USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Woonsocket > History of the Catholic church in Woonsocket and vicinity, from the celebration of the first mass in 1828, to the present time, with a condensed account of the early history of the church in the United States > Part 9
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How kindly she dresses each suffering limb, For she sees in the wounded the image of Him.
Behold her, ye worldly ! behold her, ye vain ! Who shrink from the pathway of virtue and pain ; Who yield up to pleasure your nights and your days. Forgetful of service, forgetful of praise.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, THE PATRON SAINT OF ST. CHARLES' CHURCH.
The history of St. Charles' Church could hardly be con- sidered complete without a short biographical sketch of the Patron Saint of this church : Carlo or Charles Borromeo, son of Ghiberto Borromeo, count of Arona, and of Mary of Medici, was born at the Castle of Arona, upon the Lago Maggiore, in the Milanese, October 2, 1538. When aged
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12 he received a gift of an abbacy from Julius Cæsar Bor- romeo, the revenue of which the saintly boy wholly applied in charity among the poor. He studied the civil and canon law at Pavia under the learned Francis Alciat. His father died in 1554, and although he had an elder brother, Count Frederick, he was requested by the family to take the man- agement of their domestic affairs. Resuming his studies after a short cessation, he advanced rapidly and took the degree of D. D. in 1559. In 1560 his uncle, Cardinal de Medici, was raised to the pontificate with the name of Pius IV. This Pope, in the first year of his pontificate, made young Borromeo, who was then aged 22, prothonatory, and entrusted him with the privy seal of the ecclesiastical State. He was also created Cardinal-Deacon and shortly after- ward was consecrated Archbishop of Milan. After his archiepiscopal see he established an academy of savants, and published their memoirs as the Noctes Vaticano. About the same time he founded and endowed a college at Pavia, which he dedicated to St. Justina, Virgin and Martyr, who was put to death by order of the Roman emperor Diocletian, and whose festival is celebrated on September 2.
Saint Borromeo also in his zeal for the future welfare of the Church, established seminaries, colleges and cominuni- ties for the education of young persons intended for Holy Orders. He met with great opposition in his efforts to es- tablish law, order and discipline everywhere throughout his archdiocese. So great was this opposition that a conspi- racy was formed to take his life. One of the conspirators fired a shot at him one evening in the Archiepiscopal chapel, under circumstances which led to the belief that his escape was miraculous. In the year 1576 the city of Milan was visited by a plague, which swept away thousands of people. On this occasion he went about giving directions for taking care of the sick and burying the dead, avoiding no danger
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and sparing no expense. He also visited all the neighbor- ing parishes, where the contagion raged. Continual labors and austerities shortened his life, and being seized with an intermittent fever, he died at Milan, November 4, 1584, aged 46. He was immediately enrolled among the saints, but was not canonized until 1610. In a crypt under the dome of the Cathedral at Milan-one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in the world-lies the embalmed body of this Cardinal-saint. The body is enclosed in a silver sarcophagus, faced with rock crystal.
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Church of the Precious Blood.
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The Precious Blood Parish.
CHAPTER XVI.
CHURCH OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD-ITS ESTABLISHMENT, RISE AND PROGRESS-INSTITUTIONS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH-BRIEF REFERENCE TO FOUNDATION OF CATHOLICISM IN CANADA.
The French-Canadian residents have been a most important factor in the propagation of the Faith and the building up of the Catholic Church in Woonsocket. These worthy residents were reared under the influence of the Church in their Canadian homes. From infaney to manhood and womanhood they breathed an at- mosphere pregnant with the spirit of religion. In the home, in the Church, in the Sunday school, they were sur- rounded with all that is purest and best in faith and morals. The early pioneer priests traversed the primeval forests along the banks of the St. Lawrence and erected the em- blem of man's redemption wherever they went. The ex- ample of Samuel de Champlain encouraged the first French settlers in Canada, of which he was Governor, and the spirit of his example has remained with the French Canadians down to the present. This pioneer explorer in his early days, on the bleak and uninviting soil of that country, in giving his opinion of what Christians should do for Chris- tianity, wrote as follows : " The salvation of a single soul is worth more than the conquest of an empire, and Kings should seek to extend their dominions in countries where idolatry reigns, only to cause their submission to Jesus Christ." He further adds that he undertook his Canadian toils among the Indians in order to plant in this country the standard of the Cross, and to teach the knowledge of God and the glory of His Holy Name, desiring to increase Charity for His unfortunate creatures.
