Ottawa Journal/May 16, 1922/Financial Obligations Settled, St. Patrick's Parish Celebrates
Financial Obligations Settled, St. Patrick's Parish Celebrates
STORY OF CHURCH, FREE OF DEBT, RECALLS THE WORK OF PIOUS MEN WHO LABORED FOR ITS UPBUILDING
Emancipation Day at St. Patrick's Church
Parishioners of St. Patrick's Parish Church this morning attended a solemn requiem mass offered for the deceased priests of the parish, benefactors and members of the parish, who fell in the Great War. The corer stone of the edifice was blessed by Bishop Guigues, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Ottawa, on October 6, 1872. The church was dedicated under the title of St. Patrick, by the then Bishop, and subsequently Archbishop J. T. Duhamel, on March 14, 1875. Father M. J. Whelan, the present pastor, has been in charge of the parish since February, 1881.
A Record of Service and Growth From a Modest Beginning—Rev. Father M. J. Whelan's Career.
Names of Men Revered in Catholic Church Figure in History of its Affairs—Assistant Priests.
"From all these encumbrances the parish is now happily delivered and may thankfully and joyously celebrate Emancipation Day."
THE recent pastoral announcement of Rev. Father Matthew J. Whelan that St. Patrick's Parish was ow free from debt and no longer encumbered, marked in a material sense the culminating achievement in a parish which has during its nearly three-quarters of a century of existence, written a luminous chapter in the history of the Diocese of Ottawa. The attainment of the milestone, the cherished objective of every pastor and congregation, is not passing unremembered or unobserved today, "Emancipation Day," by Father Whelan and his parishioners.
This morning the congregation assembled in St. Patrick's Church and attended a solemn requiem mass offered for the deceased priests of the parish, the benefactors and the men from the parish who fell in the great war. It was a kindly thought, this spiritual tribute to the memory of those worthy priests and parishioners who had all played a part in the upbuilding of the parish, but who were called to the Great Beyond before the advent of this memorable day.
Second Oldest Parish.
St. Patrick's Parish is the second oldest parish in the Diocese of Ottawa. Its foundation dates back to Bytown and pre-Confederation days. The parish was founded in 1853, following a division of the original Cathedral Parish of Bytown, and was originally known as the "Parish of Upper Town," and for a time bore the name of St. Andrew. Its history resembles closely that of all parishes of pioneer days. The parish faced crises and traversed many difficulties. The splendid sacrificial devotion of pastors and parishioners compensated for pecuniary embarrassments and eventually hurdled all obstacles.
When the present pastor, Rev. Father Whelan, took charge of the parish in February, 1881, following the death of the Rt. Rev. J. L. O'Connor, D.D., Vicar-General of Ottawa Diocese, a most estimable clergyman, whose memory is still held in sacred reverence, the parish was under the burden of a $30,000 mortgage incurred nine years previous at the time the construction of the church was undertaken. There was urgent need for a prist's residence, while the church edifice was incomplete, lacking a chancel and sacristy. To provide for the erection of a priest's house, a loan of $3,100 was negotiated om a personal note. In 1894, the decision to add a chancel and sacristy for the church was reached, and a further mortgage liability of $10,000 was assumed. A few years later, in 1899, further substantial improvements were made to the church by the construction of transepts and acolytes' vestry. This undertaking necessitated the borrowing of $35,000.
Church Has $15,000 Pipe Organ.
While these were the main expenditures for structural outlays, several additional outlays, which all contributed to embellish the church, were made under Father Whelan's direction. A pipe organ, installed in 1888, and subsequently enlarged, cost $15,000. Beautifully stained memorial windows, the gifts of individuals and societies, which cost approximately $11,000, added to the aesthetic appearance of the church interior. Statuary was purchased, and three fine altars costing in all $20,000 were erected. The high altar was the gift of William Mackey, one of the best known lumbermen of the Ottawa Valley in his day. The altar of the Sacred Heart was the gift of the late Denis Murphy, a public-spirited and much beloved citizen of the Capital. The altar of Our Lady was the gift of the ladies of the parish. The heating plant of the church was twice renewed at a total cost of $12,000, and the enlargement of the rectory required an outlay of $8,000. The church property comprises 12 lots which cost $5,400, and the cost of construction of the church at the time Father Whalen took charge of the parish was $35,000.
