Description

The T-shirt is navy with white graphic print on front and back. The front has lettering that reads "Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church" in a circle around an illustration of a church and two fleur-de-lis symbols. On the back is lettering that reads "French Meat Pies (Tourtieres) Sold Daily" in a circle surrounding an illustration of a piping hot meat pie. The shirt is from 1995 and was donated in 2010 by Lissa A. Bill. Our Lady of Lourdes Church is in southeast Minneapolis. Our Lady of Lourdes is the oldest continually used church in Minneapolis and represents the citys ties with the French-Canadian Catholic community. Originally built in 1857 by the First Universal Society, the building was later purchased by a group of French-Canadian Catholics who broke away from the culturally diverse St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, preferring a primarily Francophone community. While masses are now given in English, Our Lady of Lourdes continues to keep its French-Canadian ties through a type of French meat pies called tourtires. These Quebecois pies were a staple of the churchs holiday dinners in the late 19th century and are now made by its members for those in need or sold for profit to the public. As suggested by the t-shirt, the pies are a cornerstone of the identity of Our Lady of Lourdes.