What Is Saint Patrick's Basilica (stpatricksmtl.ca)?

stpatricksmtl.ca is the official website of Saint Patrick's Parish and Basilica, a Roman Catholic community in Montreal. The parish describes itself as the oldest and continuous English-speaking parish in the city, having opened its doors on March 17, 1847. The site is informational: it publishes the Mass and visitation schedule, sacraments and ministries, church bulletins, history, visiting and contact details, and a donation page. It does not present itself as a commercial or booking service.

What the site is for

The website serves parishioners, visitors, and anyone checking whether the basilica is open or when Mass is held. Its stated identity is a "welcoming and reconciling community" with roots in the Irish diaspora that has grown into a diverse downtown congregation, described as the Mother Church of Montreal's English-speaking Catholics. The pastor is Msgr. Francis J. Coyle.

If your goal is to attend a service, plan a visit, arrange a sacrament, or read the weekly bulletin, the site is the right starting point. If you are looking for event tickets, tours, or a general Montreal attractions listing, the site does not present those functions.

What you can find on the site

Schedule details published on the site

• Weekend Masses: Saturday at 5 p.m. (Mass of Anticipation); Sunday at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m.
• Weekday Masses: Monday to Friday at 12:10 p.m.
• Confession: heard after all Masses.
• Visitation and prayer: open Monday–Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. until the 5 p.m. Mass.
• Adoration and Benediction: on the First Friday of each month, the Sacrament is exposed from 11 a.m. to noon before the 12:10 p.m. Mass, with Benediction at that time.

Two practical notes from the site are worth checking before you go. Free parking for parishioners attending Weekend Masses is available in the new HEC building, entered from de la Gauchetiere; at the end of Mass you ask an employee for the coupon that lets you exit. For hearing-impaired worshippers, the sound system broadcasts the Mass on 88.1 FM, but you must bring your own digital receiver and earphones.

How to use the site to plan a visit

1. Open the Basilica Schedule section and confirm the day and time you plan to attend, since the published schedule includes weekend Masses, weekday Masses, confession, and visitation windows.
2. Check the Church Bulletin for that week; the site posts dated bulletins, and special notices appear there — for example, the posted note that on Thanksgiving Monday, October 12th, the basilica closes after the 12:10 p.m. Mass.
3. If you are driving to a weekend Mass, note the HEC parking entry point and the coupon step before you arrive.
4. Use Visit / Contact for location and contact details, and Sacraments & Ministries if your reason for visiting is a sacrament rather than a regular Mass.

The main pitfall is treating the schedule as fixed: the site itself shows that hours can change on holidays, so the dated bulletin is the better source for a specific date.

Who runs it and how it is funded

The parish states its purpose as possessing, holding, maintaining, and administering the property necessary for the practice of the Roman Catholic religion. The site includes a Donate to the Parish page for those who wish to support that work. The website does not publish pricing, and nothing on the page indicates that visiting, prayer, or attending Mass requires payment or a login; the donation page is presented as voluntary giving rather than an entry requirement.