Saint Mary's Williamstown ON

Saint Mary's welcomes Christians and those who seek to connect to Christianity in the Williamstown area.

We aim to make contact with and encourage others to join us in our life-changing Christian journey.

We are a friendly Christian community where we welcome others to join us in our worship and service to God.

Our vision is to make an impact for God, here in Williamstown, Ontario by helping people understand the enriching messages of eternal hope given to us by Jesus Christ through His words and deeds.

Everyone is welcome, no matter your age, beliefs, or background. Come just as you are - we'd love to get to know you better.

 

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ST. MARY'S PARISH

FOUNDED IN 1847

ST. MARYS PASTORS 1. Rev. Francis McDonagh 1854-1858 2. Rev. Isaac J. McCarthy 1858-1875 & 1886 - 1892 3. Rev. Charles Gauthier 1875-1886 4. Rev. John Twoomy (Dean) 1892-1914 5. Rev. Albert McRae 1914-1922 6. Rev Ranald McDonald 1922-1928 7. Rev. A. L. MacDonald 1928-1958 8. Rev. Donald B. MacDougald 1958-1968 9. Rev. Bernard A. Cameron 1968-1979 10. Rev. Michael O'Brien 1979-1982 11. Rev. Charles MacDonald 1982-1988 12. Rev. Thomas Villeneuve 1988 –2001 13. Rev.Robert J. MacDonald 2001 - 2015 14. Rev. Louis Groetelaars 2015 -

According to the original minutes, dated June 14, 1845, a Committee was appointed to over-see the erection of a Catholic Church in Williamstown. The present stone church, 85 X 52, was commenced in 1847 under the supervision of the late Rev. George Hay.

The church was to be 26 feet above base and of Gothic style with bay doors and windows. The quarry stone was from the farm of Duncan Murchison, and the man in charge was William Jamieson. Construction was completed in 1849. The slab over the door bears the date, 1849, with the inscriptionP.O.M.

The Land for the church Presbytery and Cemetery (four acres) was generously donated by the late Hugh McGillis a retired member of the North West Fur Trading Company.

A tablet in the Church over his grave reads: "An Eminent Benefactor to this Church."

At his own expense Hugh McGillis built St. Mary's for the people of Williamstown and surrounding territory at the time of Bishop Macdonell.

St. Mary's Church, as we know it today, was a mission until October 16, 1854 when it was separated from St. Raphael's. The first entry in the Parish register is dated October 29, 1854. Prior to the founding of St. Mary's Parish a Mr. John McDonald attended Seminary at St. Raphael's and Montreal, and was ordained a priest in 1829. His family still owns the farm where he grew up (a mile or so from the present day St. Mary's Church), and they received the bicentennial Plaque in 1983 for continuous operation of a farm for two hundred years.

Fr. John McDonald(1790 - 1845) Attended Seminary at St. Raphael's and Montreal and Ordained in 1829. He was the assistant Pastor of St. Raphael's and the first Pastor of St. Finnan's Cathedral. He died at the age of 55. A Bicentennial Plaque was presented to his family in 1983 for continuous operation of a family farm.

The first priest lived in private lodging until the Presbytery, a small but very comfortable brick cottage, was erected at a Cost Of $2,000.00.

The Main Altar was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay of the Gore.

The beautiful statue of the Immaculate Conception that now stands over the main altar was donated by the Parishioners, and was blessed on December 8, 1858.

The Blessed Virgin side altar was donated by Mrs. Helen MacDonell, wife of George MacDonell (Athol).

The St. Joseph side altar was the gift of Duncan MacDonald (Blacksmith) from Martintown.

The Stations of the Cross which are oil paintings, were purchased by Rev. Father McCarthy in Paris, France, when he was on a trip to Rome and they were erected and blessed by Bishop Horan of Kingston in February 1872.

The Bell a gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay was consecrated, the same day as the cemetery in 1849.

The Holy water font at the back of the church was given in 1855 by Donald MacDonald (Gore).

In 1916 the church was completely renovated and re-decorated by the New York firm of Panzerommi Bros. Canvasses representing Religious Mysteries were painted in their New York studios and applied to the vaulted ceilings which give the church a touch of the artist.

In the sanctuary are two beautiful stained glass windows. On the east side, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in memory of the late (Angus MacIan Dhu) MacDonald. On the west side is portrayed the sacrifice of the Canadian Martyrs in memory of the late John Chisholm.

Williamstown can claim to have the first stained glass windows commemorating our Canadian Martyrs, Father Breboeuf and Father Lalemont, who were killed by Indians and a shrine was erected in their honour in Midland, Ontario.

The Chimes were installed, a donation from Mr. and Mrs. Louis Latreille helped finance this undertaking.

The Parish Hall between the house and the Vestry was built in 1969.

Following Vatican 11, many churches had their altars removed. St. Mary's retained their altars, and the Holy table, on which Holy sacrifice of the Mass was offered for 125 years was moved a few feet from the main altar where Mass is now offered.

On September 1, 1865, the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame from Montreal opened their Day and Boarding School, and in 1887 it was the most successful academy in the Diocese of Kingston. In July, 1892, the convent was burned to the ground.

On July 10 1867, The Right Rev. E. J. Horan, Bishop of Kingston, conferred upon Rev. Walter Barett, Deacon, the Sacred Order of the Priesthood.

