons and concerts, as well as numerous outreach organizations for the homeless and the poor, as well as the LGBT community, placing it among the most inclusive of churches in the city.
On Christmas Eve hot chocolate will be served starting at 6:15 p.m. followed by mass at 7 p.m. The Holy Eucharist will be held Christmas Day at 11 a.m.