The last Mass was celebrated in the old Church on Sunday, April 6, 1969. Since it was sited along the east wall of the proposed new Church, the building was demolished and construction started immediately. Mass was celebrated for a period of time in the school auditorium. Bishop Joseph F. Ryan presided at the blessing and laying of the cornerstone on September 28, 1969. Dedication and Solemn Blessing took place on February 15, 1970.
The church, with a few alterations now and again, has fulfilled the needs of our Community and has been the happy scene of annual First Communion celebrations, Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, as well as busy weekend Masses. The spiritual life of the Parish has been enhanced by virtue of the close proximity of everyone to the Altar of Sacrifice, gained through the style of architecture and by the spirituality brought by our pastors.
How the Assumption Church was very nearly re-cycled for the third time.
In 1962 the Binbrook Little Theatre, under the leadership of Maurice Chaplin, was looking for a building of its own to serve as a theatre-auditorium and to accommodate the storage of sets, costumes, etc. At the same time it was learned that the congregation of the Assumption Church at Elfrida wanted to get rid of the old church in order to erect a new church. Maurice convinced many of the members of the Binbrook Little Theatre that the old church could be moved to the Binbrook Fair Grounds to be available for theatre as well as serve as another exhibit hall for use at the Fair. A deal was made with the church authorities giving the church to the Binbrook Little Theatre for free in return for clearing the property.
A delegation from the Binbrook Little Theatre interviewed the Binbrook Township Council, after the Fair Board expressed interest. The Council approved the plan and passed the appropriate motion, etc. Unfortunately, this meeting was held without the benefit of the Reeve's guidance, since he was on holiday. In the next few days the pews were removed from the church and taken to Bill and Naomi Berry's residence on Highway 56, from which they were quickly sold to people of the community as well as to Binbrook Little Theatre members themselves. I seem to recall that the price was ten dollars per pew. Since most people intended the pews as garden furniture, they soon disintegrated after exposure to the weather.
Binbrook Little Theatre made arrangements with a heavy duty mover (Goodales, I think) to transport the old building to Binbrook. However, when the Reeve returned from his holidays and learned of the deal he was quite furious with his council. He stated, probably quite rightly, that the old building was quite unsuitable for the Fair Grounds and was in poor repair. He soon had the decision overturned. The Little Theatre, of course, was stuck with the disposal of the building and had to find a wrecker who would clear the property. It is unknown whether the Binbrook Little Theatre had to pay the mover or whether he did the job for the free salvage material. (Thanks to Dr. Donald Bell.)
In 1984, a building committee was formed with Father Louis Solcia, the Pastor, Father Ubaldo Fior, his associate, and the following Parish members: Jim Mattina, Chairman, Bert Gris, Jim Frisina, Nono Sardo, Lino Nusca, Peter Brucculeri, Joanne Parent (CWL President), Charlie Besseling and Adalbert Burchert. This committee was to study the possibility of constructing a Parish Hall and replacing the existing rectory which was inadequate. The architect was Victor P. Pala with considerable input from Father Fior, now Pastor. Demik Construction Ltd. was the general contractor. It was completed in 1986 at a total cost of $650,000. Efforts to pay the mortgage of $450,000.00 have been most successful and thanks to Father Jim Boudreau and the money raised by a dedicated parish group and the Stoney Creek Bingo organization, this debt has been paid in full. This marvellous facility, cared for by volunteer, Tom Colantino, was available for use by members of our Parish and of the community at large. The rectory has been a comfortable home for our priests, a meeting place and an office.
Organizations to assist our pastors have been set up over the years. Chief among them has been an active Catholic Women's League. This group has offered fellowship to its members as well as organizing many financially successful dinners, bazaars, communion breakfasts and picnics. It has been, beyond a doubt, the single most important group to assist the Community. A Holy Name Society for many years offered the same for the men of the Parish. We have, over the years, had a St. Vincent de Paul Society, a Catholic Youth Organization and a Young Adults Society.
Presently, we have a Pastoral Council, which was established in 1979, the CWL, a Liturgy Committee, Baptismal and Marriage Preparation Teams, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Society and a team to assist with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). With Fr. Louis Lenssen's support the Knights of Colombus have established a Council in our parish. Many parishioners assist in the celebration of the Liturgy as: Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Commentators, Music, Children's Liturgy and Ushers. As well, there are volunteers looking after our parish needs in the Crafts, Maintenance, Grounds, Office and Financial. These work together to assist in the spiritual, social, educational, maintenance and financial aspects of the parish and parishioners are most welcome to join.
THE PASTORS
REV. JAMES DE JONGE, 1951-56 -- a former military Chaplain in Indonesia, the founder of the Parish, worked against great odds to construct both a rectory and a Church and to bring together the scattered elements of the Parish - the old families as well as the new immigrants to the country. He was often seen with tools working in the church or rectory and with an old car he daily transferred our few elementary students to the St. Francis Xavier School bus at the mountain brow. After acting as a pastor in a number of Ontario parishes, he lived for a number of years at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Delaware, Ontario. Father DeJonge died in 1996.
