Reflections...

Edition 1

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Did you know? Our

stories.
Entering the Year 2002, the community
of St. Francis Xavier Church will be Our
marking an important historical event; the
sesquicentennial of our existence as a
people.
parish in Renfrew. Our
Prior to 1852, the Catholic community
of Renfrew was serviced as a mission of
history.
Mount St. Patrick. After the donation in the
mid 1840's of a parcel of land by local
resident Xavier Plaunt, a new Catholic
Pastors throughout the
church was erected on the site where
today’s building stands. In the 150 years
that have since passed, a rich tapestry of
Years... Rev. Charles Jones
1918 - 1920
people and events have evolved to make St. Rev. F.L. French
Rev. Bouvier
Francis Xavier a major contributor to the 1852 - 1854 1914 - 1936
historic fabric of Renfrew.
In today’s bulletin, we begin our look at Rev. Michael Byrne Rev. William Dooner
some of the heritage left by those who have 1854 - 1859 1936 - 1944
walked before us. These inserts will appear
Rev. Almeras Rev. T.J. Sloan
on a weekly basis and will conclude as our 1944 - 1952
1859 - 1862
celebration draws to a close in December
2002. Rev. Pierre Mancip Msgr. R. Clarke
1859 - 1862 1952 - 1965
Francis Xavier Plaunt
He donated land for the Rev. T. Freemont Msgr. S.P. Owens
1859 - 1862 1965 - 1981
first church in 1844. Father
John McNulty started Rev. Bouvier Rev. Doug Morris
construction of a 60' x 30' 1862 - 1866 1981 - 1987
building, but it would not
be completed until 1853. Rev. Paul Rougier Rev. R.M. Tardiff
1866 - 1893 1987 - 1998
P 1890: Father Rougier is presented with a Rev. T. Patrick Ryan Rev. P.B. McNamara
covered carriage for his Jubilee Year. 1893 - 1914 1998 - 2000
P September 30, 1965. The Knights of
Columbus held their Annual Turkey Shoot Rev. Francis. L. French Rev. Peter Proulx
at the home of Anthony Blimkie. 1914 - 1936 2000 - Present
 Thirty-seven members of
St. Francis Xavier Parish
were killed in active
service during World War On December 13, 1964, an early
I and World War II. morning fire ravaged St. Francis
Xavier Church leaving only the
World War I stone walls standing.
The church had been broken into,
Christopher F. Carter
Thomas Henry Cruise the alms boxes had been robbed,
Peter Cybulski and according to Police Chief Tom
Anthony H. Cybulski Wark, it looked “very much like
Rene Desnoyers arson.”
Joseph Doyle The replacement value of the
Thomas Dregas
George Dupuis church was set at between
Philip J. Freemark $400,000 and $500,000.
James Harty Trinity-St. Andrew’s United
Joseph Ambrose Laplante Church, located next door to the
Delphise Lapointe ruined structure, offered the
John Francis Leterski
Michael Norlock facilities of their church to the
John Arthur Ryan members of St. Francis Xavier to
John Troy use in any way they saw fit.
James Francis Valliquette For the next while, Sunday masses
would be held in the former St.
World War II Francis Xavier School Auditorium
Louis Brown on Lochiel Street.
James Brown
Emery Castonguay
Jerome Dominico
Anthony Dorzek
Wallace Ducharme
Lawrence Enright
John Grace A Solemn High Mass was
John Gauthier
Herb Jordan celebrated August 16, 1958
John Kedrosky by Father William Ryan,
Michael Laplante Celebrating 75 Years Society of Jesus. After
Arthur McMahon
Stanley O’Link Jamesina Shields will be being ordained in Brussels,
Harold Putinski celebrating an anniversary Belgium two years before,
Thomas Pulane of her own in 2002. After
Ambrose Rouble this was Father Bill’s first
Earl Ricard arriving from Holland in mass in his native Parish of
Lawrence Schwartz June, 1927, Jamesina was St. Francis Xavier.
Gordon St. Louis
invited by Father Sullivan
and Father McElligott to
join the Parish Choir. She
The picture at right
appeared in the April has continued with this
12, 1989 edition of The Ministry, as well as many
Renfrew Mercury after others, to the present day.
Steven Ballard
received his Masters of We thank Jamesina for
Divinity Degree from her 75 years of volunteer
the University of
Western Ontario. work.
 Reflections... Edition 2

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our
stories.
Our
people.
Our
history.