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In reference to the Indians he said that he would fain rescue from perdition a people living like brute beasts, without faith, without law, without religion and without God. Champlain went to Paris from Canada, and, after a conference with ecclesiasties there, obtained a subscription of 1,500 francs from bishops and priests for the purchase of vestments, sacred vessels and all other articles necessary for the celebration of Mass and the administration of the Sacraments. Pope Paulus V. authorized the mission and King Henry IV. of France furnished Champlain with letters patent for the establishment of a colony, designated as New France. Champlain, who was born at Brouage, France, in 1567, made his first voyage to Canada in 1603. He not only on his return to France obtained the articles necessary for use in Catholic rites and ceremonies, but he also secured the services of four Franciscan Fathers, namely, Rev. Denis Jamet, Rev. John Dolbeau, Rev. Joseph Le Caron and Brother Pacific du Plessis, to attend to the spiritual wants of the faithful.
The ship on which Champlain and these pioneer priests sailed from France left the harbor of Honfleur in April, 1615, and reached Quebec towards the end of May. A little Convent and Chapel were erected and on June 25, 1615, Rev. John Dolbeau had the happiness of celebrating the first Mass ever offered in the rude rock-built capital of the colony. This was in the reign of Louis XIII. of France, Henry IV., who granted the letters patent to Champlain for the establishment of the colony of New France, having been assassinated by Ravaillac in 1610. The date of that first Mass is now 284 years ago, being five years before the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth, Massachusetts, and 161 years before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the thirteen original States of what is now the greatest Republic of the world.
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The descendants of these first French Catholic settlers in Canada have crossed the St. Lawrence in great numbers, within the past thirty years, from the Province of Quebec, and have established homes for themselves in every one of the New England States, but in no place have they pros- pered better or made more lasting progress than in this city of Woonsocket. It has been truthfully said that French is as generally spoken here as it is in Montreal. It is heard in all the stores and along the streets, until every one is ac- customed to the sound. The community has become purer and better, because of the presence of this people, and also because of the Catholic training they receive. They are true to the Faith, faithful in the performance of religious duties, faithful in the observance of holy days of the church and obedient to the laws of municipality, State and nation. Hospitality and sociability are distinguishing characteristics with them. They love home and its associations, respect their priests, love God and keep His Commandments, and for this they are respected. A proof of their obedience to law is, that while great crimes against law are often heard of in other parts of this little State of Rhode Island, yet Woonsocket is free from such crimes. As a proof of the popularity of this race it may be stated that one of its members, namely, Hon. Aram J. Pothier, has held the highest office-that of Mayor-in the gift of the people of this city, and has held the second highest office-that of Lieutenant Governor-in the gift of the voters of the State. He represented Rhode Island at the Paris Exposition in the year 1889 by appointment of Gov. Herbert W. Ladd and has again been chosen by Governor Elisha Dyer to represent Rhode Island at the Paris Exposition of 1900. He, as well as other members of this race, has represented the city in the General Assembly, and at the city election which took place in November, 1899, one alderman and five councilmen were elected as follows :
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HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Alderman, Godfroy Daigneault; Councilmen, Louis Gobeille, George E. Bouvier, Joseph San Souci, Joseph C. Mailloux and Zephir Sylvestre. There are representatives of the race in every other department of the city govern- ment, some of whom are as follows : Joseph W. Trinque, clerk of the school committee ; Pierre J. Fleurant, member of the school committee; Gustave A. Gers, tax collector ; George F. Rousseau, clerk of the board of assessors ; Fred- erick Dulude, tax assessor; Philippe Boucher, a member of the sewer commission; Joseph Proulx and Arthur C. Milot, members of the license commission ; Alphonse Gau- lin, Sr., member of the water commission ; Alphonse Gau- lin, Jr., coroner; William Landry, city sergeant and mes- senger ; Dolphis Sylvestre, superintendent of street lights ; George N. Girard, health officer; Gaspard Drainville, in- spector of petroleum ; Alphonse Gaulin, Sr., park com- missioner, and also others in minor offices.
The foregoing makes a splendid showing for this peo- ple. Many of them also stand high as bank officers, law- yers, doctors and merchants.
The French-Canadian portion of the Catholic popula- tion of Woonsocket was, until 1873, identified with St. Charles' Church, and attended services in the church from the first settlement of this worthy people here until the year herewith named. During all of this time they were active supporters and energetic workers in the cause of religion and assisted by generous contributions toward the building of the present St. Charles' Church.
