HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-06-06, Page 13Serving over 24,000 homes in Listowel, Wingham,
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Wednesday; June 6, 1984
Also honor priest
Mount Forest parish marks 1 20th anniversary
by Lynne Pinnegar
It's not every day that a church celebrates
its 120th anniversary, nor is it a common
occurrence for a priest to mark 50 years in
the priesthood. Both are happening in the
Mount Forest Roman Catholic Parish this
year and the parishoners are celebrating in
an ambitious way, with a special mass
honoring their priest tomorrow (June 7) and
the publication of a history of the parish.
The Reverend Father James Phillip
Lardie has been the priest at St. Mary's in
Mount Forest for the past 15 years. It was on
June 9, 1934 that the Hamilton native was
ordained to the priesthood. He had received
his education at separate schools in
Hamilton and St. Jerome's College, Kit-
chener, before entering St. Augustine's
Seminary.
Two of the priests who attended the
seminary 1,Vith Father Lardie will be at the
special mass in his honor tomorrow evening
at St. Mary's Church. They will join 20 other
priests, Bishop Tonnes of the Hamilton
Diocese, Bishop Sherlock of the London
Diocese and a wealth of local dignitaries in
paying tribute to Father Lardie.
In the history of the parishbeing
published, Father Lardie is described as a
man whose "sincere dedication to ad-
ministering the affairs of the parish has
been evident in so many ways. His extensive
practical knowledge and keen awareness of
necessary repairs, along with his artistic
talents, have made our church a source of
great pride . . . However, material con
tributions towards the upkeep of the church
takes second place only to the spiritual
guidance, the good example and faithful
discharging of all priestly duties in the in-
terests of his congregation."
Following the 7:30 mass, presentations
will be made to Father Lardie by the
Catholic Women's League, Holy Name
Society and Knights of Columbus.
HISTORY OF PARISH
A history of the Mount Forest parish is
being published this year; both in honor of
the 120th anniversary Of the laying of the
cornerstone of the church and Father
Lardie's milestone. Bob McIntee of Mount
Forest is one of the driving forces behind the
history.
"The first cornerstone of the church was
laid in 1864 and I have been accumulating
historical data on the parish for the last two
years or so," Mr. McIntee said. "We thought
itwould be rather significant if we published
a histo'cical booklet this year, coinciding
'with Father's 50th anniversary as well.
Those are two very significant factors in the
history being published this year."
The booklet, which will be available at
Kirk's Fruit Market and Royal City Realty
in Mount Forest, as well as from church
members Helen Morris, Kaye Lehman and
. Helen Stortz, chronicles the history of the
parish from when Irish immigrants frist
began settling the Mount Forest area "with
the added difficulty of being without a
priest, for the first time in their lives." The
booklet is dedicated to "the pioneers and
, pastors who laid the foundation of our parish
with unselfishness and devotion."
Biographical sketches of the 16 priests
who have served the parish are included in
the booklet, as well as histories of the
Catholic Women's League, Holy Name
Society and Knights of Columbus. A history
of the separate school and information about
the nuns from St. Joseph's who staffed it for,
years is also included.
"We believe this account of our parish,
from the very beginning to the present, will
help us all celebrate our shared religious
heritage in which we can take great pride,"
Mr. McIntee and Mary Bondi write in the
forward to the booklet.
Before the parish was established in
Mount Forest, the Fathers of the Society of
Jesus (Jesuits) were given charge of the
catholic community in Guelph and nor-
thwards. In between visits from the Jesuits,
the early settlers kept their faith through
family prayer and Bible reading. Lay
persons often had to officiate at baptisms,
weddings and funerals..
The first church in the Mount Forest
parish was built in 1858 on land purchased
from James Corrigan. When the
parishoners and itinerant priest Father
Dumortier of Guelph gathered for mass at
the newly -built church, however, they were
shocked and surprised to find that it had
been destroyed by fire the night before.
Religious services resumed in people's
homes, while plans were formulated to
replace the short-lived church.
In 1861 the land where the present church
stands was purchased, and the cornerstone
laid on July 3, 1864. Father P. S. Maheut; the
first parish priest, had received his
seminary training in France and had been
ordained there in 1854.