St. Francis Xavier Rev. F.L. French

Youth Camp
Lake Clear
Many parishioners will be able to
remember times spent along the
shore of Lake Clear. The parish
offered a Girls’ Camp, sponsored
by the C.W.L., which lasted for
two weeks in July. This was
followed by a Boys’ Camp for the
remainder of the month.
Pictured above in this 1931 photo
is, in the back row from left to
right, Gerald Asselin, Gerry
Stubinski, Emerson Cotter, and Bun
Hickey. In the middle, Maurice
Perrier and Ernie Godin. In the
front row, Bill Hickey, Anthony
Dorzek, and Phil Freemark.
Sadly, the innocence captured in
this photo could not last forever.
Anthony Dorzek would later be
killed in action in World War II.
Father Francis L. French took
over our parish in 1914 after
Father Ryan was named
bishop. This posting,
however, was interrupted by
the onset of World War I as
Father French left to head the
chaplaincy service of the
Canadian Forces overseas.
It would not be until 1920
that Lt. Colonel Rev. Fr.
French, recipient of the
Distinguished Service Order
of the British Empire, would
return to St. Francis Xavier
as pastor.
P 1849: The unfinished
church is so unsuitable
for mass that the
Bishop, on his first
pastoral visit, must use
the Albion Hotel.
The sexton was a busy fellow...When Msgr. Dooner arrived, he brought with
him Peter Maass from Osceola as his sexton. The sextons looked after a large garden,
cleaned the church, cut the grass, and cleared snow. They rang the bell at 6 a.m., noon, and 6
p.m. as well as for Masses, funerals, weddings, baptisms, and fires. They fired the coal
furnace, raised and lowered the pulpit, and lit the altar candles.

P Rev. Charles
O’Gorman,
right, was
ordained in St.
Francis Xavier
Church on
December 20,
1913.

An interior photograph of the old

St. Francis Xavier Church.
It was destroyed by fire in 1964

P Rev. Paul
Rougier, right,
was pastor at
St.Francis
Xavier from
1866 -1893

This home, built in 1853 by

Rev. Joseph Bouvier, was the
first residence for priests at St.
Francis Xavier. A part of the old
SFX steeple can be seen at the
upper left.
Rev. Paul Rougier, pastor
from 1866 to 1893, would have
been one of the home’s more
familiar residents.
The home was demolished in
1920
 Reflections... Edition 3

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Father R.M. Tardiff took advantage of

Our
some roof repairs during the summer and stories.
fall of 1990 to climb onto the roof of St.
Francis Xavier and copy the Latin Our
inscriptions from the church bell.
Translated into English by Msgr. M.J.
people.
Barry, they appear as follows: Our
North Side history.
“My name is Francis, after the illustrious
patron of this church, St. Francis Xavier. I P Most Reverend N.A Lorrain
was consecrated for Divine Worship Bishop of Pembroke
through the Ministry of the Most Reverend 1882 to 1915
Lord N.A. Lorrain, himself recently Newly installed as Bishop of this
consecrated as the first Bishop of this new Diocese, he conducted the
Diocese.” ceremony consecrating the bell
of St. Francis Xavier.
South Side
“On the advice of Rev. Paul Rougier,
Pastor, and assisted by the generosity of his
parishioners, They (the faithful) are led and
called to this place by me
(the bell)”

“Preserve me God from all danger so that I

may never cease to call men to bless His
Holy Name.”

A.D. 1882

P Rev. R. Murray
Tardiff, Pastor of St.
Francis Xavier
Church from 1987
to 1998. He “hit
the roof” in 1990
over the church bell.
 Two beautiful and
historic churches,
Trinity St. Andrew’s
United Church and St.
Francis Xavier Roman
Catholic Church,
standing as they did,
side by side, on Plaunt
Street.

Both churches would be

destroyed by fire and
replaced by more
modern buildings.