Hall Paid for Promptly
Notwithstanding the heavy outlays involved in these various undertakings, interest charges were met with punctuality and the mortgage on the church property appreciably reduced every year. In 1912 an addition was made to the church property in the erection of a splendid modern semi-fire-proof parish hall. A sum of $30,000 was borrowed for the construction of the hall, which cost $46,800 whe completed in 1914. The building, one of the finest parochial halls in the city, is situated on Gloucester street at the rear of the church. The payment of the cost of the hall in less than 10 years is one incident in the progressive and business-like administration which has marked the affairs of St. Patrick's Church since Father Whelan took charge in 1881. The actual cost of the whole parish property is estimated at $200,800. According to present-day valuations of land and cost of construction the property, as it now stands, is believed to be worth in the neighbourhood of half a million dollars. Since January 1, 1881, a total sum of $69,885.15 has been paid in interest charges, and mortgages amounting to $108,100 wiped out.
Felt No Pressure.
Payments on church improvements, interest charges and mortgages have been derived from the regular parish revenues. In his 41-year tenure as parish priest, Father Whelan never made a single levy of funds among his parishioners. His announcement that the parish property was no longer encumbered came as an agreeable surprise to the parishioners. The wiping out of the last mortgage was a fitting culmination to years of zealous labors performed quietly and unostentatiously.
St. Patrick's Church contains many mementos closely associated with the history of the parish. Among these mementos, the most remarkable is a beautiful memorial painting dedicated to the memory of the 60 young men of the parish who made the supreme sacrifice in the great war. The memorial canvas replaces the parish service flag with its 600 stars. With master touch, the artist, Mr. Frederick A. Precht, of New York, has caught the spirit of the dying Christian soldier. He has portrayed a shell-torn battlefield—a dying soldier reclining at the foot of a wayside crucifix, feebly striking his breast as he faintly murmurs his last "Confiteor"—a vision of smiling angels with arms extended to convoy him to the safe haven of the blessed, his face radiant with "the peace of God which surpasseth all understanding"—angels hymn the Benediction, "O you that of your own will gave yourselves to danger, bless the Lord!"
Parishioners Who Fell.
Under the painting, which is hung near the communion railing on the Gospel side of the church, are inscribed the names of the following young men who died on active service: Patrick Belanger, Joh E. Brophy, Frank Burke, Jas. J. Campbell, Edward M. Cashman, Lawrence Cleary, Francis L. Connelly, Edmund Corridon, John E. Cregan, Louis A. Currier, Gilbert Daze, Duncan L. Dewar, Albert J. Dixon, Fred D'Ornellas, Edward Dubroy, Thos. Finnessy, James Fox, John Gagne, Wilfred L. Gareau, Thomas Gibbos, Leo Goodwin, Charles Guertin, John J. Hallinan, George O. Harkin, Frank W. Harris, Walter J. Hayes, Frank W. Harris, Walter J. Hayes, Frank S. Higgerty, Percy J. Highley, John V. Jealous, Edward Johnson, Gerald King, Joseph Larocque, Charles L. McBride, Terrence J. McCaffrey, James McGuire, John F. Maloney, Oscar J. Martell, Leonard Moran, Joseph A. Morgan, James Morne, Denis J. Murdock, Martin Murphy, Basil Myers, Frank Nash, Randall J. O'Connor, Frank O'Meara, Michael O'Meara, Clifford J. O'Neil, George Orr, Arthur J. Renaud, Harry P. Rogers, Edwin F. Saders, William Saunders, John Albert Sheppard, Wilfred Smith, Frederick Smith, Lawrence Smith, Stanley Spencer, Nelson C. Taylor, William P. Young. A photographic copy of the painting is to be given by Father Whelan to the nearest of kin of those whom the memorial commemorates.
