Reflections...
Edition 22
St. Francis Xavier Parish
A new church is blessed
The blessing of the current church took
place in June of 1968 and part of that
ceremony is captured in the photograph
above.
SFX Pastor Msgr. S.P. Owens precedes
His Excellency The Most Rev. W.J. Smith,
Bishop of Pembroke, through the
entranceway of the newly completed
St. Francis Xavier Church.
WE ARE A PRAYING
AND CELEBRATING PARISH
Our
stories.
Our
people.
Our
history.
Sister Mary Judith, pictured in this
1965 photo, is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Stephen Keizer of
Renfrew. She graduated with a
Bachelor of Science degree from the
University of Ottawa and was
awarded the gold medal for nursing.
At the time of the photograph, Sister
Mary Judith was preparing to join a
Sister of St. Joseph’s hospital in
Barrhead, Alberta.
 Rev. Peter Proulx with
newly-baptized Avery

Summer School of Catholic Action

These women attended the Summer School of Catholic
Action held at Fordham University in New York. Pictured in
this 1962 photograph are, from left to right, Mary Lou
Kuretski, Dianna Lesk, Sister Mary Teresita, Catherine
McPhail and Mary Gravelle.

Rev. J.L. Ennis Rev. J.P. Brown Rev. Patrick Tait

Assistant Pastor of Assistant Pastor of Assistant Pastor of
St. Francis Xavier St. Francis Xavier St. Francis Xavier
from 1922-1928 from 1955-1958 from 1973-1980.
 Reflections... Edition 23

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our
stories.
Our
people.
Our
history.

Constable Tom Wark casts an approving

eye as Mary Lou Zavitske signals a stop
for a group of Separate School students in
this November 1953 photograph.

In 1935, St. Joseph’s Academy formed

a choir, with some of the older ladies of
the parish joining them in song for
celebrations. With the exception of a few
years here and there, from 1935 to 1955,
the Academy choir was under the
direction of Sister St. James and Sister
Mary. Sister Mary left Renfrew for Alberta
in 1954 and it is uncertain how many
years Sister St. James carried on with the
choir afterwards. It is known that she
continued to be the director of choirs at
the Academy. As well, she continued to Visiting from North Bay, The Most
be the organist at St. Francis Xavier until Reverend Alexander Carter, D. D.,
the fire in 1964. Afterwards, she played Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie, was the
the small organ in the vestry until the new Guest Celebrant at a Pontifical Mass of
church was dedicated. Thanksgiving held in August of 1958.
Fifty-three altar boys give their time to St. Francis Xavier

The 1960-61 class of altar boys serving St. Francis Xavier are shown in this
photograph taken at St. Francis Xavier Separate School. Back row, from left to right;
Ron McGee, Jay Burns, Ron Kedroskie, Carl Leclaire, Jimmie Adamchick, Hughie
Nolan, Richard Norlock, Don Lorbetskie, Donald Butler, Kevin O’Grady, Tom Prince,
Tommy Adamchick, and Lorne Enright. Second from back; Justin Barry, Danny
Rusheleau, John Green, Tim Freemark, Brian Carr, Andy Vice, Edward Lane, Ralph
O’Grady, Tony Page, Mike Vice, Dan Sheehan, Jack Holley, Jim Dobec, Dick
Lamourie, and Gerry Nolan. Second from front; Pat Burns, Murray Gravelle, Pat St.
Michael, Brian Kemp, Murray Mayhew, Edmond Mayhew, Kevin Dolan, Kevin Cobus,
Brian Kedroskie, Murray Butler, Murray LeGris, Michael Scott, Murray Sullivan, Terry
Blimkie, and Allan Shalla. Front row; Pat Roach, Andy Kasaboskie, Paul Scott, Jim
McDougall, John Mulvihill, Rev. J.E. Green, Steve Dregas, Terry Mayhew, Laurie
Warren, Harold Wall, and Jim Lyons.

