Source: Wikipedia
Reproduced in multiple copies, the imposing 3.5-ton bronze sculpture measuring 20 feet long by 12 feet high by 8 feet wide, is being unveiled by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square in Rome in September 2019 on the 105th World Day of the Migrant and Refugee. In the fall 2022, Saint Joseph’s Oratory – located in the multicultural borough of Côte-des-Neiges also known as the Neighborhood of Nations – will host the sculpture on its terrace in continuation of the mission of the founder of Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, Saint Brother André, CSC. As an international crossroads, the Oratory is a significant place of welcome for many people upon their arrival in this country.
The stories of many migrants and refugees are reminiscent of the story of St. Joseph, Mary and Jesus who, in times of trouble, found refuge in Egypt. Angels Unawares highlights the courage, determination, hardships, joys and sorrows of people who have been led to leave their homeland in the hope of improving their lot. This theme is illustrated by the five stained glass windows by Auguste Labouret that you can admire in the Concourse next to the terrace where Angels Unawares is located. Source (
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[En]
The six-metre-long sculpture depicts a group of migrants and refugees on a boat wearing clothes that show they come from diverse cultures and historical moments. There is a Jew fleeing Nazi Germany, a Syrian leaving the Syrian civil war and a Pole on the run from the communist regime. The sculptor of the work said he "wanted to show the different moods and emotions involved in a migrant's journey."
Previously, the artist had already made sculptures on a similar theme to the homeless Jesus. The work includes angel wings, through which the author suggests that a migrant is secretly an angel among us. The artist's inspiration was Hebrew: "Do not forget hospitality; for, in exercising it, some have lodged angels, without knowing it. »
[Fr]
La sculpture de six mètres de long représente un groupe de migrants et de réfugiés sur un bateau portant des vêtements qui montrent qu'ils proviennent de diverses cultures et moments historiques. Il y a un Juif fuyant l'Allemagne nazie, un Syrien quittant la guerre civile syrienne et un Polonais en fuite du régime communiste. Le sculpteur de l'œuvre a déclaré qu'il « voulait montrer les différentes humeurs et émotions impliquées dans le voyage d'un migrant ».
Auparavant, l'artiste avait déjà réalisé des sculptures sur un thème similaire à Jésus sans-abri. L'œuvre comprend des ailes d'ange, à travers lesquelles l'auteur suggère qu'un migrant est secrètement un ange parmi nous. L'inspiration de l'artiste était Hébreux : « N'oubliez pas l`hospitalité; car, en l`exerçant, quelques-uns ont logé des anges, sans le savoir. »