Another notable memento is the bronze tablet placed in the church by the officer commanding, officers, N.C.O.'s, and men of the 77th Battalion who worshipped in the church while training in Ottawa. The tablet bears the inscription: "This tablet s placed hereby by Lieut-Col. D. R. Street, the officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the 77th Overseas Batallion who attended here, to record their appreciation of the privilege of worshipping God in this church for seven months while training for overseas service. June 11, 1916."
To Memory of Pastors.
Additional mementos are a bronze tablet to the memory of the Very Rev. A. McD. Dawson, LL.D., first pastor of St. Patrick's, from 1855 to 1861, and one of the most noted church orators of his day; a marble tablet to the memory of the Very Rev. J. L. O'Connor, D.D., V. G., fourth pastor of St. Patrick's, 1877 to 1881, and memorial stained windows to the Rev. J. J. Collins, third pastor of St. Patrick's, 1861 to 1866.
It is a rather remarkable coincidence that Father Whelan was born in 1853, the same year as the foundation of the original St. Patrick's Patish. He was the son of Laurence Whelan and Annie Fitzpatrick, both natives of County Wexford, Ireland, who came to Canada and settled in Ottawa in 1847. The house in which Father Whelan was born, was situated on the south side of Laurier avenue, west of Bay street, at the foot of what was then known as Lewis Hill. He was the only son in a family of three children. One sister, Sister Mary, a member of the Grey Nuns of the Cross, has been dead for some years. The other sister is Miss Sarah Whelan. Father Whelan received his primary education at a school taught by Robert and John O'Reilly. The school was situated on Church street (now Guigues avenue) between Dalhousie and Cumberland streets.
Father Whelan Ordained in 1875.
Father Whelan took his classical studies at the old St. Joseph's College, which subsequently was known as Ottawa College and latterly as the University of Ottawa. St. Joseph's College had not yet begun to exercise the degree conferring powers authorized in its charter. Father Whelan studied theology at Ottawa Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Duhamel, at the Cathedral on October 31, 1875. He was immediately appointed curate to St. Patrick's parish as assistant to Father J. J. Collins. Father Whelan served as curate under both Father Collins and the Very Rev. J. L. O'Connor, succeeding the latter as parish priest in February 1881.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Father Whelan has always taken a keen interest in educational matters. He served for a number of years on the Ottawa Separate School Board and was chairman for two terms. The old St. Patrick School on Nepean street, which was built in 1877, was the first school erected in Ottawa by the Separate School Board. In connection with church work, Father Whelan inaugurated the parish calendar in May, 1894. It is a monthly publication containing a digest of the church and parish activities. The calendar has been published without interruption during the past 29 years.
Parish Covered Wide Area.
When Father Whelan came to St. Patrick's Parish as its pastor in 1881, the boundaries of the parish extended from the Ottawa river, the west side of the Rideau Canal, south to the Rideau river as far as March township, and Black Rapids. The parish was bounded to the south by the old parish of Richmond. During his cure, Father Whelan has witnessed the foundation of St. Mary's, St. Francois d'Assise, Blessed Sacrament, St. Gerard Majella and St. Anthony of Padua parishes, formed as a result of the dismemberment of the original St. Patrick's parish. The present territory of St. Patrick's parish takes in the whole of Central and Wellington Wards, and the sections of Dalhousie and Victoria east of Booth street. According to the last parish census, that of 1921, there were 1,215 families, 5,785 pupils attending the Separate Schools in the parish, and 5,160 communicants.
An Interesting History.
The circumstances attending the formation of the original St. Patrick's Parish, the subsequent alienation of lands, dismemberment of the parish and racial segregations, unfold one of the most interesting chapters in the whole history of the Metropolitan Province of Ottawa. In 1853, the original (Cathedral) Parish of Bytown was divided, and the name "Parish of Upper Town" given to that section of the municipality situated west of the Rideau Canal, and in addition such parts of the Township of Nepean not included in the old Parish of Richmond, and the whole Township of March. The new parish was at first served from the Bishop's House, and the congregation worshipped in an "upper room"—the loft of a warehouse on the north side of Sparks street, just two lots west of Bay street, near Landreville's garage.