In 1866, under the pastorate of Rev. Francis J. Leni- han, Rev. Lawrence Walsh, who had studied in Canadian colleges and was proficient in a knowledge of the French language, was sent here by Right Rev. Bishop McFarland, at the request of Father Lenihan, to attend in a special manner to the spiritual wants of the French Catholics.
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This reverend gentleman continued his ministrations here until his appointment in 1868 to the pastorate of St. Pat- rick's Church in Hartford. That he was appreciated by the French people was attested by the presentation to him of a valuable gold watch and gold chain; these presents being accompanied by an address of regret, because of his being removed. Rev. James A. Princen, Rev. Francis Belanger and Rev. Antoine D. Bernard followed each other in suc- csssion as priests appointed for spiritual duty among the French-speaking Catholics. During Rev. Father Bernard's curacy a separation took place between the French and so- called Irish-American Catholics by the formation by order of Bishop McFarland, of a distinctive French-Canadian Catho- lic parish, of which Father Bernard was appointed pastor. Religious services were held for a considerable length of time, at which the new congregation attended, in a hall in a building owned by the Harris Woolen Company on North Main street. During services there collections were taken up for the purchase of land and the erection of a Church. These collections were generous and amounted in the aggre- gate to a sum sufficient for the purchase of a site for the proposed church. A purchase was made on August 27, 1873, from John A. Bennett, of 38,250 square feet of land, the lot being 225 by 170, and bounded by Carrington avenue, Park avenue and Hamlet avenue. The day after the purchase of the land several men went gratuitously to work in making excavations for the foundation walls of a Church 165 feet in length by 72 feet in width, the intention being to have a tower 172 feet in height. The work of putting in the foundation progressed rapidly under the pas- torate of Father Bernard.
Rev. Antoine D. Bernard, the first resident pastor of the French people, was born at St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, in 1839 ; studied in the Catholic college there and after gradu-
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ation he studied theology in the seminary at Troy, N. Y., and was ordained a priest by Cardinal Archbishop McClos- key on March 27, 1869, being the Saturday preceding Easter Sunday. After ordination he was appointed assist- ant pastor to Rev. Father Quinn at Moosup, Connecticut, and from there was transferred to Danbury, where he was for a short time assistant pastor to Rev. Philip Sheridan. From Danbury he was transferred to St. Charles' Church, Woonsocket, as assistant to Very Rev. M. McCabe, and at the same time to attend to the spiritual wants of the French Catholics. In 1873 he was appointed first pastor of the French Catholics of Woonsocket. In '1874 he was ap- pointed pastor of the parish of St. James, Manville, where he built the Church there, and in 1887 was appointed pastor of St. John's Church, Warren, from which pastorate he resigned on Wednesday, December 22, 1897, after twenty- eight years of priestly duty.
Rev. James Berkins, a Belgian priest, succeeded Rev. Father Bernard in the pastorate of the Church of the Pre- cious Blood parish.
On October 25, 1874, the corner stone of the new edi- fice was laid by Very Rev. Lawrence McMahon, Vicar Gen- eral of Hartford diocese.
Rev. Father Berkins was transferred to St. John's parish, Slatersville, in the beginning of the year 1875, of which he was the first resident pastor. He was subse- quently removed to St. Michael's Church, Greenville, at which he assumed the duties of pastor on November 14, 1875.
Rev. Charles C. Dauray, the present revered and most highly esteemed pastor of the Church of the Precious Blood, (L'Eglise Du Precieux Sang) succeeded Rev. Father Berk- ins as pastor on November 12, 1875.
This dearly beloved priest and accomplished and most
REV. CHARLES C. DAURAY, Pastor of the Precious Blood Parish.
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highly respected gentleman was born at Marieville, province of Quebec, on March 15, 1838. After pursuing an educa- tional course in the college of his native town, he studied theology in the seminary attached to the college and was ordained a priest by Right Rev. Charles Larocque on De- cember 17, 1870. He was a teacher in St. Hyacinthe Col- lege before being raised to the priesthood and after ordina- tion was assistant pastor at St. Ceasaire, and while there accepted a professor's chair in the college at St. Marie. From there he went in succession to St. Antoine and St. Denis, in both of which places he was assistant pastor.
He came to the United States in 1872, and was appointed pastor in September, 1873, of the parish of Notre Dame de Sacre Coeur at Central Falls by Right Rev. Bishop Hen- dricken, where he officiated until his appointment as pastor of the Church of the Precious Blood, on the date above stated.
Father Dauray took hold with earnest zeal and went forward with the building of the church and had the satis- faction of seeing work on the walls completed and the roof on at the end of the year 1875. On February 2, 1876- Candlemas Day-the structure was blown down by a ter- rific gale which prevailed on that date, causing a direct loss of about $25,000.
