OUR HISTORY
St. Thomas d'Aquin, Astorville
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In April 1886, Monsignor Narcisse Zephirin Lorrain, bishop of Pontiac, granted permission to the
settlers of the head of Lake Nosbonsing to construct a small chapel on Lot 19 Concession 2 in East
Ferris. A lot of one-half acre was donated by Joseph Alphonse Levesque for this purpose. A small
chapel was built near the shores of Lake Nosbonsing by Pierre Guillemette and a crew of
labourers. Father Thomas-Georges Gagnon of Bonfield celebrated the first Mass in this chapel. In
October of 1886, Joseph Guillemette and Armanda Robert, were the first to be wed in the chapel.
In the Spring of 1887, Monsignor Lorrain named the new parish, “St Thomas d’Aquin".
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By 1902, the parish had grown in numbers and required larger premises. Father Antonin Astor oversaw the construction of a new church, where he was priest from 1902 to 1916. It is from Father Astor that the village « Astorville » has been named. In 1904, the church burnt to the ground. With much determination, the people of Astorville immediately banded together to rebuild the church. In 1966, the church structure was demolished and made way for the construction by Andre Rochefort of a new and what is known as the current house of God of today.
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Sainte Bernadette, Bonfield
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In 1881, Ste-Philomene’s Chapel was first erected on the shore of Lake Talon. The contract was
awarded to Mr. Ulric Harnois. On April 4, 1886, during his visit, Monsignor Lorrain decided the new location of Ste-Philomene’s parish would be at the foot of Lake Nosbonsing, in the farming
settlement of Bonfield. A church was built at the cost of $3,233.00. The first resident priest was
Reverend Father Thomas-Georges Gagnon, 28 years of age.
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In 1905, the church was destroyed by fire. A new church was rebuilt on Gagnon Street a year later
and was renamed Ste Bernadette.
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In 2002, the church was in need of significant renovations. These were made possible by
fundraising efforts and community support, to maintain the architectural beauty of the Lord’s house.
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In 2006, Ste Bernadette celebrated its 100th anniversary, a significant milestone in its history. By
His grace and mercy, the parish has been sustained over the past one hundred years as a
community of faith and discipleship, centred upon the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. This
event was commemorated by Monsignor Richard W. Smith, then Bishop of Pembroke.
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Today, Ste Bernadette is a meeting place to celebrate faith, a place of sanctuary and refuge for the Bonfield parishioners. Ste Bernadette is known for its annual picnic, serving its traditional meat “seapie”, prepared in cast iron pots and cooked for hours in outdoor stone ovens. This event is well appreciated and very popular among locals and tourists alike.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Corbeil
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A chapel was erected in the village Corbeil under the leadership of Father Thomas George Gagnon of Bonfield. This chapel was dedicated to the Sacred Heart and blessed by Bishop Lorrain in 1893. At first, the village of Corbeil was a church mission of Bonfield and subsequently in 1902, it became a mission of Astorville. During Father Sloan’s regime in 1916-1920, the basement of the church was constructed. Further construction was delayed due to the influenza epidemic of that time. In August 1920, Corbeil became a parish. Reverend Daniel J. Breen was the first pastor and work begun on a parish rectory and a two-classroom school. Father Breen also had a mission station in Feronia and served several stations and lumber camps along the Ontario Northland Railway.
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In 1930, Mr. and Mrs. Oliva Dionne became the proud parents of the five quintuplets, who were
baptized by Father McNally. Due to the birth of the Dionne quintuplets, the area of Corbeil and
Callander became a centre for news and publicity for years to come.
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In 1941, Reverend W.H. Lafrance set to work to direct the completion of the Sacred Heart Church.
In 1950, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart became the teaching staff of the four-classroom school at
the time. The old rectory became a convent and a new presbytery arose on the north side of the church. On June 1, 1977, a heavy cross fell on the parish when lightning struck and caused the church to burn to the ground. The long and arduous task of organizing committees for building a new church and planning fundraising, took place.
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Father Adrien Koens, along with a group of dedicated parishioners, oversaw the rebuilding of the
now existing church. The construction was completed in 1980. The church, built to conserve
energy, has windows on the roof facing west to let in plenty of sunlight. The wide seating area and wide sanctuary can allow up to 270 people to sit close to the altar. Much like in its beginnings, today the Sacred Heart church in Corbeil is a location of spirituality to practice one’s Christian faith in the northern part of the Municipality of East Ferris.
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