taken May 2018

St Adrien Cemetery Cross
May 2018

In 1851, the population of Ireland and Scotland, of which only 206 were of French-Canadian origin.
In 1870, demands began to be more pressing for the part of Catholics for the formation of a chapel. Until that date, in fact, the religious service was given at St. Ferdinand where the majority of the people had to go, since the other nearest parish was Leeds. The priest in function at St Ferdinand was the Father Julien Melchoir Bernier.
The Bishop then delegated the Abbot Ant. Root to come to inquire on the spot if it is necessary to implant, yes or no, a new parish. On August 10th, 1871, he makes the following report: "A new parish is being formed in the ranks V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI of the township Ireland, and it will be served by the cure of St Ferdinand during a few years, its territory already contains 63 Canadian families and includes 196 lots, most of them very fertile. It is urgent to mark the place of a church in order to attract the emigration of this side and not to allow to invade the Protestant territory.”
On November 23, 1871, Msgr. Elzear-Alexander Taschereau communicates to the Abbot J. Bernier, the decree authorizing the construction of a chapel in the Canton of Ireland. In April 1872, the plan will be approved for the chapel but for some unknown reason the project would not have materialized.
It is in November 1871 that Mgr. Elzear-Alexandre Taschereau authorizes the celebration of masses in particular houses of respectable people. The first Mass was celebrated in St Adrien during the last weeks of 1871.
It would seem that it was in the house which also served as a school in the ninth range and property of Mr. Prosper Rousseau. This site is now owned by Mr. Benoit Cote. In 1872, a generous offer was made to the St Adrien Mission: Mr. Lysander Flagg, residing in Central Falls, Rhode Island, agreed to donate a 200-acre lot, the northeastern portion of lot 8 in the 7th range at the price of $ 1.00 on the express condition of building a church and the said land being used for worship purposes.
In the absence of a chapel, the celebration of masses in particular houses is authorized. The first mass in the parish was celebrated at the end of 1871.
In the September 1874 report of the priest J. M. Bernier , it reads: a small house of 18 feet by 22 feet, residence of the first settler, was converted into a temporary chapel. As it could not meet the needs of the population, we made an addition of 22 feet, all round wood: it is not a jewel but at least we are at home, we are no longer in the obligation to celebrate the Saints Mysteries in private homes.
Father Joseph Alphonse d'Auteuil, ordained priest in 1876, was appointed vicar at St. Ferdinand. He will soon start taking care of the new St-Adrien mission. In the summer of 1877, the cure of St. Ferdinand and his vicar provide religious service on average once a month. The Catholic population of the mission is 872 souls.
In 1877-1878, steps were taken as to the place of worship. It is specified that as the parish is expanding, the chapel is far too small to contain the ever-increasing population. On December 23, 1877, a convocation was made to receive the opinion of the parishioners. On January 17, 1878, an assembly brings together many parishioners and on January 25, Bishop Taschereau gives his approval for the project of building a church to be realized.
The construction of the church began in 1878 and ended in 1879.
Saturday, July 5, 1879: A great day for all the parish who is in party, and with reason! All are happy to welcome the bishop of the diocese, Bishop Elzear-Alexander Tashereau who comes to make his pastoral visit. Also joy is the confirmation of one hundred children and blessing of the new church.
September 9, 1879: The abbot J. Alphonse d'Auteuil is named cure. It is in this year that the first baptism, the first marriage, the first burial took place. The construction of a presbytery was almost complete by the end of 1879.
1886: Departure of the abbot Alphonse d'Auteuil who leaves us for the new parish St Alphonse de Thetford whom he knew since he had been serving.
1900: Major repairs to the church: roundabout, sacristy, interior of the church, construction of the bell tower.
1906: Construction of a presbytery. It will be located next to the church.
1906: Improvement of the current cemetery. A first cemetery was located between the church and the present street and a second cemetery near the place where the presbytery of 1920 will be built.
1917-1918: Work on the church by the construction of church galleries, the exterior is paneled with asbestos shingles.
1920: Following the fire of October 1919, construction of a new presbytery, this time about 60 feet lower than the previous one.
June 10, 1923: Ordination of the abbot Alphonse Guerard first child of the parish to become a priest.
1930: Canonical erection of the parish of St-Jean-de-Brebeuf. This results in the detachment of several families from our parish.
1942: The old school of the village is moved in front of the church. It will be transformed and enlarged to serve as a parish hall.
September 14, 1958: Official blessing of the newly built Marian Cave. A great event for our parish attended by a large crowd of 8,000 people.
1959: Start of the annual sugar festival for raising money for the factory.
1969: Departure of the nuns. The cure says that the parish has a debt of gratitude to the Community of the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis.
August 8, 1976: The parish is happy to welcome its new cure, the abbe Jean-Roch Morin. This will be his first resident priest. In the summer of 1977, this pastor was entrusted with the care of the parishes of St Adrien of Ireland, St John Baptist Vianney and St Ferdinand; it is at this last place that his place of residence will be. The presbytery will go on sale a few years later.
1979: Celebration from June 22nd to July 1st Centennial Celebrations of St Adrien Parish of Ireland. A souvenir book has been made, the organizing committee can congratulate itself on a very great success.