Father Dauray, though keenly feeling what this great loss meant to his congregation, yet was not disheartened. Encouraged by the voice of his people and assured by the sympathy of the whole community he went forward with en- thusiastic ardor in the work of rebuilding the ruined struc- ture, and had the pleasure and happiness of seeing his efforts crowned with success by a completion of the edifice in 1881. On Sunday, July 17, of that year the rebuilt Church was solemnly dedicated.
The ceremony of dedication was carried out by Right Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken, Bishop of Providence diocese,
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HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
who was assisted by Right Rev. Bishop Lefleche of the dio- cese of Three Rivers, Province of Quebec, Right Rev. Bishop Moreau of the diocese of St. Hyacinthe and Very Rev. Michael McCabe, rector of St. Charles' Church and Vicar General of Providence diocese. There were about forty priests present from various places, several being from Canadian dioceses.
Right Rev. Bishop Moreau was the celebrant of a Pon- tifical High Mass on the morning of that date, with Rev. P. J. Bedard of Fall River, Deacon ; Rev. I. A. Nadeau of Granby, Province of Quebec, Sub-Deacon ; Rev. Charles Paulin of St. Dominique, Province of Quebec, Master of Ceremonies ; Very Rev. M. McCabe, Assistant Priest ; Rev. Louis Richard of Three Rivers, Rev. Canon L. M. Archam- beault of St. Hugues, Province of Quebec, Deacons of Honor, and Rev. Alexis Bouvier of St. Marie Monnoir and Rev. J. Provost, assistant pastor of the Church of the Precious Blood, censer bearers. There was a banquet in the afternoon and vesper service in the evening.
The building of the Jesus Marie Convent on Hamlet avenue and the building of the parochial rectory on Carring- ton avenue are among the works accomplished by Father Dauray. In 1895 he saw work completed on one of the most beautiful monuments of his zeal, namely, the new Jesus Marie Convent at the junction of Carrington avenue and Park avenue. This beautiful building was dedicated at Thanksgiving in 1895, on which occasion there was a three days fète, beginning on Tuesday, November 26, and ending on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), November 28. This was also made the occasion of celebrating Father Dauray's silver jubilee of ordination.
This grand celebration, which was carried out under the direction of Rev. Eugene Lessard, then senior assistant pastor of the Church of the Precious Blood, and now pastor
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of St. James' Church, Manville, was a brilliant event. Dr. Joseph Hils was president of the organization formed for the purpose of carrying out the fète, and Dr. Joseph H. Boucher was vice-president. The church was splendidly decorated for the occasion and was crowded in the evening. All the churches in the city, Catholic and Protestant, were represented in the large assembly. Members of the Woon- socket delegation to the General Assembly and about all the city officers were present.
The following priests were present : Rev. Charles C. Gaboury, New Bedford ; Rev. Alfred Lemieux, Superior of the College of St. Marie de Monnoir, Province of Quebec ; Rev. Joseph Beaudry, St. Marcel, Canada ; Rev. Joseph Carbonneau of St. Helene, Bagot, Quebec; Rev. C. H. Jeannotte, North Adams ; Rev. J. N. Beaudry, Biddeford, Maine; Rev. J. M. M. Cadieux, Professor of Philosophy in the College of St. Marie de Monnoir; Rev. Noel Rain- ville, North Hampton ; Rev. Louis Larocque, Manchester, New Hampshire ; Rev. Alphonse Graton, Central Falls ; Rev. George Lavallee, Fall River; Rev. Joseph Gaboury, New Bedford ; Rev. Father Gingras, Fall River; Rev. Father Van Dernoot, Putnam, Conn. ; Rev. J. A. Labelle, Ashton ; Rev. Father Soly, Professor in the Seminary at St. Hyacinthe ; Rev. Father Massicotte, Fall River; Rev. I. Sylvain, Fall River ; Rev. Hormidas Deslauriers, New Bed- ford ; Rev. Joseph A. Bourgeois, Rev. J. A. Laliberte, Rev. Mederic Roberge, Rev. J. A. Fauteux and Rev. Father Brodeur of Woonsocket.
Dr. Joseph Hils delivered an address in the name of the parishioners of the Church of the Precious Blood. Ad- dresses were also made by Hon. Philippe Boucher, at that time a member of the General Assembly; Hon. Aram J. Pothier, Mayor of the city of Woonsocket; Rev. Hormidas Deslauriers, New Bedford, a former assistant pastor of the
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Church of the Precious Blood ; Alphonse Gaulin, Jr., Joseph Monette, Col. L. B. Pease, Col. F. L. O'Reilly, Judge Livingstone Scott and Major James W. Smyth.
