Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010

August 31, 2009

Special Mass offertory included a paper crucifix and original paten from France

The French chalice, plus a bilingual explanation of its significance, was presented to Archbishop Smith

WCR PHOTO | CHRIS MILLER During the 100th anniversary celebration in Trochu, the parish's oldest parishioner, Yvonne (Frere) Vancauweberg 97, presented a paper crucifix to Archbishop Richard Smith.

CHRIS MILLER
WESTERN CATHOLIC REPORTER

TROCHU - When the Sisters of Charity of Notre Dame d'Evron celebrated their 100th anniversary of ministry in western Canada in Trochu, four items were brought forward during a special offertory.

The first item was a paper crucifix.

"When the sisters arrived in the colony that was opened by the French military, they had no access to any kind of religious items because they too were poor. They had subscriptions to this French newspaper and on the cover of this newspaper, every time it came, there was a cross," explained Sister Mary Ellen O'Neill.

NEWSPAPER AND WALLPAPER

The French women made paper crucifixes by cutting the cross shape from the newspapers and pasting them onto decorative wallpaper. Those crucifixes were kept in every room, serving as reassurance to the sisters that they were welcome at their new home in prairie Alberta.

At the Aug. 16 celebration in Trochu, the parish's oldest parishioner, a 97-year-old woman, brought forward a paper crucifix for Archbishop Richard Smith.

The second offering was a chalice and paten.

"When the sisters came they brought a chalice and paten from France, and that was used in their very first chapel in the coulee.

"That same chalice was brought forward by Ken Haggarty, and its significance was explained in both French and English," explained Maxine Haggarty, an organizer of the celebration.

WCR PHOTO | CHRIS MILLER Sr. Cecile Goyere, general superior of the Sisters of Charity of Notre Dame d'Evron, cuts a ribbon to a new subdivision in Trochu called Evron Place.

"We didn't think the bishop would use the chalice and paten because it was very tarnished - but he did use it," she said.

THREE GENERATIONS

Three generations of men (grandfather, father and son) brought forward statues of Our Lady of Pontmain.

"Pontmain, where Mary appeared, is recognized by the Vatican. In Pontmain, France, she appeared to schoolchildren in 1871. Before the sisters left France, they placed their Canadian mission under the patronage of Our Lady of Pontmain," said Haggarty.

"The school in Trochu that was opened and staffed for many years was called Our Lady of Pontmain, and it's absolutely amazing how the spirit of that school persisted," said O'Neill.

"In fact, they closed that school at the end of June this year. Even after it became public, it still remained Our Lady of Pontmain School.

"The tradition from the very beginning was that the superior of the convent would always come to the school on Jan. 17, which is the feast of Our Lady of Pontmain.

"She would tell the story of Pontmain to the children and give them some bonbons. Amazingly enough, the former students at that school continued the tradition year after year. It was a beautiful tradition."

The fourth item was the sisters' history book, yet another meaningful offering.

"I know the history book was brought up by the first lay minister in Trochu," said O'Neill.

Of the Mass, Haggarty said, "It was just outstanding and beautiful. There were more people than the church could hold. We had it set up with video downstairs for the excess."

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