Father Romeo Gascon, who was mainly responsible for building the present Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, provided an account of the project after the church was destroyed by fire on December 18, 1918.
The first Roman Catholic church in Chapleau was located where Collins furniture store is now. In 1891, a Father Grenier arrived and under his guidance a larger church was started at its present location,
Father Gascon noted in his article contained in the Richard Brownlee papers. Father Gascon was priest in Chapleau from 1911 to 1958 when he died.
Prior to the building of the first church, Father Gascon wrote that Mass and the administration of the Sacraments were conducted in construction camps and private houses. "Great and numerous were the hardships of those first missionaries who had to minister to the few faithful scattered over a large territory,"
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| Roman Catholic Separate School |
It was under the ministry of a Father Proulx that the priest's house was built around 1906 as well as the separate school. In 1925 the Sisters of St. Mary built the convent.
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| Priest's house, back of church and steeple at United Church |
Disaster struck when the church became "the prey of fire" and the "church, and its contents, rich statuary and costly Mass vestments, tribute to the zealous work of the early missionaries and the generosity of the faithful pioneers" were lost."
"In a few hours nothing was left of the work and generosity of thirty years," Father Gascon wrote. "It cast a gloom over the joyous feast of Christmas.."
However, this was of short duration. "Immediately the Catholic people with their pastor pledged themselves to rebuild on a larger scale, to put up a Church which would be a credit and proof of their unfeigned faith and generosity.
"And this was accomplished. The following Christmas, Midnight Mass was sung for the first time in the new church."
Father Gascon sketched out the design for the new church and supervised the construction.
Alfred Leclerc, who arrived in Chapleau in 1915, in an article prepared for the church's 100th anniversary, said he had helped built it. He also was actively involved in other ways over many years.
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| Georgina and Alfred Leclerc |
Writing his account in December 1932, just before Christmas, Father Gascon added that since the new church was opened, almost every year something is done to "beautify the church so today it stands as one of the nicest churches in the district."
In his conclusion, which he then signed "Romeo Gascon" he noted that the beginnings of the Roman Catholic Church in Chapleau were modest but were "mustard seed sown in fertile soil.
"Through the zeal, sacrifice and energy of these first missionaries and pioneer settlers this tiny seed has germinated and grown up to be a large tree. Its branches and leaves now throw a refreshing shade."
He invited the people to the church to rest and regain lost strength. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church will celebrate its 96th anniversary in the "new" church this year at Christmas.
I extend my thanks again to Margaret Rose and Bobby Fortin for loaning me the Richard Brownlee papers. My email is mj.morris@live.ca
