Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-08-27
WOODSTOCK NEWS
Father Drouhin Leaves Wood
stock

~~N
been appointed to the permanen
rectorship of the st. Johnsbur,
parish as a result of the examination
held Wednesday, August IL, at thu
Episcopal residence of st. Mary
Cathedral in Burlington.
Father Drouhin read his resigna
ton at the services last Sunday anc
the sincere regret of his parishioneri
will be shared by the friends he hai
made here outside the church.
Father Drouhin was born in Paris
France, September l3, 1872. He
received his education there and
then came to this country, resumine
his studies at Troy, N. Y. October
l8, 1895, he was ordained for this
diocese by the late Bishop Michaud
Shortly afterward he was made as
sistant to the Rev. E. G. Provost in
the parish of the Holy Angels at st.
Adams, and in 1898 was appointed
rector of the parish in Woodstock.
When Father Drouhin began his
work here there was debt of
$6,400 hanging over the parish.
Besides paying this debt he built a
new stone church when the old one
was destroyed by fire and purchased
new parochial residence. He also
equipped the church with an 5 800
organ. During his rectorship hero
the parish has increased two-fold.
Father Drouhin went to st. Johns
bury Thursday where reception
was given in his honor that evening.
Bishop j. j. Rice has announced
the appointment of the the Rev. j.
j. Cullion to have charge of the
Church of Our Lady of the Shows
until it can be consecrated Septem-
Der 20. 1t is the wish of the bishop,
in token of the work done by Father
Drouhin in the former parish, that
he retain charge of the arrangements
for the conservation, as he had
already begun them, so that Father
Collion will be under his direction.
The st. Johnshury parish has
1900 communicates; there are two
schools, and the St. Johnsbury hos
pital belongs to the parish. Father
Drouhin's appointment is for life,
and he is the youngest of the five
Catholic rectors in Vermont who
have permanent appointments.
A WORD OF FAREWELL
At the fall of the curtain on the
third act of the comedy "Uncle ST."
given by the Holy Name society Of
the Catholic church at Music hall
Wednesday evening, Father Drouhin
stepped on the stage and spoke
few words of farewell, full of affection
for his people and for all his friends
in Woodstock. He came here, he
said. twelve years ago. when he was
25 years of age, full of enthusiasm
for his work and with certain plans
and aims as the appointed head Of
the parish.
The bishop had said to him upon
his appointment here: "a Catholic
priest must be the leader of his
people. If at any time you find
yourself unable to lead them, beg
of you to resign"
Father Drouhin felt that he had
been successful, but that he could
not have accomplished his mission
without the devoted assistance of
the members of his congregation.
In the building of the beautiful new
church and in other work connected
with his rectorship he had their
help, and to his many Catholic
friends he was also greatly indebted.
A visitor in Woodstock had once
said: Your church must have a
large congregation" YES" he
was told, "the congregation is a
large one, and while they are not
all communicates, they are strong in
the Catholic faith"
OF his connection with the Wood
stock Improvement society of which
he was one of the directors, he spoke
with much interest. During a |
trip abroad he learned of his
reelection as director. much to his
as he supposed of course.
that in his absence he would lose
his Office. Father Drouhin said
he was going to send a check for a
life membership in the society and
that he believed this donation from
him would tie him to Woodstock as