Brother André's Clinton County connections

André Bessette, who was later known as Brother André or Saint André of Montréal, was a frequent visitor to Plattsburgh. Hundreds of Clinton County residents, many of whom are distant cousins of the Brother, still relate stories of relatives who visited him when he came to Plattsburgh. He was a frequent visitor to St. Alexander’s Church in Morrisonville and also went to St. James Church in Cadyville.

Some of his special friends were Andrew Wilson and his wife, Mary Picotte, who lived at 33 Broad Street. Brother André would take the train down from Montreal or friends would drive him down to spend a few days with them. While he was in the area, he would visit relatives and people who were ill, and the Wilsons would open their home to people who wanted to see their friend.

The post about Brother André on the Clinton County Historical Association’s Facebook page accrued almost a hundred comments, many relating that the writers’ family members have a special connection with the Saint. Their comments show that Brother André’s memory is still alive in the citizens of the county.

André Peloquin, who lived in Rouses Point, was one who mentioned that his mother named him after Brother André. Eileen Allen Bruso noted that her husband was fifth cousin to the Saint and that some of her relatives used André as their Confirmation names.  Others, like Calvin Castine, said Brother Andre was a fourth cousin of his grandfather.

Robin Labarge recounted how Brother André would lunch with her mother-in-law’s father, Wilfred Trombley, in Morrisonville. Sisters Holly and Carmen née Coupal wrote that he would visit their grandfather on his Hemmingford farm to rest and appreciate nature.

Still others told how their relatives’ health was improved by the Saint. Brandon Racine’s grandfather, Alfred, was said to have recovered from lead poisoning from a hunting accident as a young man and wore the medals Brother André gave him pinned to his underwear until he died in 1995. Crystal Menard’s grandfather Albert’s parents took him to see the Brother in Montreal, and he came back cured after a month. Maureen Kennedy wrote of how proud her father was proud that he had met both a president, John F. Kennedy, and a saint, Brother André.

For years, between 1920 and the time he died in 1937, Clinton County newspapers would have articles celebrating Brother André’s birthday, noting the condition of his health, or telling people he was in the area. Taxi drivers would take out ads to say they were willing to go to Montreal to see the Brother and one article even mentioned the best times for visits – early in the morning or after 7 o’clock at night. Bus tours and school tours were arranged to go to see him and people would bring back medals with Brother André’s image to wear.

Newspapers also reported the miraculous cures. In September 1919, “Mrs. Albert Sharron of Plattsburgh was cured of throat cancer after many visits to Brother André. On her last visit, Brother André stood before her in his office in Montreal and said, There is nothing wrong with your throat. You are well.” In October 1919, Lawrence Parker, the nine-year-old son of Wesley Parker and Eva Clukey, was cured of the asthma he had had for six years by Brother André. He “looked at the boy and asked the mother about him and finally told her not to worry that her son was all right.” Almost at that instant, his respiration became normal.

In June of 1920, Seth Baker, a well-known taxicab driver from Plattsburgh, was cured of his paralysis after talking with Brother André for a few minutes. He left his crutches at the chapel in Montreal and “has been able to resume his business and is each day out in his automobile”, and in September of1920 Miss K. Claire McCann, 51 Clinton Street in Plattsburgh was cured of an ailment of three year’s standing which prominent physicians had pronounced incurable. After his visit “she stated she believed she was completely cured and had taken up her duties in the Elm Street School.” One final note in March of 1930,  John E. Judge of Court Street in Plattsburgh, who has been seriously ill for a few months, visited Brother André in Montreal. Before leaving Montreal, Mr. Judge noted a change for the better in his condition.

Brother André’s health began to decline after he was 80 years old, and he died in January 1937 at 91. He is buried in a tomb below the Oratory’s main chapel. A million people filed past his coffin before he was entombed – we suppose there were many people from Clinton County in that number.

A path for Brother André’s beatification was opened in 1950 under Pope Pius XII. He was finally declared a saint on October 17, 2010, which made many people in the county, some of whom had actually met him, very happy. The ceremony was televised in Rome and broadcast to St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. On October 30th, Mgr. Jean-Claude Turcotte presided at a Thanksgiving Mass in the Olympic Stadium in Montreal in honor of the new saint. Close to 48,000 people, including scores of Clinton County’s Catholics, attended the event.

On September 30, 2016, Canadian Bishops bestowed the title of Patron Saint of Family Caregivers on Brother André. It was meant to remind the faithful of his connection to the sick and those who dedicate themselves to their well-being, thus continuing his legacy of bringing succor.

—Written by Julie Dowd, Trustee Emeritus of the Clinton County Historical Association