HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-01, Page 23Page A22 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 1, 2009
St. Peter's Parish takes a walk down memory lane
IlisratLrd cert
signal -star staff
It was a step back in tine and a walk
about town for St. Peter's Parish this
weekend, as the church community hosted
a historical walkabout documenting the
early years of the church up to the pres-
ent day.
With scenes taking place not only at
the church, but at various locations on the
north side of town, the walkabout was able
to offer not only a visualization in terms of
period costume, but location as well.
The walkabout was created by Warren
and Eleanor Robinson, who said it was
about seven weeks from idea to inception,
and a cast of more than 60 people from
the St. Peter's community came together
to tell the story of the past 175 years of
the parish.
Music, comedy and costume all helped
bring the church history to life.
"I think the big thing is that we wanted
to make it human and not a dry recitation
of names and dates," said Warren. "We
tried to find where we could use humour
and conflict of characters and what life
was like at that time."
Warren said twins Genevieve and Shan-
non Pitre did a phenomenal job of narrat-
ing the play. The 12 -year-old sisters led
the audience on their about -town trek,
with much sisterly squabbling adding to
the laughs.
"It is quite impressive they could pull it
off at that age," he said.
•
celebrate
remember
fi
ht back
RELAY RELAIS
FOR LIFE POUR LAVIE
Cartadtrn Soci*t*
Cancel canadienne
Society du career
Thank you to all of the participants, volunteers and sponsors of the
7th Annual Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life Huron County (Goderich).
With your help we raised over $82,447.25!
Funds raised through Relay For Life help the Canadian Cancer Society to:
• fund the most promising research in Canada • provide reliable information in print, online, and over the telephone
' • offer programs such as transportation to cancer -related care; • support from those who have shared a similar cancer experience; and support at clinics and lodges
• • advocate for public policies to help -prevent cancer and help people living with cancer
32 teams participated in Relay For Life with 275 participants and 85 cancer survivors in the Survivors' Victory Lap.
1,051 jo ides lined the track, which served to remember and honour those who have fought cancer.
The Canadian Cancer Society is pleased tb acknowledge the following sponsors of Relay For Life 2009:
Bpi
Event Sponsor
Vanden Heuvel Structures
Boston Pizza
Supporting Sponsors
We would also Wee to express our gratitude to the
Relay For Life 2009 steering committee members
for their dedication and hard work in making this
event a success.
We could not have done it without you!
Top Individual Fundraisers:
Joanne Chambers ($2845)
Top Team: "Trinity Dragon Slayers" ($9305)
Top Online Fundraiser - Connie Tayolor
"Union Jacks" ($1085)
.t
r
4,4
fr
/
CLUEarra
Media Sponsors
Support Those Who Support Us
Uwe inadvertently forgot someone, please accept our sincere apologies. Menesetung Camp
101.7 The One Dancepiration MlcroAge Basics
A&W Dennis and Diane Food Basics Mildmay tent rentals
Advantage Port -A -Potties Denomme Flower Shoppe Inc . Mr Deb Schewfelt, Mayor
Allan Ketih Epcor
Ann Potter
Art's Landscaping
Bartliff's Bakery
Bayfleld Berry Farm
Bayfleld River Valley Wall Association
Bedford Hotel
Benmlller Inn
Benson Brown
Bluewater Restaurant
Blyth Festival
Bob Lawson
Boy In December
Brian Moody
Bruce Allen / Anne Marie
Burger Bar
Calvary Baptist Church
Camp Out' trailers
Canadian Tire
Cappy, Onn
Carry Or Cloggers
Celtic Blue Highlanders
Chamney Sanitation -
Corporate Solution •
County of Huron
Culbert's Bakery
Food Basics
Fourth Avenue
Gardiner's Services
Natural Image Spa
North Street United Church
Park House
Park Theatre
Goderich Fire Department Pondsview Garden Centre
Goderich Honda Quarter Mile Lane
Goderlch Oldtimers Soccer League Rex Johnston/Crew of Goderich Electric
Goderich Senior A Pirates Rona
Harvey's Plus N Zehrs Plaza Roselee Montgomery
Huron Concrete Supply Ltd. St John's Ambulance
Huron County Dairy Producers Strickland Toyota
Huron East Tanya Sheppard RMT
Huronla TD Canada Trust
Joe Lorentz The Beefway
John McDonald Tim Hortons
Katie Dockstader Tim Martin
Kinsmen Tourism Goderich
Little, Bowl Town of Goderich
Luanne's Country Flowers Volvo Road Machinery
M&M Meat Shops West Wawanosh Mutual Insurance Company
Machan Home Hardware Wicked Willy's Pub & Table
Machinist Local 1863 Willing Workers
Maitland Golf & Country Club Woodland Golf
Maitland Recreation Center Y.M.C,A, of Goderlch-Huron
Martin Quinn Yellowbird & John Powers
McGee Motors Zehr's of Goderlch
A celebration of survival, a tribute to the lives of
loved ones and a night of fun, friendship and •
fundraising to beat cancer.
Both Robinsons said for a number of
parishoners, this was the first time they
learned about the origins of the parish,
including the hard times endured by the
clergy in the fledgling days of the St. Pe-
ter's.
"It really made people think about what
had gone on before," she said.
The walkabout showed the dedication
of the first priests, who would have to
come from Stratford on foot just to say
mass, as well as the Sisters of St. Joseph,
whose vows of poverty were apparent by
the fact most of them wore the same habit
for 30-40 years.
"It kind of brings home what a different
world it was back then," Warren said.
Eleanor did much of the research and
costuming, and offered her thanks to the
Goderich Little Theatre and Huron Coun-
ty Museum for their support.
"It was a lot of fun to do," she said. "To
go from 1834 to the present, just to give
the flavour.
"It was a really rewarding venture."
Where much of the history was derived
from church records, Warren said some of
the long-time parish members also helped
out, particularly 97 -year-old Martina Sch-
neiker.
"She's an incredibly intelligent woman
with a wonderful memory," Warren said.
"What a wonderful lady she is."
In the early part of the 20th century, most
weddings took place at 5 a.m. to allow the
happy couple to catch the only train out of
town at 7 a.m.
He said Schneiker shared with him her
own opinion of why marriages back then
stood the test of time.
"If you're going to get up to get mar-
ried at three in the morning, you thought it
through very carefully," she told him.
About 100 people attended each of the
first two performances, with 130 attending
Sunday's.
The walkabout also served to raise near-
ly $2,000 for a group of St. Peter's youth
who will be travelling to Kenya this sum-
mer to help build a school.
"They were just so pleased that so many
people put their efforts towards that," El-
eanor said. "I said you're doing the same
thing... Just passing it forward."
The recently -departed Father Michael
Dalton, Canada's most -decorated Padre,
was remembered not only in words in the
play, but by family as well. -
"We used three people from Kings-
bridge who were actually related to him
(in the production)," Warren said. "It was
a great connection."
This year marks the 175th anniversary
Of St. Peter's Parish in Goderich.
See photos on page 23..
Scott's
EXTERIOR
WASHING
RV's, Homes, Vinyl Siding, Commerci
Boats, Concrete Pads, Fences, Decks; Atr
Driveways, Farm Implements, .
Park Models, Camping Trailers and more!
FREL tiSTIMATES
sgth
t
+