Reflections...

Edition 14

Reflections... St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our stories. Our people. Our history.

7 Papal Honours For Renfrew Woman On December 4, 1960, Mrs. J.L. Murray of Renfrew was awarded the papal decoration “Pro Ecclesia et Pontiface” in a ceremony conducted by the Most Rev. W.J. Smith, Bishop of Pembroke. The honour, awarded by Pope John XXIII, is the highest that can be granted to any lay member of the church.

P Mrs. Murray’s late husband was a Knight Commander of St. Gregory the Great. P Her father, M.J. O’Brien, and her brother, Ambrose, have also received honours from the Holy See for their efforts on behalf of the church. P All are members of the St. Francis Xavier family.

Mrs. J.L. Murray chats with Bishop Smith and Msgr. Clarke at a reception hosted at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Larry Ritza.

Editorial Excerpt From The Renfrew Mercury, December 8, 1960. All through our life we have known Mrs. Murray to be a m ost gracious lady who has been admired and beloved by all residents of Renfrew and District. She has been an ardent church worker and has always been ready and willing to help all who were in need. In her own quiet way she has done more for the poor and unfortunate than any other person in Renfrew. The editor of The Mercury joins with all the people who hav eknown and admired M rs. Murray in extending congratulations to her. Surely there is no one more deserving of this very high honour.

Junior graduates from the 1960 class of St. Joseph’s Academy are pictured in this Renfrew Advance photograph. First row, left to right, Rose Ann Levecque, (sic), Elaine Enright, Marguerite Clark, and Lynn McDougall. Second row, Donna Frost, Dianne St. Michael, Beverley Kobus, Diane Mask, Shirley Skebo, and Cecilia Cybulski. Third row, Carol Moore, Joan Dooling, Genevieve Castonguay, Cheryl Stubinski, Gloria Giroux and Catherine Kubiseski. Rev. Emmett J. Murray

Rev. T.P. Holly

P Born in Barry’s Bay on June 1, 1926. P Assistant Pastor of St. Francis Xavier from 1960 to 1964. P Died April 20, 1989 and buried in Killaloe.

P Ordained May 30, 1918. P Assistant Pastor at St. Francis Xavier in 1925 and again in 1944.

Edition 15

Reflections... St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our stories. Our people. Our history.

St. Francis Xavier Assistant Pastors The Most Rev. W.J. Smith, D.D., Bishop of Pembroke, leads the ceremony blessing the newly finished St. Francis Xavier Church.

Blessing a New Church: 1968 “For you and your parishioners must go. All who sorrowed at a fire, rejoiced at the sight of a new Temple of God rising and sang triumphantly at its opening, must pass from the scene. But a bit of each of you will remain for future generations to see and marvel at, to admire and be inspired by – the new St. Francis Xavier Parish Church that you will build.” “Get on with the job!” Rev. T.J. Raby in a letter to Msgr. R.M. Clarke shortly after the 1964 fire that destroyed St. Francis Xavier Church.

Rev. John Ryan 1914-18 Rev. I.J. Rice 1916-18 Rev. John Sullivan 1918-21 Rev. C.J. Sullivan 1920 Rev. Jerome Harrington 1921-23 Rev. A. Patrick Dwyer 1921-22 Rev. J.L. Ennis Rev. J.R. McElligott 1923-30 Rev. John J. Quinn 1928-37 Rev. J.A. McKinniery 1930-31 Rev. A. Kenneth McDonald 1931-40 Rev. James P. Whalen 1933-36 Rev. J.J. Lynch 1936-44 Rev. T.P. Wingle 1937-44 Rev. Michael J. Hass 1940-47 Rev. Ernest Maloney 1942 Rev. Francis M. Kennedy 1944-51 Rev. J.P. Kelly 1945

Reverend Thomas J. Sloan Father Sloan was born May 22, 1885 and was ordained in 1909 at St. James Cathedral in Montreal by Archbishop Bruchesi. Prior to his arrival in Renfrew in March of 1944, he had accomplished a great deal as a Pastor in Whitney and Astorville. As well, he founded Holy Name Parish in Pembroke and directed it for twenty-three years. During his time at St. Francis Xavier, Father Sloan was able to obtain the service of the Brothers of Christian Schools, who began to teach high school curriculum at Bishop Ryan High School, located next to St. Joseph’s Academy. It was also during his tenure of office that the existing parish was divided into two entities, the new one becoming Our Lady of Fatima with Rev. Robert J. Roney as first Pastor. Father Sloan passed away February 26, 1952 in Pembroke General Hospital. He was 67.