On December 14, 1868 took place the funeral of Rev. Walter Barrett, aged 34 years. His remains are interred beneath the floor in the Sanctuary on the gospel side of the altar.

St. Alice school was erected in 1957, and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Ottawa were in charge until it closed in 1973. The building was acquired from the school board and is now used as a Community Centre.

St. Williams Parish in Martintown was a mission of St. Mary's until 1949 when it became a parish.

EXTRACTS FROM PARISH REGISTER

"On June 17, 1863 was made for the first time in the Parish of Williamstown the public procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The canopy was carried by six gentlemen from the parish, and twelve little girls in white strewed the way with flowers."

"On September 8, 1862, the devotion of the "Forty Hours" Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament was established in the Mission of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Williamstown. This is the first Mission in the Diocese of Kingston where this devotion has taken place. At the event 853 persons approached the tribunal of Penance and received Holy Communion, 83 persons were confirmed, most of whom were adults."

"The Sisters of Charity from Kingston made their first collection here in the winter of 1869 realizing about $300.00 "That same winter a "Tridium" was held in Lent by order of His Lordship the Bishop."

"Up until 1907 the church was heated by large box stoves placed in the centre aisle of the church. A gift from a parishioner enabled them to put in a wood furnace, the coils being placed at the back and front of the church.

During Rev. Albert MacRae's tenure as pastor, an altar society was formed by the ladies of the parish. Their duty at that time was to look after the needs of the altar, and assist in all spiritual and charitable work. When Rev. Alex L. MacDonald was pastor the altar society was re-organized and became St. Mary's Ladies Guild which continues to serve the parish.

In 2004 the side walks and the main steps were replaced, and modern drainage was installed to protect the buildings etc. from run-off water. A ramp was built for the physically challenge in 2006.

ST. WILLIAM'S PARISH

St. William's Parish, MartintownFounded in 1949, and established as a mission parish in 1882. Mass is celebrated at 9:00am on Sunday.

A Mission Parish in McMartin Mills

In 1882, in order to serve the increasing number of Catholics of McMartin Mills ( now known as Martintown), Bishop Cleary of Kingston gave permission for a chapel to be built. The land was purchasd from John Grant, the building was erected and the first Mass was celebrated that same year. (we need a picture of the chapel,if anyone has one)

Pastors from St. Mary's Parish in Williamstown served the Mission Parish until 1949 when a new church was built during the time of Fr. Alex Father Alex MacDonald, pastor of the mission and of St. Mary's in Williamstown. Fr. Alex served for 22 consecutive years, until the arrival of Fr. Aimé Leduc, the first pastor of St. William's.

On August 21st, 1949 Bishop Rosario Brodeur celebrated Mass at the Chapel in Martintown. He had wonderful news on that day for the Catholics of Martintown. He announced that a new parish had been founded, and that it was to be called, St. William's. A Pastor, was also named on this momentous date: Fr. Aimé Leduc.

Fr. Leduc - First Pastor of St. William's Parish - Arrived Sept. 1, 1949

Here is a page from Fr. Leduc's Journal on his first day at the Parish.

Since there were no living quarters for a priest in Martintown, Fr. Leduc lived with Mr. & Mrs. James Lagroix until the rectory was built.

Construction of the Church

After considerable difficulty in acquiring a suitable site for a new Church, land was purchased from Robert McLeod. The cornerstone of the new Church built by Avila Cueillier from St. Telesphore, Quebec, was blessed by Bishop R. Brodeur on September 30, 1951, although the interior of the Church was not finished. The first mass in the new Church was celebrated on Christmas 1951. Bishop Brodeur blessed it that Christmas with Fr. Aimé Leduc, and Fr. Alex McDonald at his side.

(From the Journal of Fr. Leduc)

Sacred Heart School, a two room school with an enrolment of 68 children was opened in 1950, just prior to the opening and blessing of the New Parish Church of St. William's. After contacting several religious orders, Father Leduc was eventually successful in acquiring Les Souers du Sacré-Coeur to serve at the school. They sent Sisters to Martintown to teach at the school in Septemeber 1951.

(Newspaper artcile found in the Journal kept by the first pastor, Fr. Leduc, during his years at St. William's Parish)

Pastors of St. William's Parish

First Pastor 1949-1954 Rev. Aimé Leduc

Pastors from 1954 - 2001 2- 1954-1962 Rev. Henri Ouimet 3- 1962-1966 Rev. Emilien Houde 4- 1966-1968 Rev. Gordon Villeneuve 5- 1968-1972 Rev. Lucien Lussier 5- 1972 Rev. Gordon Villeneuve 6- 1972-1974 Rev. Lionel Cloutier 7- 1974-1977 Rev. Rhéal Bisaillon 8- 1977-1984 Rev. Laurier Rivet 9- 1984-1987 Rev. Gilles Ayotte 10- 1987-1988 Rev. Raymond Dumoulin* 11- 1988-2001 Rev. Thomas Villeneuve 2001- Present - Rev. Bob MacDonald*Father Raymond Dumoulin was the last resident pastor of St. William's.

In 1988, Bishop Eugene LaRocque returned St. William's to St. Mary's, as a mission parish. This had been its original designation in 1882. The shortage of priests was beginning to make itself known. Since then there have been similar changes across the Diocese, and the Canadian Church.

Faith, simplicity, enthusiasm and dedication continue to make St. William's a unique and welcoming parish community,