Reflections...

Edition 14

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our
stories.
Our
people.
Our
history.
Mrs. J.L. Murray chats with Bishop

7
Smith and Msgr. Clarke at a
reception hosted at the home of her
daughter, Mrs. Larry Ritza.

Papal Honours For Renfrew Woman Editorial Excerpt From

On December 4, 1960, Mrs. J.L. Murray of Renfrew The Renfrew Mercury,
was awarded the papal decoration “Pro Ecclesia et
Pontiface” in a ceremony conducted by the Most
December 8, 1960.
Rev. W.J. Smith, Bishop of Pembroke. The honour, All through our life we have
awarded by Pope John XXIII, is the highest that can
be granted to any lay member of the church. known Mrs. Murray to be a m ost
gracious lady who has been admired
and beloved by all residents of
P Mrs. Murray’s late Renfrew and District. She has been
husband was a Knight an ardent church worker and has
Commander of St. always been ready and willing to help
Gregory the Great. all who were in need. In her own
P Her father, M.J. quiet way she has done more for the
O’Brien, and her poor and unfortunate than any other
brother, Ambrose, have person in Renfrew.
also received honours The editor of The Mercury joins
from the Holy See for
their efforts on behalf
with all the people who hav eknown
of the church. and admired M rs. Murray in
extending congratulations to her.
P All are members of the
St. Francis Xavier Surely there is no one more deserving
family. of this very high honour.
Junior graduates from the 1960 class of St. Joseph’s Academy are pictured in this
Renfrew Advance photograph. First row, left to right, Rose Ann Levecque, (sic),
Elaine Enright, Marguerite Clark, and Lynn McDougall. Second row, Donna Frost,
Dianne St. Michael, Beverley Kobus, Diane Mask, Shirley Skebo, and Cecilia
Cybulski. Third row, Carol Moore, Joan Dooling, Genevieve Castonguay, Cheryl
Stubinski, Gloria Giroux and Catherine Kubiseski.

Rev. Emmett J. Murray Rev. T.P. Holly

P Born in Barry’s
Bay on June 1, P Ordained
1926. May 30, 1918.
P Assistant Pastor P Assistant
of St. Francis Pastor at St.
Xavier from 1960 Francis
to 1964. Xavier in
1925 and
P Died April 20, 1989 again in
and buried in 1944.
Killaloe.
 Reflections... Edition 15

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our
stories.
Our
people.
Our
history.

St. Francis Xavier

Assistant Pastors
The Most Rev. W.J. Smith, D.D., Bishop of Pembroke,
leads the ceremony blessing the newly finished St.
Francis Xavier Church.

Blessing a New Church: 1968 Rev. John Ryan 1914-18

“For you and your parishioners Rev. I.J. Rice 1916-18
Rev. John Sullivan 1918-21
must go. All who sorrowed at a fire,
Rev. C.J. Sullivan 1920
rejoiced at the sight of a new Temple Rev. Jerome Harrington 1921-23
of God rising and sang triumphantly Rev. A. Patrick Dwyer 1921-22
at its opening, must pass from the Rev. J.L. Ennis
scene. But a bit of each of you will Rev. J.R. McElligott 1923-30
remain for future generations to see Rev. John J. Quinn 1928-37
and marvel at, to admire and be Rev. J.A. McKinniery 1930-31
Rev. A. Kenneth McDonald 1931-40
inspired by – the new St. Francis Rev. James P. Whalen 1933-36
Xavier Parish Church that you will Rev. J.J. Lynch 1936-44
build.” Rev. T.P. Wingle 1937-44
Rev. Michael J. Hass 1940-47
“Get on with the job!” Rev. Ernest Maloney 1942
Rev. Francis M. Kennedy 1944-51
Rev. T.J. Raby in a letter to Msgr. R.M. Clarke shortly
after the 1964 fire that destroyed St. Francis Xavier Rev. J.P. Kelly 1945
Church.
 Reverend Thomas J. Sloan

Father Sloan was born May 22, 1885 and was

ordained in 1909 at St. James Cathedral in
Montreal by Archbishop Bruchesi.
Prior to his arrival in Renfrew in March of 1944,
he had accomplished a great deal as a Pastor in
Whitney and Astorville. As well, he founded Holy
Name Parish in Pembroke and directed it for
twenty-three years.
During his time at St. Francis Xavier, Father
Sloan was able to obtain the service of the Brothers
of Christian Schools, who began to teach high
school curriculum at Bishop Ryan High School,
located next to St. Joseph’s Academy. It was also
during his tenure of office that the existing parish
was divided into two entities, the new one becoming
Our Lady of Fatima with Rev. Robert J. Roney as
first Pastor.
Father Sloan passed away February 26, 1952 in
Pembroke General Hospital. He was 67.

