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Canada Tour 2002
by Spencer McSorley (ND '05)

Growing up in northern Indiana, my family had the tendency to travel south on family vacations. So, for someone like me who had never been to the Northeast or Canada, this past spring tour was a wonderful experience.

Having joined the first week of my freshman year, the Choir was the place I first felt a part of the Notre Dame community and it was here where I first met many of my closest friends on campus. I was particularly excited about getting to spend two weeks traveling with this wonderful community of believers with whom I loved to worship our God.

The first stop was in Irvington, NY, just outside of NYC. The most surprising thing about Irvington and the surrounding areas (Tom Anthony and I actually stayed with some aging hippies in Tarry Town) was how beautifully green and void of concrete they were despite their proximity to the city. We visited the former high school of one of our seniors and after playing with the kids at recess (oh yeah and some singing -- I don't know, Steve calls it a workshop), we prepared to go into the city the next day. Many people in the Choir went to see Broadway shows or the Yankees-Blue Jays game, while others, mainly those there for the first time, just walked around Manhattan soaking up the charm that is NYC.

Next was a brief stop in Portsmouth, RI on our way to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Halifax was a very welcoming place where our billets (those we boarded with) were very keen on displaying their Northern hospitality. Most hospitable was Mr. Donahoe who explained to Josh Warner and myself how to lead our fellow Folkheads to a nice little pub by the name of The Old Triangle. We spent the rest of our time in Nova Scotia enjoying the rich Scotch-Irish heritage on the beautiful island of Cape Breton.

On our way to Quebec we briefly stopped in Wolfville and Moncton. It was our pleasure in Wolfville to have our concert benefit the L'Arche community there. L'Arche is a community of disabled adults who live and work together. This particular community made some incredibly beautiful weavings and candles that they sold at their shop downtown.

Our time in Quebec City was all too brief, but much appreciated nonetheless. The culture of French-Canada was highly enjoyable and many decided to partake of the cuisine of creperies and other fine dining establishments. We stayed just outside the city at the Ste. Anne de Beaupre where we took the evening to spend time in prayer and thanksgiving for all God had blessed us with in the last year.

Finally, the tour came to a close with three days in Montreal. Here we were privileged to sing in the grand L'Oratoire of Saint Joseph and to experience a bilingual mass. The wonderful works that God had performed through the humble hands of his servant Brother Andre were displayed by the numerous canes that lined the vestibule of Saint Joseph. To be able to sing praises to our Lord in a place where so many had been healed of their ailments was truly a healing experience for the soul. It also proved to be a fitting end to the past two weeks of experiencing the Body of Christ, not only within our contingent of Folkheads, but also from those generous enough to welcome us into their homes and parishes.