Catholic Church, Priest Leaves Mark on Blind River - The Standard, 2006

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History

Wednesday. March 15, 2006

Catholic church, priest leaves mark on Blind River

By Shannon Quesnel Of "The Standard

The Roman Catholic Church has played a big part in Blind River's development.

From the days when missionaries began converting the area's native tribes to Catholicism in the mid-1800's to the time of Father Origene Dufresne's snow machine runs to the logging camps in the 1930's the Roman Catholic Church has helped shaped the community's character.

Serving in rural communities always presented its own challenges in the late 1800's and the early 1900's. There were no two-lane highways connecting neighbors and other communities.

Before the village that became Blind River was founded, missionaries had to travel using any means necessary, whether it was by horse or by boat. Later, it was by snow machine.

In 1850, before the village was even called such, Jesuit missionaries began evangelizing area Natives.

Later, the area in which they served would become the village Toska-Boganen. The priests made the name with words from the language used by local natives.

This was the same time the Hudson's Bay Company began to exploit Blind River's forests. The area was barely inhabited then, and a small group of people in search of lumbering work, followed the company's arrival.

Two of the first priests to serve in this area were Father Dominique du Ranquet and -Joseph Hanipeux who travelled from Wikwemikong (1850-1857). Fathers Martin Ferard. Auguste Kohler and Jean-Pierre Chone (1858-1864) replaced Ranquet and Hanipeux.

About 16 years later, 1880-1881, a forestry company began expanding, attracting large numbers of workers to Blind River. The progress continued into the early 1900s, when a major sawmill was built. The population grew and so too did the church.

In 1895, the missionaries built a chapel, at the site of the Lincoln Hotel, And between 1850 and 1900, more than 20 priests served in what would become the Blind River township. The community's first church did not get built until 1903. Its first priest was Father Joseph Brault, who traveled from Sudbury, the church was to serve both the English and the French speaking Catholics and was named Holy Family Parish-pariosse Sainte-Famille.

Being the first church also meant more firsts.

The first baptism was bestowed on Jean Joseph Eudore Blois on Sept. 22,1002. The first funeral was that of Emile Grignon, on April 8, 1903.

The first couple to be married was Georges Nault and Rosanna Wilford, on June12,1903.

In 1904, Rome ordered the creation of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, which would serve the need of 20,000 Catholics in the districts of Algoma, Nipissing and the Manitoulin Islands.

Snowmobile saviour

Five more priests and 14 years later, in steps Dufresne and the snow machine that would help to entrench him in the memories of Blind River's population.

For 18 years, Dufresne governed the parish.

The new priest had big shoes to fill, after Father Jean Carrere moved on from the Blind River church. Among his other deeds, Carrere was central to building Blind River's first Catholic school.

In a document written by local Catholic nuns, the Daughters of Wisdom, it is stated that parishioners were 'immediately impressed with the new pastor's selflessness and devotion."

He ran his parish with a strong and paternal hand and was called a happy and spiritual person and the friend of many.

Dufresne also arrived at the same time the Spanish Flu was present in Blind River.

Spanish Flu was a form of influenza that killed 21 million worldwide, including about 50,000 Canadians.

"Father Dufresne spared no attention or effort to care for the ailing flu victims." states the document.

In 1929, as a result of the population growth, the priest expanded the

church at a cost of $10,000.00.

Three years later, it seemed the efforts of Dufresne and the parishioners were rewarded with a visit from Monsignor Andrea Cassulo. a representative of then-Pope Pius the 11th.

Many Blind River residents turned out to see the holy man from Rome, including 400 students from an area Catholic school.

These students formed a cross on the church's lawn with girls, wearing white, forming the vertical line of the cross and the boys, wearing yellow, and forming the arms of the cross.

Cassulo then blessed the gathered people and gave some the opportunity to kiss his ring. It is to show respect to a church official and is considered something of an honour in the Catholic faith.

But working in the church does not always merit these sorts of prestigious moments.

Many priests work long and hard hours in trying to meet the needs of their parishioners, in and outside of the church.

In rural areas, priests sometimes have to travel great distances to get to all of their flock.

During the 30s, Dufresne found an easier way. He travelled by an early form of snow machine. which looked more like an old car, a 1919 Ford Model T Roadster. The front wheels were replaced with metal skis and the rear wheels were swapped with treads, similar to the ones on tanks.

Continued on page A13

Photo Caption: Roman Catholic priest Father Origene Dufresne stands beside this converted car, his tool to get to distant logging camps.

Photo courtesy of Timber Village Museum