St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-08-31
WELCOMET0 PRIEST.
Several Thousand People Gather to
Greet the New Pastor at Notre
Dame Church.

Notre Dame parish welcomed their
new priest, Rev. Eugene C. Drouhin,
of Woodstock to ST. Johnsbury on
Thursday evening with prolonged
ringing of Dells, Examinations and
decorations. The presbytery was gay
with bunting, American, French and
Canadian flags, Japanese lanterns
and the words Welcome" and *Bles-
sed is he that cometh in the name
of the Lord" in French and illumin-
ated. Harmony bano played during
the evening and the Guard Cham
plain and the Guard of Honor were
drawn up in line and presented arms
when Father Drouhin arrived.
Jovite Pinard, one of the oldest
parishioners read a letters from the
church people to Father Drouhin,
expressing their joy that he had come
to minister to them and to console
them for their loss in the death of
Father Boissonnault. The exercises
also included short greeting by
Master Oscar Roy and the presenta-
ton of a bouquet by Miss Germaine
Provost. Father Drouhin responded
to everything in French and also
spoke a few words in English.
II dIAGI VI 1COdAOAs ~. LIZ
Father O'Leary, vice chancellor of the
diocese of Manchester, N. H., and
Father McCooey of Andover, n. H.,
accompanied Father Drouhin to st.
Johnsbury. Fathers Bastien of New
port, Leblanc of Barton and Pont-
brand of Lyndonville also attended
the reception.
Although Father Drouhin is to
retain part of the cares of the
Woodstock parish for few weeks
he has assumed charge of Notre
Dame church. On Sunday at two
O'Clock he met the children of the
parish from infants up to fifteen
years at the church and held a SER
vice for them He addressed the
children, presented them with cards
and souvenirs, and dismissed them
with his blessing.
A special to the Manchester IN.
H. Union, in speaking of the work
says: 1.-The church was completed
and opened to the public at midnight,
December "a, 1904, with but $4,000.
debt on the entire property. In 1905,
the rectory was moved and COM
pletely renovated at cost of over
$4,000, and today the entire property,
valued at $4,000 and entirely free
from debt stands as a monument to
what has been accomplished by the
hard work and untiring efforts of the
Rev. Father Drouhin. The church,
while small, has an air of elegance,
with it's marble altar, imported
statuary and statues of the cross,
beautifully stained glass windows,
magnificent pipe organ and baptistry
chapel, the latter being single gift
from a friend. The organ was largely
the gift of non-Catholics. Among
other good works which Father
Drouhin has done since coming here
was the establishment of a club
room, two years ago, for the young
men of the parish. The rooms,
heated by steam and lighted by cleo
tricity, are open every day and are
self-supporting Father Drouhin's
departure from Woodstock is uni
versally regretted here where he has
made host OF friends among the
Protestants as we'll as his own people.
An assistant will be appointed for
the present, but all the plans for the
! conservation of the church will be
carried out under the direction of
Father Drouhin. The ceremony,
| which is rather unusual in Vernon,
as there are only two other churches
| in the state which have been conse-
| Grated, will be very impressive. Bis
| hop Rice Of Burlington will Officiare
as consecrator and Bishop Guertin
| if Manchester, N. H., will sing the
pontitical mass. Fifty priests from
all parts Of the country are expected
to be present and assist in the SER
vice.