Renfrew Advance,
Tea held to support Lake Clear camp October 2, 1958

A tea, in aid of St. Francis Xavier camp, was held last Thursday afternoon in the home of Mrs. Corrie
LeGris. The house was decorated throughout with gold mums and green foliage, carrying out the “camp
colours.” The guests were received by Miss Mamie Kelly, Mrs. John Bulger, and Mrs. LeGris. Pouring
tea were Mrs. L.E. Malloy, Mrs. Francis Levesque, Mrs. Fred Totten, and Mrs. James Kobus. Others
assisting were Mrs. James Maloney, Mrs. W.L. Galbraith, Mrs. Patrick Wheeler, Mrs. G. Nighbor,
Mrs. Thomas Egan, Mrs. K. Boldt, Mrs. L.B. Ritza, Mrs. Alan Prince, Mrs. V. Donegan, Mrs. F.
O’Donoghue, and Mrs. S. Stubinski. Mrs. S. Blake and Miss Juliette Lemieux opened the door and the
guests were ushered by Mrs. Bernard Kelly and Mrs. Michael Bolger. Mrs. Alan McHugh was in
charge of the kitchen and was ably assisted by Mrs. Bernard Preen, Mrs. Max Kovalsky and Mrs.
Garney McDougall. Convening the tea was Mrs. McHugh, Mrs. Ritza, and Mrs. LeGris.

In this 1960 Renfrew

Advance photograph, Rt.
Rev. R.M. Clarke, Renfrew
Mayor Harry Young, and His
Excellency the Most Rev.
W.J. Smith are guests at a
Catholic Women’s League
banquet held in the Separate
School auditorium.
 Reflections... Edition 16

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our
Vocations To The Sisters Of stories.
The Holy Cross Our
Renfrew W omen Answering The Call people.
Sr. St. James, (M. Teresa Tiernay) 1891 Our
Sr. St. Maurice, (Celina Wadsworth) 1893
Sr. St. Hilda, (Agnes Reid) 1889 history.
Sr. St. Lawrence, (Agnes Narlock) 1917
Sr. St. Francis Martyr,
(Marguerite Coules) 1917
Sr. M. Kostka, (Annie Sholea) 1918
Sr. Maureen, (Mary Potvin) 1920
Sr. Unis, (Viola Letang) 1925
Sr. Francis Teresa, (Nora Enright) 1925
Sr. St. Enda, (Margaret Enright) 1927
Sr. St. Genevieve of the S.H.,
(Genevieve Moore) 1928
Sr. St. Agnes Louise,
(Celina Wadsworth) 1928
Sr. St. Martha of Calvary,
(Marjorie Prince) 1928
Sr. St. Catherine of Siena,
(Beatrice Enright) 1928 This building, a convent school, was the first
Sr. St. Ambrose, (Dorothy Zavitsky) 1931 home of the Sisters of the Holy Cross from
Sr. St. Robert Bellarmine, 1886-1912. The attic with the gabled roof and
(Gertrude Wadsworth) 1932 high dormer windows served as the sleeping
Sr. St. Miriam, (Gertrude Keizer) 1932 quarters with the classrooms on the second
Sr. St. James, (Margaret Dupuis) 1932 floor. The convent was located on the corner
Sr. St. Monica, (Monica Stoppa) 1934 of Quarry and Barr Streets.
Sr. St. Martin, (Frances Kusluski) 1934
Sr. St. Vivian, (Dorothy Shields) 1941
Sr. Elizabeth Burke
Elizabeth Shields
Sally Stearns
Joan Quinn
Rita Lepack
Margaret Joan Pecore
Jean Goulet
Barbara Hebert

Second Holy Cross Convent, 1912-1926

Bonnechere Street
 Second Holy Cross
Convent pictured behind
St. Francis Xavier School

L
Third Holy Cross
Convent
Argyle Street,
1926-1977

7
Fourth Holy Cross
Convent
Argyle and Prince
Streets, 1977-1982

Fifth Holy Cross

Convent
Lynn Street, 1982

7
 Reflections... Edition 17

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our
stories.
Our
people.
Our
history.

St. Francis Xavier

Assistant Pastors

In this undated photograph, Sister Mary Martha Rev. Henry J. Maloney 1946-49
assumes her new duties as principal of St. Rev. Lorrain J. Gauthier 1947-49
Francis Xavier Separate School. A native of Rev. R.J. Roney 1946 and 1949
Renfrew, Sister Mary Martha had returned to her Rev. Charles J. Burke 1949
hometown after serving at the Canadian Martyrs
Rev. T.G. Klatt 1949-51
School in Ottawa.
Rev. L.W. Sammon 1950-52
Rev. T. Gerald Buckley 1951-52
Rev. Patrick M. Dobec, Rev. Denis J. Harrington 1951-58
son of Mr. and Mrs. Rev. Adrian Flynn 1952-55
Martin Dobec and Rev. J.P. Brown 1955-58
grandson of Mr. and Rev. J.E. Green 1958-63
Mrs. Joseph Kiely was Rev. Lawrence Burns 1958-60
ordained to the Rev. Emmett Murray 1960-64
Priesthood by The Rev. Isaiah W. Rice 1963-68
Most Reverend J.R. Rev. Joseph C. Legree 1964-65
Windle, D.D., in St. Rev. Patrick J. Blake 1965-69
Francis Xavier Church Rev. James Hayes 1968-70
on May 14, 1977. Rev. L. Merlyn Ethier 1969-75
Father Dobec was a Rev. Mervin Coulas 1970-73
classmate of Rev. Rev. Patrick Tait 1973-80
James Wingle. Rev. Charles Giroux 1975-79
This photograph, taken in the early 1960's, presents a different perspective of the
two old churches and their surrounding neighbourhood. Pictured at left is St. Francis
Xavier Church while to the right stands Trinity St. Andrew’s United Church.

Msgr. Michael J. O’Gorman Rev. John R. O’Gorman

P Both the
sons of Mr.
and Mrs.
J.K.
O’Gorman
of Renfrew.
P John
ordained in
1914 and
Michael in
1915.