P In 1852, the parish is

comprised of some 80
families that are mostly
Irish but with some
French Canadians,
Scottish lumbermen,
and Glengarry County
traders.
P Mount St. Patrick,
Springtown, Snake
River, and Sand Point
are designated as
missions.

Father John McNulty

was the founder of Mount St.
Patrick Parish and served as
Pastor from 1842 to 1852. He
would travel to Renfrew to Pastor: 1944 to 1952
celebrate Mass in the home of
Mr. James O’Connor. V. Rev. J.J. Quilty
It was about 1844 that Father
McNulty began construction of P Celebrated his first
a new church in Renfrew,
possibly situated on the site of
the present post office on
7 Mass at St. Francis
Xavier Church on
December 23, 1900.
Raglan Street.
 Reflections...
St. Francis Xavier Parish
Father Thomas Patrick Ryan
Born in Ireland on December 5, 1864,
Father Ryan came to Pembroke as a child
with his parents and was ordained
December 21, 1887.
After the death of Father Rougier in
1893, Ryan was named pastor of St. Francis
Xavier Church where he would remain until
1914, even after being consecrated as
auxiliary bishop in 1912. After being raised
to the bishopric in 1914, he was replaced as
pastor by Father Francis L. French.
Bishop Ryan served as Bishop of
Pembroke until his death on April 15, 1937.
Edition 4
Our
stories.
Our
people.
Our
history.
Together, they shall rest
in the Peace of the Lord
P Rev. James Burns, Assistant
Pastor at St. Francis Xavier, died
on January 30, 1884 at 29 years
of age.
P Rev. Paul Agnel, Assistant
Pastor at St. Francis Xavier, died
on November 18, 1888 at 45
years of age.
P Rev. Paul Rougier, Pastor of St.
Francis Xavier (1866-1893), died
on May 8, 1893 at the age of 56.
P These three priests were buried in
the Sanctuary of St. Francis
Xavier Church and there rested
until the fire of December 1964.
P After the clearing of their resting
places in 1965, the remains of the
three priests were relocated to St.
Francis Xavier Cemetery where
they currently rest beneath a
single monument.
 Sister Emma Castonguay,
CSJ, has devoted her entire adult lifetime to the service of
God and to those fortunate enough to have been blessed by
her nearness.
Over the years and across the vastness of Canada, she
has served at various times and places as a registered
nurse, midwife, and public health nurse. Born in Renfrew,
Sister had performed duties for seven years at St. Francis
Xavier prior to her retirement in 1996.
Although no longer a member of the pastoral staff at
SFX, Sister Emma continues her Ministry with the parish,
especially with the ill and elderly. Her contributions, to
the parish and to humanity in general, are worthy of our
congratulations and heart-felt thanks.

P Refugees from Poland

begin to take up
residence in the
Renfrew area around
1864. They will
establish their own
church in a house on
Bonnechere Street.
P Sometime later, in
1867, Polish names
begin to appear in the
register of St. Francis
Xavier. By the 1880's,
register entries involving
the Polish community
are much more regular,
indicating the de facto
joining of the two
parishes under one
banner.
Rt. Rev. Msgr.
W.H. Dooner
Pastor from 1936 to 1944,
was born in Osceola in 1880.
Msgr. Dooner is credited
with establishing, with the
Sisters of St. Joseph in
charge, a Catholic orphanage
for underprivleged children
in 1940 called Villa St.
Joseph, located in the old St.
Joseph’s Academy building.
He also played a key role in
the building of a new St.
Joseph’s Academy for girls.
Msgr. Dooner died January
6, 1944 at 66 years of age
and was buried in Osceola.

P A card party and draw, sponsored by the Catholic Womens’s League on September 26, 1940, raised
funds for the Canadian war effort. Euchre prizes went to Mrs. Harvey Payne and Mr. Albert
Preen. Winners at “500" were Mrs. H. St. Michael and Harry Laplante, while the bridge prizes
were awarded to Mrs. Allan Cardiff and Mr. Ray Clemow.
P Draws for a Dresden-plate quilt, a Kenwood blanket, and an electric lamp were made after the cards
had finished. Winners were Mr. George Gorman for the quilt, Rev. Father Austin of Arnprior for
the blanket, and little Jane Wade, daughter of former mayor Fred Wade , for the lamp.