Remembering 150 Years...

Remembering 150 Years... 1852

St. Francis Xavier Parish

December 1, 2002

2002

Our stories. Our people. Our history.

May1927 Linoleum Wallpaper $924.75

Church and House Expenses

Decorating $10,070.85

Paint $97.35

Accounts

Scaffolding $1,000.00

War Memorial Frame $276.96

Literary Society A meeting of the High School Literary Society Executive takes place in this 1948 photograph. From left to right are Jimmy Brown, Tuck Morglan, Father Henry Maloney, C.J. Shannon, and Bill Bolger.

This photograph, from the November 30, 1988 edition of the Renfrew Mercury, shows the unveiling of a sign on the site of the proposed new Catholic high school. Present for the ceremony were, in the back row from left to right, Bill Winters, Frank Turner, Doug Burns, Andy Bray, Michael Laverty, Katherine Timm, Father Coulas, and Harold Bolger. In front are St. Thomas the Apostle students Jeremy Sauve , Andy Brisson, Johnathan Guest, Michael McLaughlin, Lenny Victor, Cory Bennett, Danny Cobus, and Mark Donohue.

“This parish was founded in 1852. This year is its 75th Anniversary. To commemorate this event, the Diamond Jubilee of the Parish, and to assist in paying for decorations and pipe organ, we shall ask all to join in the $1.00 a month club for this one year.” Announcement Book: January 30, 1927.

Pastor St. Francis Xavier Church 2000 to Present

In 1968-69, the Sisters of the Holy Cross and the Sisters of St. Joseph started to wear street clothes instead of the more traditional habits. The Sisters of the Holy Cross purchased their first car, a Meteor, on September 14, 1966. The Sisters of St. Joseph purchased their first vehicle in the late 1960's as well.

December 8, 2002

Remembering 150 Years... 1852

St. Francis Xavier Parish

2002

Our stories. Our people. Our history.

Announcement Book February 2, 1936 “Your prayers are requested for the repose of the Soul of the beloved Pastor of this parish, Rt. Rev. Msgr. French. Msgr. French’s body will be removed to the church tomorrow at 10 a.m. Any man wishing to join the Guard of Honour for the night hours, Monday, please give name. Msgr. French died February 1, 1936.”

This photograph gives us a look at the 1995-97 St. Francis Xavier Parish Pastoral Council. Seated, from left to right are Brian Long, Pat Rusheleau, Broyden Bennett, Earl Bennett, Father Murray Tardiff, John Freemark, and Sandra McGregor. Standing at back are Andre Volpe, Bill Ringrose, Sister Emma Castonguay, and Kelly Hunt. Missing from the picture is Father Steven Ballard.

March 15, 1936 “We are pleased to announce that His Excellency Bishop Ryan has appointed Rt. Rev. W.H. Dooner, Parish Priest of Osceola, as the new Pastor of this Parish.”

A former principal of St. Joseph’s High School, Sister Marcella Virkus, CSJ, passed away at the Motherhouse in Pembroke on August 7, 1984. Sister Marcella was a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph and in the 26th year of her religious commitment. A native of Renfrew, Sister Marcella served seven years as a teacher and ten years as principal at St. Joseph’s High School. She was also active at The University of St. Paul in Ottawa where she was pursuing Pastoral studies in the three years prior to her death. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at Holy Name Church in Pembroke and was officiated by Rev. L.M. Ethier and assisted by Rev. H.L. Chabot. The Most Rev. J.R. Windle offered the final blessing while Rev. F.M. Kennedy said the graveside prayers. Pallbearers were Robert Blanchette, Bernie Mask, Donald Sharpe, Bill Keon, Peter Brotherhood, and Gary Hickey. Honorary pallbearers were Sister Loretta Rice, Sister Marilyn Conroy, Sister Evelyn Stufko, Sister Mary Keizer, Sister Justina Graham, and Sister Marjory McGuire.

Entered in the EOSSA “C” group, the team pictured above played with Cobden, St. Columba’s of Pembroke, and Deep River winning three games and losing an equal number in the season’s play. They are, front row left to right, Henry Imbleau, Alex Morin, Jim Letang, Gary Mackin, Terry Ruddy, Brian Ruddy, Vincent Blimkie, and Bill Inglis. In the back row are Brother Daniel (coach), Mike Culligan, Pat McMahon, Jim Ruddick, Louis Hebert, Gary Gerritse, Jack Laporte, Paul Tanguay, Gabriel Tanguay, and Jim McMahon. Absent when the photo was taken were M.J. Blimkie, T. McManus, Murray McManus, Garry Hickey, and Alex Gavinski.

Remembering 150 Years... 1852

St. Francis Xavier Parish

December 15, 2002

2002

Our stories. Our people. Our history.

St. Francis Xavier Graduation 1966

Two top academic students were honoured during graduation exercises at St. Francis Xavier School in June of 1966. Pictured above are Elaine Windle and Edward Loziuk with Rev. Murray Tardiff, guest speaker, and Sister Mary Dorothea, principal.