Two years later a small Methodist chapel on Sparks street—where now stands Parker's Dye Works, between Bank and Kent streets—was purchased and enlarged, and was dedicated by Bishop Guigues under the title of St. Andrew. A resident pastor was appointed in the person of the Rev. A. McD. Dawson. Father Dawson retired in 1861, and Rev. James McGrath, O.M.I., became administrator with residence in the old St. Joseph's College. During his term of office, the land was purchased on which the Parish Church was subsequently built. It was at this time also that the cure of the Township of March reverted to the clergy of the Cathedral parish.
Corner Stone In 1872.
In 1866, Rev. John J. Collins became resident pastor. The corner stone of the new church was blessed on October 5, 1872, be Bishop Guigues. Owing to financial difficulties, building operations were twice suspended and the edifice was not available for the purposes of the cult until March 14, 1875, when it was dedicated under the title of St. Patrick, by the then bishop and subsequently Archbishop Duhamel, the second Bishop of Ottawa.
Father Collins was succeeded in November, 1877, by the Rev. John L. O'Connor, D.D., who was appointed Vicar-General of Ottawa Diocese in 1878. He died suddenly in the early morning of January 19, 1881, deeply regretted by all classes in the community among whom he was highly esteemed.
In 1885, a parcel of land with a frontage of 66 feet on Nepean street, was donated to the Ottawa Separate School Board, and the building known as the "Catholic Lyceum" erected thereon. In 1908, a corresponding lot fronting on Gloucester street was sold, and the proceeds held in trust by the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation for the purposes of the then proposed parish of the Blessed Sacrament. A portion of another lot with a 22 foot frontage on Nepean street was also sold to the School Board, as required for the enlargement of the Lyceum.
Splitting Up the Parish.
At Father Whelan's urgent solicitation, Archbishop Duhamel divided the parish in 1890, transferring all the district west of Booth street to the new floundering Parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel, popularly designated as St. Mary's Church of Bayswater. Another division, sanctioned by Archbishop Duhamel but only accomplished by his successor, Archbishop Gauthier, surrendered a large area southward to the Parish of the Blessed Sacrament in 1912.
The "Parish of Upper Town" as its appellation would indicate, had territorial jurisdiction embracing all Catholics dwelling within its limits, irrespective of racial of language conditions. Such conditions, however, owing to a rapidly increasing population, were so plainly evidenced in 1872 that a segregation of the French-speaking element took place and the parish of St. Jean Baptiste was created. For similar reasons the Parish of St. Francois was formed in 1890, and later that of St. Gerard Majella. There is yet another parish, that of St. Anthony of Padua, for the Italian colony.
The grain of mustard seed, sown without ostentation in 1853, has grown up and become a tree, and many thousands now dwell in the branches thereof.
The assistant priests in St. Patrick's Parish have been: During Father John J. Collins' pastorate, 1866–1877, Rev. Fathers W. H. Sheehy (deceased), E. J. Stenson (deceased), J. MacGinnis (deceased), Father M. J. Whelan, 1875. During the pastorate of the Very Rev. J. L. O'Connor, D.D., V.G., 1877–1881, Rev. Fathers M. J. Whelan and B. Casey. During Father Whelan's pastorate, Rev. Fathers B. Casey (deceased), T. J. Cole (deceased), C. Poulin, parish priest of Clarence Creek; W. McKinnon (deceased), J. T. Foley, editor of the Catholic Record; W. T. McCauley, parish priest of Fallowfield; J. T. McNally, Bishop of Calgary; T. P. Fay, parish priest of Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Mary's, Bayswater; A. Newman, rector of the Cathedral of Regina; J. J. Burke, parish priest of Fitzroy Harbor, and G. Gorman, parish priest of Osgoode. The present assistant priests in St. Patrick's Parish are Fathers A. E. Armstrong and J. R. Smith.