PARÉ, Alphonse (1919-2002)

Alphonse Paré worked from his studio in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré for more than forty years, specializing in religious art that he carved from wood and, occasionally, stone. Three of his most celebrated works are located in the Vatican, namely a Tête du Christ (“head of Christ”), a statue of St Hyacinthe and a reliquary in honour of Sister Marie-Léonie Paradis, the founder of the Petites Sœurs de la Sainte-Famille (Little Sisters of the Holy Family). This last piece was presented as a gift to Pope John Paul II during his visit to Canada in 1984. Some twenty churches in Quebec are furnished with items made by Paré, notably altars, pulpits, statues, lecterns and various accessories used for worship. The artist’s reputation, however, extends well beyond provincial borders: his works have been exhibited in the United States, Australia, Singapore and South Africa.