We, the members of St. Francis Xavier Parish, are a community of the
People of God – The Body of Christ – of the Renfrew area called and
gifted to work together in witnessing and building the Kingdom of God.
From Mission Statement, St. Francis Xavier Parish
 Reflections... Edition 24

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our
stories.
Our
people.
Our
history.

Safety Patrolman Jimmy Cleary is all

business as he collects pupils Bill Cox,
Bob Craig, and Bob Cox before giving the
all-clear for a Raglan Street crossing.
The photograph, from the Renfrew
Advance, was taken in November of
1953.

Newly ordained Rev. Steve Ballard From the announcement book...

leaves Our Lady of Fatima Church with
The Most Rev. J.R. Windle, D.D., Bishop
of Pembroke, following his ordination
ceremony in May of 1989. Father Steve
celebrated his first Mass on Sunday, May
21, 1989.
“ A meeting of all Polish Veterans in Renfrew district
(sic) is announced to take place in the Separate School
auditorium next Sunday, July 27, 1947. We would be glad
to see our people befriend these men, all of whom are
Catholic and strangers to Canada. It would be an act of
Catholic charity to make them feel at home in our midst.
A day may come too when they will be outstanding
members of this community.”
 Celebrating
100
Years
In this Renfrew
Mercury photograph
from November of
1989, Mrs. J.H. Letang
is congratulated on her
100th birthday by Bob
Stark during a reception
at St. Francis Xavier
Parish Hall.

The old stone Church Vestry was built in 1919-1920

at the time of major renovations undertaken by Rev.
C.J. Jones. Replacing an earlier designed vestry, it was
complete in every detail and comparable to a church in
its own right. It was first used in December 1920 for
Mass and other ceremonies until the rest of the main
church was fully renovated.
The vestry housed the baptismal font, the
confessionals, the vestment cupboards, and the stairway
leading into the basement to the altar boy room and the
furnace room.
Fortunately, the vestry was the only significant part
of the old stone church spared in the fire of 1964,
suffering only water and smoke damage. While Sunday
Masses were held at the Renfrew Separate School from
1965 until the new church opened in 1968, morning
Masses, funerals, weddings, baptisms, and Stations of
the Cross to a certain extent were celebrated in the
vestry.
In 1968, the vestry itself was renovated into a small
hall for meetings and a kitchen for the large hall. It
continues to stand today as part of the St. Francis
Xavier Parish Hall.
 Reflections... Edition 25

St. Francis Xavier Parish

The Case of the Stolen Bell Our

In 1919, Rev. Dooner was the Parish
Priest of Calabogie and was busily engaged
stories.
in building a church at Black Donald Mines. Our
Unfortunately, this little church was lacking a
bell and money was apparently in rather people.
short supply. Our
Also at that time, Rev. C.J. Jones, the
Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier in history.
Renfrew, was busy extending, renovating,
and re-spiring his own church. In the belfry
of Father Jones’ church were two bells, one
large and one small, which were taken down
to allow the construction to proceed.
In keeping with the spirit of generosity
that exists naturally between men of the P Parish Priest of
cloth, Father Dooner asked Father Jones if Calabogie in
he might have the smaller bell for the Black 1919.
Donald church. But Father Jones said no. P Author of the
poem The Song
of the Bell.
The industry and enterprise of Father P Would become
Dooner were well known to all familiar with Pastor of St.
him. On a night when Father Jones was in Francis Xavier in
1936.
Ottawa attending a concert by the Sistene
Choir, Father Dooner and some cohorts
stole into town and helped themselves to the
little bell. ( Bishop Ryan gave Father Dooner
permission not knowing of Father Jones’
refusal, thinking this would be a reasonable
solution to the church with no bell)
P Administrator of
Upon returning from Ottawa, Father Jones St. Francis
Xavier from 1918
discovered the theft and quickly, through to 1920.
some solid investigative work, found the P The Song of
identity of the culprit. Writing a letter to the Bell would
not count as one
Father Dooner complaining of the latter’s of his favourite
methods, he received from Father Dooner a poems.
poem entitled “The Song of the Bell.”
 Although there is no record of the
purchase of this bell, it was in fact blessed
by Bishop Eugene Guigues on March 4,
1853 as the bell for the first St. Francis
Xavier Church. This was the frame
structure completed by Rev. Joseph
Bouvier in 1852. When this frame church
was torn down in 1882, the bell was brought
to the newer stone church that had been
completed in 1874, joining a larger bell
already there. In 1903-04, a new belfry and
spire were added to the church and both
bells were hoisted into the belfry.
As a result of Rev. Dooner’s handiwork,
the smaller bell found itself at the Black
Donald Church in 1919, remaining there
until that church closed in the 1950's. A
parishioner acquired the bell and took it to
his summer residence near old Black
Donald, where it remains to this day.

