St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-12-31
REDEDICATION
Special Services at NOtre Dame Next
Tuesday-BishOp Rice May
Attend

Notre Dame church is to be Off
cialIy rededicated next Tuesday, Jan.
6. Bishop J. J. Rice, ID. D., of Bur-
lington is expected, although he may
be detained. There will be three ser
vices. communion at 7.30 a. M, high
mass at 1890 with deacon and sub
deacon, and the benediction at 7.30
D. m. There will be special musical
services under the direction of DR..
John Drouin. The sermon at 1880
will be given by the very Rev. E.
Selmon. At this time a mixed choir
of 80 voices will render the follow
ing selections:
Kyrie, Fauconier
Gloria, Fauconier
Credo, Mercadante
Offertory, "Regnum Terrae," Curto
Sanctus, Fauconier
Angus Del, Fauconier
The boys choir will render the
Gregorian chant during the services.
At the Benediction the music will
consist of:
20 Salutaris, Duet, Curto
"Regnum Terrae," Choir, Curto
"Pater Noster," Boy Choir
"Cor Jesu," Gregorian
''Tanrum Ergo Riga
''Te Deum,' Gregorian Chant
The members and friends of the
congregation are invited to be pres
ent at these services Should the
Bishop be able to be present. the or
der of services will be a little diff
ferent Should he be here there
will be Pontifical Eigh Mass, a SER
vice very seldom used outside of a
cathedral
History of The Church
1t was just 25 years ago, January
g., that the first mass was sung in
the present church building. At
that time Father J. A. Boissonnault
was presiding priest and Bishop
Louis de Goesbriand was present.
Before 1853 St. Johnsbury re-
ceived only occasional visits from
Catholic missionaries from Boston
and Canada. The first of these mis-
sionary priests was Rev. FIR. Drolet
of Montpelier, who came here once
in a while and held mass in a hall
no longer standing. His successor
was Rev. FIR. Maloney, under whose
direction the ground was purchased
for the old church building. The
deed was dated, Feb. 27, 1856. 1t
was left for Rev FIR. OReilly to sup
erintend the laying of the foundation
for this building. In July of 1858
Rev. F. S. Danielson, the first resi-
dent parish priest, came to st. Johns
bury. During his ministry the
a rectory was built above the Catho-
lie cemetery in Summerville.
On July 29. 1874, Rev. j. A.
IlniCcnnno111f tnnly IN d1Tfinc
here, where he served so faithfully
until his death. 1t was through his
efforts that the old church building
was repaired. Two years later a
new cemetery was bought. A chime
of three bells was consecrated July
4 of that year. 1t was the first |
church in the state to have so large
a chime. IN 1878 a residence for !
the nuns was purchased on Cherry |
street, and the supervision of the |
Convent given over to the reverend !
Sisters of Notre Dame in Montreal. |
This building was soon found to be
too small for their use and in 1882 |
the ground for the present Con- |
vent was purchased and the foun-
dations laid the next year. The |
priests residence was purchased in |
1884.
AT the time OF the QeQlcallOn OIL
the present church bilding in 1888 |
there were 220 families in the parish /
while at present there are about 450 |
families in the town and $50 more |
N the surrounding missions. This I
means that there are at least 210O /
persons altogether.
Father e. G. Drouhin, the /
present parish priest, is assist
I'd by Father J. A. Dame and Faith /
er d. Carrieres.
The church which has been so
remodelled is one of the
most magnificent church edifices in
the state. 1t is a remarkable fact
that the entire debt for all these
changes was paid at the completion
Of the edifice. Over $4,000 was
raised by private contribution, old
and young, rich and poor alike do
ing their part in a most generous
to defray these expenses.
Much credit is due Father Drouhin /
for having accomplished so much /
during the few years that he has /
been here. He is surely carrying on /
the splendid work that Father Bois-
began, in a most worthy |
manner.