Notre Dame des Canadiens
5 Salem Square

Notre Dame des Canadiens, an architectural masterpiece, was built in 1929 using stone and cast stone trim from plans prepared by Donat Baribault, a Springfield architect.  Flanked by two towers, the entry is set in a high, narrow archway trimmed with cast stone ornament.  The building has elaborate tracery, balustrades, medallions and other decorative details.  The interior is adorned with Roman Byzantine style decorative painting.

In the 18th century, there were a few families of French Canadian origin in Worcester.  Around 1845, large numbers of French Canadians began to arrive and by 1900, they were the second largest foreign group – the Irish being the most numerous.  French Canadians were generically skilled workers and artisans, many in the building trade.

In 1869 following two unsuccessful attempts, Reverend J.B. Primeau who successfully established French Canadian parishes in several other communities in the Northeast, arrived in Worcester.  On June 1, 1870, the first mass was celebrated in one of two churches purchased until Notre Dame des Canadiens was built in 1929.

Notre Dame is the mother church from which other French Canadian parishes in Worcester originated.  They were first established as missions by Father Joseph Brouiller who from 1883 to 1904 was also extremely active in the French Canadian community.