With the Sistene Choir a’singing of its song

Famed for its wonders, thro’ centuries long
The Cure of Renfrew, deaf to the ding dong
Of the stolen bell.

A critic of art sat the noble Jones

Hearing the sound of the Silver Trombones
Startled, he thought he heard the tones
Gratefully dedicated to the worthy recipient. Of the stolen bell.

In the fitful glare of the Lamp of night Tho’ its day was done, it had rung its knell
For gods and men a most solemn sight No more would it shout, “Look out for hell”
Robbery it was, if it were not right Too small it was, it could not swell
Passed the stolen bell. The stolen bell.

In days of old it announced to all In another land, in another clime

Who passed that way to the street of Hall But the same old song, the same old rhyme
To harken and hear the old bell nell Striking the hours of the passing time
Of the stolen bell. Does the stolen bell.

To sinners and saints in that town of sins O’er Whitefish Lake, it sounds its tones
It rang to announce the arrival of twins Which reverberate o’er the rocks and stones
Strong in their voice, but weak in their pins And recluses deep in the soul of Jones
Did the stolen bell. Does the stolen bell.

Memories may come, and memories may go Up that hilltop high, where rocks abound
In this vale of tears, in this world of woe Eighty feet from the stony ground
Some have to learn there is much to know You may listen and hear the sweet-toned sound
Of the stolen bell. Of the stolen bell.

But apparent to all who think and read And there it will ring forever and a day
And apparent to all who say their beads Where the Cure’ pro-tem is turned to clay
In Necessity’s Law there are many needs So I’ll ring off with my little lay
One – a stolen bell. Of the stolen bell.
 Reflections... Edition 26

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our
stories.
Our
people.
Our
history.

The Most Reverend J.R. Windle, D.D., Bishop of

Pembroke, poses with newly ordained priests
Rev. David Hale, left, and Rev. Kerry Brennan.
David is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis G. Hale
while Kerry is the son of Mr. and Mrs. M.J.
Brennan, all of Renfrew.

“In the spirit of the Gospel, we are called Rev. R.M. Tardiff congratulates
Jessica Nolan of St. Thomas the
to be faithful to the divine life and mission Apostle School on her First
we share.” Mission Statement of St. Francis Xavier Church Communion in the Spring of 1992.
 St. Joseph’s Academy: 1945
A number of graduates from the 1945 class of St. Joseph’s Academy are pictured
with their commercial teacher, Sister Mary. From left to right are Margaret
O’Nanski, Margaret Murray, Kathleen Murray, Zita Legree, Marjory Cruise, and
Geraldine Wark.

The Renfrew Separate

School Board is pictured
during its inaugural meeting
in January 1956. Seated,
from left to right, M.T.
Duggan, secretary-
treasurer; T.J. Bowes,
chairman; Mrs. Peter
Bolger; standing, T. Leclair,
R.A. Stubinski, T.A.
Donohue, and A.J.
Lemenchick, vice-chairman.