SHORT STORY ABOUT AN UPROOTED TREE
On July 31, the wind uprooted a tree in the garden of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery. The Russian olive tree was presented to the Augustinian Sisters on June 10, 1989 by l'amicale des infirmières de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the arrival of the three foundresses.
As the fallen tree lay on the ground, a few of the sisters gathered young olives in order to make rosaries out of the pits. In the spirit of sustainable development, the remains of the uprooted tree were given to a sculptor from the Quebec City area.
The olive tree is highly symbolic for the Augustinian Sisters for a number of reasons and even forms part of their coat of arms. The olive tree was used in a variety of ways by apothecary nuns.
A young olive tree has already been transplanted in the garden that remains a place of relaxation and prayer for the religious community.