The world-renowned St. Michael’s Boys’ Choir presented a Christmas Concert at St. Francis Xavier on November 27, 1995. Pictured above is the program from that evening’s presentation.

The Grade 9 class of St. Francis Xavier Boys’ High School is pictured on the front steps of the school in this 1948 photograph. In the front from left to right are Jerome Utronki, Gerry Lemenchick, Bert Bennett, Bob Nesbitt, and a gentleman who remains unidentified. In the second row, Jim Pulcine, Paul Reitz, and John Joe Kedroski. Third row, Gerry O’Donahue, Norman Hebert, Bob Kobus, Fr. Maloney, A. Baderski, Bill Kobus.

P June 1, 1922: Paid to P.J. Daly the sum of $221.27, for two cement posts and electric lights. P August 30, 1922: Paid to Mrs. Clifford Williams, the sum of $560.00 representing half the cost of a concrete boundary wall, possibly between two churches.

“The Aostolic Delegate arrives here Thursday at 7:30 p.m. There will be Benediction, and a reception afterwards on the lawn with a serenade by a band. The next morning there will be a dialogue Mass followed by a visit to the school and convent.”

“The Apostolic Delegate His Excellency Most Rev. Andrea Cassulo is on tour of the Upper Ottawa Valley and will visit Renfrew today, June 11th.”

Remembering 150 Years... 1852

St. Francis Xavier Parish

December 22, 2002

2002

Our stories. Our people. Our history.

Ottawa Journal Salutes St. Francis Xavier Centennial: 1952 “The common ideal of all these sturdy pioneers of different nationalities was to earn a living and practice their religion in peace. These ideals have endured in their descendants down through the century.”

Bishop Emeritus Joseph R. Windle is shown with Montreal artist Philippe Bilodeau. Mr. Bilodeau created the wall sculpture of St. Joseph that was commissioned by the St. Francis Xavier Parish Council as a gift to Bishop Windle. The sculpture currently hangs at St. Joseph’s High School.

“On October 26 and 27 the sons and daughters of St. Francis Xavier will fittingly celebrate the 100th anniversary of their parish. In their fine old stone church, in modern wellequipped schools and convents, emphasis will be placed on the progress in things of the spirit; of the contribution made to the cause of education.” “Mention too will be made of the significant part Roman Catholic people of Renfrew have played in the social and economic progress of the community, province, and country.”

Writing History With Each Passing Day

Andrew Smaggus was recognized for his outstanding academic achievement during the graduation exercises for St. Joseph’s High School in June of 1998. Andrew was also a graduate of St. Thomas the Apostle School.

“Sure, history was written in the beautiful old stones themselves. They spoke of the men who cut and shaped them. It was seen in the work of the woodworkers and craftsmen, the laborers (sic) and donors of time and money. But history is always being written, and now it’s your turn to write it.” Rev. T.J. Raby, in a letter to Msgr. R.M. Clarke, following the 1964 fire that destroyed St. Francis Xavier Church.

Remembering 150 Years... 1852

St. Francis Xavier Parish

December 29, 2002

2002

Our stories. Our people. Our history.

St. Francis Xavier, Patron of Foreign Missions and Apostle of the Indies, was born of noble descent at the castle of Xavier in Navarre, Spain in 1506. At the age of 18 he went to Paris to study philosophy and it was at the College of St. Barbara that he met St. Ignatius Loyola four years later. This association had such an influence upon him that he became one of the first disciples of the saint. In 1536 he went to Venice and was there ordained a priest in 1537, becoming among the first to belong to the new order known as the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits. He went to Portugal and from there set sail to India in 1541, landing at Goa. From this city he set out to bring Christianity to converts in Malabar, Travancor, Malacca, the Moluccas, and Ceylon. In 1549, he became the first missionary to travel to Japan and was successful at developing a small but enduring Christian community there. After two years, he returned to India before setting out on a new mission to China. Twenty-three days after his departure from Malacca he arrived at Sancian. Here, on November 20th, he was siezed by a fever. On Friday, December 2, 1552, St. Francis Xavier took his last earthly breath. He was forty-six years old. Three hundred years after his death, a faith community in a small Ottawa Valley town would choose to identify themselves in honour of his memory. And thus began the story of St. Francis Xavier Parish.

Rev. R. Murray Tardiff Pastor St. Francis Xavier Church 1987-1998

The staff of St. Thomas the Apostle School pose for this photograph in the spring of 1991. In the back row, from left to right, are Vince Windle, Nancy Gagne, Dick Hastings, Doug Miller, Pat Watters, Dave Sulpher, Phil Sauve, and Steve Jones. In the middle are Harold Bolger (principal), Kathy Windle (vice-principal), Bev Moran, Sandra McGregor, Mary McCann, Nancy Cameron, Liz Cox, Judy Drouillard, Frank Doyle, and Ken Costello. In the front row are Bertha Towey, Fran Hogue, Marilyn Leclaire, Lyla Prince, Fran Bennett, Anne Fuisz, Doris Mooney, Helene Kelly, and Roselle Ducasse.