The officers of the committee having charge of the ex- ercises consisted of Rev. Eugene Lessard, honorary presi- dent ; Dr. Joseph Hils, president; Dr. Joseph H. Boucher, vice-president ; Joseph Jalbert, treasurer, and Ovide Plasse, assistant treasurer.
The members of the committee were as follows : Felix Gariepy, President of the St. Jean Baptiste Society ; Henri Pouliot, President of L'Institut Canadien ; Adelard Arch- ambeault, Esq., President of Cercle National Dramatique ; Louis Joseph Grenier, President of the League of the Sacred Heart ; Mrs. P. C. Cote, President of the Ladies of St. Ann Sodality, and Miss Rose Anna Lussier, President of the Children of Mary Sodality.
On Thursday, November 28, Thanksgiving Day, and the last day of the fète, there was a procession in the early morning, which was taken part in by Garde Richelieu, Cap- tain Paul St. Jacques, commanding ; St. Jean Baptiste So- ciety, Felix Gariepy, president ; L'Institut Canadien, Henri Pouliot, president ; Cercle National Dramatique, Adelard Archambeault, president.
Rev. Father Dauray was the celebrant of a Solemn High Mass in the Church with Rev. Charles Gaboury, Dea- con, Rev. P. McLoughlin of St. John's Church, Slatersville, Sub-Deacon and Rev. Hormidas Deslauriers and Rev. Joseph Lavallee Masters of Ceremonies.
It may be said of Rev. Father Dauray that with his advent here began the marked progress and prosperity of the French-Canadian people, until they lead in about every avocation, and as the owners of their own homes are unsur- passed. Father Dauray has been ever true to his people. He has kept up the gentlemanly dignity and bearing of a
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priest, and has always been true in his love as the pastor of his people. Under his influence and guidance they have prospered and are prospering. He is the true cure, the word implying care or fatigue, a word which is well applied to him, as he has never shrunk from either. Again he is hospitable, charitable and kind, characteristics which must be admired and applauded. His people will show their ap- preciation of him on the day of his silver jubilee for his twenty years of earnest labor in their midst, by substantial tokens of esteem.
These people believe in organization. They have a number of flourishing societies in this city, prominent among them might be mentioned the St. Jean Baptiste So- ciety, one of the oldest if not the oldest French-Canadian organization in Woonsocket. In fact, the history of this Society is the history of the French people in Woonsocket. From its institution, over a quarter of a century ago, the members of this Society have been and are among the most prosperous and progressive in the town and city of Woon- socket. The name St. Jean Baptiste, adopted by the So- ciety, is dear to every French-Canadian. With it is asso- ciated the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God. It recalls the his- tory of St. John preaching in the wilderness as the pioneer of Christ. It recalls the gospel truth of Christ's baptism by St. John in the Jordan, when a voice from Heaven ex- claimed, " This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The people forming this Society and adopting this name were the pioneers of the French-Canadians in this section. They came with love of country, love of their religion and love of God, and at the same time true to the land of their adoption, and that they have prospered with such guidance and such characteristics is amply proved in about every occupation which they have entered. As mer- chants, manufacturers, professional men, contractors and
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builders, workers in the metals or in the labor of the farm they have always been successful. The hundreds of homes they have built have contributd to the prosperity and growth of our city. In the building up of temples in which to worship God they have also shown zeal, energy and per- severance. The Cross of the pioneer on the banks of the St. Lawrence has been changed to the stately Church edi- fice on the banks of the Blackstone, with still the Cross at the highest pinnacle.
St. Ann's Church and Convent.
The Parish of St. Ann.
CHAPTER XVII.
PARISH OF ST. ANN-FATHER LECLERC-BRIEF SKETCH OF AN EARNEST WORKER FOR THE CHURCH-UNPRECEDENTED SUC- CESS-THE NEW GYMNASIUM BUILDING.
In 1890 there arrived in Woonsocket a young priest who brought with him credentials from Right Rev. Bishop Harkins to build up a parish within certain lines laid down. The young priest was Rev. Napoleon Leclerc, come to min- ister to the spiritual wants of a portion of the French Catholic population, set off from the older parish of the Church of the Precious Blood. He arrived here full of ardor and enthusiam, these being backed up with business tact and unfailing energy, a Napoleon in more than mere appellation.
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