Father Maheut requested the bishop that
the new parish of Mount Forest be called St.
Mary of Purification because he had been
baptized on that feast day`in 1834 and was
ordained on that feast day in 1859. His
request was granted.
Bishop Farrel dedicated the parish church
to St. Mary, of the Purification on Feb. 1,
1865.
The parish has continued to grow and
flourish since that time. A rectory was built
in 1880, and was later used as a convent. The
land for Holy Cross Cemetery was pur-
chased in 1902.
That same year disaster struck when St.
Mary's Church was destroyed by fire. An
article in The Arthur Enterprise described it
this way: "Between 4 and 5 a.m. on Sunday,
Aug. 9, 1902 St. Mary's Catholic Church in
Mount Forest was discovered on fire. In a
short time the fine edifice was gutted, and
costly windows, organ and rich interior
fittings were consumed, a few vestments
only being saved. The walls were standing
and can probably be used in rebuilding. The
origin of the fire, which started near the
altar, is a mystery."
By 1904 the church was rebuilt, and the
first mass was celebrated on Oct. 9, 1904 in
the new building.
The first Roman Catholic School in Mount
Forest was established in 1867, but in 1879 it
was discontinued. In 1907 another separate
school was established and in 1906 the site of
the new school was selected on Market
Street, where the present auditorium now
stands.
In 1952 Father T. Doyle initiated and
promoted a plan for a new separate school,
and construction off a modern five -room
school was begun in 1953. A major addition
was the construetion of 'the auditorium,
which doubled as a gymnasium, in 1966 and
later additional space was provided for
Kindergarten classes on the upper floor of
the auditorium. An addition to provide a
principal's office, secretary's office, health
room and staff room was begun in 1983.
In 1908, through the efforts of Dean
O'Connell, nuns from St. Joseph's were
hired to teach the children. From 1932 to
1943 lay teachers were employed; butin 1944
the sisters from St.. Joseph's returned to
Mount Forest. Lay teachers. were added to
the staff in the` 1960s and 70s to augment the
teaching staff and in 1978 the sisters with-
drew. St. Mary's School is now completely
staffed with layteachers who carry on the
tradition of catholic education.
"The reason for the closing of the Mount
Forest convent was due to the steady decline
in religious vocations," according to the
history booklet published. "This decline was
reflected in the severe shortage of sisters to
staff the schools and convents."
Going along hand-in-hand with the growth
and development of the Mount Forest
Roman" Catholic Parish have been the in -
church organizations composed of parish-
ioners. •
' The Holy Name Society was formed in
1916, with Father Daniel' F. Kehoe as
spiritual leader. The group has contributed
financially to the maintenance of the church
since its inception, sponsors dances and
members also take up the collection, act as
ushers and lectors.
First organized in 1922, the Catholic
Women's League was disbanded for a few
years prior to 1957. But Rev. Father
Priester, a temporary pastor at St. Mary's,
revived it.
During the early years of its existence, the
CWL's activities included bazaars, making
clothing for children in St. Joseph's or-
phanage and for those in need around the
community, making costumes and assisting
with school entertainments, sponsoring
special movies for children and cleaning the
church.
The members cater to wedding dinners,
receptions, Christmas dinner parties for
various organizations and funeral lunches.
Each spring the CWL Communion breakfast
for members and teenage daughters is held,
catered by the men of the Holy Name
Society, and in the early fall the roles are
reversed when CWL members cater for
their Communion breakfast.
The 25th anniversary of St. Mary's
Catholic Women's League in 1983 was
marked with an anniversary mass.
Money from fund-raising projects
throughout the years are donated to many
causes.
The Knights of Columbus, Fr. Doyle
Council No. 6475, was formed on Apr. 15,
1973 and received its charter in November of
that year. The council is engaged in
charitable works in the community, and
regularly donates to the Canadian Arthritis
Society
As the parishioners prepare for the
special mass in honor of the 120th an-
niversary of St. Mary's = and Father
Lardie's 50th anniversary in the priesthood,
they are looking for many more years of
catholic fellowship in the community.
FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE—Rev. James Phillip Lar -
die, priest at St. Mary's in Mount Forest, this week
marks his 50th anniversary in the priesthood.
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