Tea held to support Lake Clear camp

Renfrew Advance, October 2, 1958

A tea, in aid of St. Francis Xavier camp, was held last Thursday afternoon in the home of Mrs. Corrie LeGris. The house was decorated throughout with gold mums and green foliage, carrying out the “camp colours.” The guests were received by Miss Mamie Kelly, Mrs. John Bulger, and Mrs. LeGris. Pouring tea were Mrs. L.E. Malloy, Mrs. Francis Levesque, Mrs. Fred Totten, and Mrs. James Kobus. Others assisting were Mrs. James Maloney, Mrs. W.L. Galbraith, Mrs. Patrick Wheeler, Mrs. G. Nighbor, Mrs. Thomas Egan, Mrs. K. Boldt, Mrs. L.B. Ritza, Mrs. Alan Prince, Mrs. V. Donegan, Mrs. F. O’Donoghue, and Mrs. S. Stubinski. Mrs. S. Blake and Miss Juliette Lemieux opened the door and the guests were ushered by Mrs. Bernard Kelly and Mrs. Michael Bolger. Mrs. Alan McHugh was in charge of the kitchen and was ably assisted by Mrs. Bernard Preen, Mrs. Max Kovalsky and Mrs. Garney McDougall. Convening the tea was Mrs. McHugh, Mrs. Ritza, and Mrs. LeGris.

In this 1960 Renfrew Advance photograph, Rt. Rev. R.M. Clarke, Renfrew Mayor Harry Young, and His Excellency the Most Rev. W.J. Smith are guests at a Catholic Women’s League banquet held in the Separate School auditorium.

Edition 16

Reflections... St. Francis Xavier Parish

Vocations To The Sisters Of The Holy Cross Renfrew W omen Answering The Call Sr. St. James, (M. Teresa Tiernay) 1891 Sr. St. Maurice, (Celina Wadsworth) 1893 Sr. St. Hilda, (Agnes Reid) 1889 Sr. St. Lawrence, (Agnes Narlock) 1917 Sr. St. Francis Martyr, (Marguerite Coules) 1917 Sr. M. Kostka, (Annie Sholea) 1918 Sr. Maureen, (Mary Potvin) 1920 Sr. Unis, (Viola Letang) 1925 Sr. Francis Teresa, (Nora Enright) 1925 Sr. St. Enda, (Margaret Enright) 1927 Sr. St. Genevieve of the S.H., (Genevieve Moore) 1928 Sr. St. Agnes Louise, (Celina Wadsworth) 1928 Sr. St. Martha of Calvary, (Marjorie Prince) 1928 Sr. St. Catherine of Siena, (Beatrice Enright) 1928 Sr. St. Ambrose, (Dorothy Zavitsky) 1931 Sr. St. Robert Bellarmine, (Gertrude Wadsworth) 1932 Sr. St. Miriam, (Gertrude Keizer) 1932 Sr. St. James, (Margaret Dupuis) 1932 Sr. St. Monica, (Monica Stoppa) 1934 Sr. St. Martin, (Frances Kusluski) 1934 Sr. St. Vivian, (Dorothy Shields) 1941 Sr. Elizabeth Burke Elizabeth Shields Sally Stearns Joan Quinn Rita Lepack Margaret Joan Pecore Jean Goulet Barbara Hebert

Our stories. Our people. Our history.

This building, a convent school, was the first home of the Sisters of the Holy Cross from 1886-1912. The attic with the gabled roof and high dormer windows served as the sleeping quarters with the classrooms on the second floor. The convent was located on the corner of Quarry and Barr Streets.

Second Holy Cross Convent, 1912-1926 Bonnechere Street

Second Holy Cross Convent pictured behind St. Francis Xavier School

L Third Holy Cross Convent Argyle Street, 1926-1977

7 Fourth Holy Cross Convent Argyle and Prince Streets, 1977-1982

L Fifth Holy Cross Convent Lynn Street, 1982

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Edition 17

Reflections... St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our stories. Our people. Our history.

St. Francis Xavier Assistant Pastors In this undated photograph, Sister Mary Martha assumes her new duties as principal of St. Francis Xavier Separate School. A native of Renfrew, Sister Mary Martha had returned to her hometown after serving at the Canadian Martyrs School in Ottawa.

Rev. Patrick M. Dobec, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Dobec and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kiely was ordained to the Priesthood by The Most Reverend J.R. Windle, D.D., in St. Francis Xavier Church on May 14, 1977. Father Dobec was a classmate of Rev. James Wingle.

Rev. Henry J. Maloney 1946-49 Rev. Lorrain J. Gauthier 1947-49 Rev. R.J. Roney 1946 and 1949 Rev. Charles J. Burke 1949 Rev. T.G. Klatt 1949-51 Rev. L.W. Sammon 1950-52 Rev. T. Gerald Buckley 1951-52 Rev. Denis J. Harrington 1951-58 Rev. Adrian Flynn 1952-55 Rev. J.P. Brown 1955-58 Rev. J.E. Green 1958-63 Rev. Lawrence Burns 1958-60 Rev. Emmett Murray 1960-64 Rev. Isaiah W. Rice 1963-68 Rev. Joseph C. Legree 1964-65 Rev. Patrick J. Blake 1965-69 Rev. James Hayes 1968-70 Rev. L. Merlyn Ethier 1969-75 Rev. Mervin Coulas 1970-73 Rev. Patrick Tait 1973-80 Rev. Charles Giroux 1975-79

This photograph, taken in the early 1960's, presents a different perspective of the two old churches and their surrounding neighbourhood. Pictured at left is St. Francis Xavier Church while to the right stands Trinity St. Andrew’s United Church.

Rev. John R. O’Gorman

Msgr. Michael J. O’Gorman P Both the sons of Mr. and Mrs. J.K. O’Gorman of Renfrew. P John ordained in 1914 and Michael in 1915.