Early History of the Parish
On
October 7, 1952, a group of English-speaking parishioners from
Sainte-Jeanne-de-Chantal Parish met to form a committee to represent
Saint John Fisher Mission. The elected members of the committee were
Daniel Gallahger, Daniel Goodyer Jr., Fabian Dawson, Patrick Barrett,
and Wilfred Merchant. Their mandate was to petition the Archdiocese of
Montreal to form what would become the first English speaking parish to
serve English speaking Roman Catholics in what was then referred to as
the Lakeshore area of the Island of Montreal.
Their petition was granted and on July 27, 1953
they were given permission by Paul-Émile Cardinal Léger to establish a
parish and create a fabrique, the boundaries being set within the civil
Parish of Pointe-Claire.
The first pastor, John D. Purcell, was appointed
on August 28, 1953 to care for the spiritual needs of the parishioners
and also directed to hold an election for wardens.
The first election for wardens was held on
September 15, 1953. From a group of 330 men the following eight were
elected: Patrick Barrett, Robert N. Boyle, Fabian Dawson, Daniel
Gallagher, Daniel Goodyer Jr., Edward McAuley, Wilfred Merchant and
Gerard Neeson.
The parishioners worshipped at first in the
gymnasium of Valois Park School and a temporary rectory on Sunnyside
Avenue was utilized.
Numerous meetings were held, including some to
secure the approval of the heads of families before a lot for the
church building was chosen. The property was ceded by the civil Parish
of Pointe-Claire to the Archdiocese of Montreal and subsequently
purchased from the diocese by the fabrique.
Construction began late in 1954 and the new
rectory was occupied by July of 1955. Construction continued on the
church building and the cornerstone was blessed on October 9, 1955.
The main altar as well as Our Lady's altar were
consecrated on November 15, 1955.
The church building was solemnly blessed by
Cardinal Léger on September 29, 1957.
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