REV. T. H. HILL, 1956-62 -- In spite of poor health, Father Hill greatly improved the spiritual as well as the financial situation. He visited parishioners regularly and organized a complete census of the parish as well as starting the Holy Name Society and the Catholic Women's League. The parishioners were sorry to see him transferred to Elora, where he died soon after and is buried in the Elora cemetery. Father Hill was a very pleasant person, a fine man, and a truly holy priest. Everyone thought the world of him and one of his greatest concerns, since he had no family, was that he would be forgotten. He always emphasized, 'remember to pray for your priests and for your past priests'. Miss Agnes Mullen served as housekeeper and lived in the attached housekeeper's quarters.
Father Hill had the maple tree planted in front of the rectory to help alleviate the road noise - not too successfully. Father Flaherty had John Nugent plant more trees for the same purpose. With the type of soil, none of our early priests ever saw much growth. The walnut tree west of the church and even west of the old rectory was planted during Father Flaherty's time.
As recalled by Dr. Don Bell:
At the time of Father Hill’s pastorate there were a great many accidents at Elfrida. Father Hill is remembered as being tremendously compassionate and opened the rectory to all involved. Dr. Bell said that at that time doctors went immediately to the scene of an accident to assist before ambulances could arrive. Father Hill greatly impressed him with his kindness and support, with any help and refreshments, etc. he could provide.
REV. J. WILLIAM FLAHERTY, 1962-69
Affable and well-liked, this big-hearted priest was instrumental in seeing Assumption School erected with its own Board. It was during his time that a strong Catholic Women's League grew, as well as the active men's group - the Holy Name Society. He was transferred to St. Andrew's in Oakville and died in retirement in 1978. Sally and Charlie Murphy served as housekeeper and handyman.
REV. KEVIN SHERIDAN, 1969 - 75
Father Sheridan saw the addition to Assumption School and its inception into the county system. He was instrumental in the building of the new Church, but worried whether we would ever be able to pay for it. He was liked, but even more respected as a disciplined holy priest. He was moved to Sacred Heart Parish then to Immaculate Heart Parish in Winona. He died while in residence at St. Joseph's Villa, Dundas.
REV. RAYMOND KING, 1975 - 77
Father King served as Pastor for two years and he passed away in 2000
In 1977, Bishop Reding asked the congregation of the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (the Barnabite Fathers), an Italian Order from the United States, to administer the Parish. Father Frank Papa and Father Ubaldo Fior, who spent years in the missions of Peru, were named Pastor and Associate Pastor. After their arrival, great changes and improvements in the liturgical, social and spiritual life of the Parish took place. The Parish had about a thousand families and an extra Sunday Mass was celebrated in St. James School.
REV. FRANK M. PAPA, CRSP, 1977 - 82
Father Papa worked diligently to upgrade the liturgy and came to know all his flock who very much loved this personable, well organized, enthusiastic priest. He was transferred to Bethlehem Catholic High School in Bethlehem, PA, as Chaplain of the school, Superior to the Community and Master of the Barnabite Seminarians. He is presently rector of his Order's Seminary, which he founded, in the Philippines.
REV. LOUIS M. SOLCIA, C.R.S.P., 1982 - 85
Father Solcia came from Bethlehem, PA, where he had been teaching at Bethlehem Catholic High School. After working diligently and making many friends, he was transferred to St. John's in Guelph and is, at this time, Associate Pastor in San Diego, California. Father Solcia, on his 25th anniversary in Italy, donated the statue at the front of our church. Originally it sat on top of the old Baptismal font. Father Boudreau rediscovered the font and had it renovated and placed in the church. Nono Sardo then constructed the yellow brick base for the statue. Father Julio Ciavaglia assisted at this time for several years. A most artistic man, Fr. Ciavaglia presently heads the Barnabites at the Shrine.
REV. UBALDO M. FIOR, C.R.S.P., 1985 - 89
Father Fior was Associate Pastor to Father Papa and Father Solcia, becoming Pastor himself in 1985. He was a hard working priest and made many friends in the Parish. When Father Fior was named Pastor he immediately set to work to plan and build our new rectory and hall. The building committee was formed in 1984 by Father Solcia and the then associate pastor, Father Fior. Members were Joanne Parent (CWL President), Jim Mattina, (Chairman), Albert Gris, Onofrio Sardo, Charlie Besseling, Leno Nusca, Jim Frenza, Peter Brucculeri, and Adelbert Burchert. The architect was P. Pala with Demik Construction as contractor. It was completed in 1985 at a cost of $650,000.00. Our mortgage was $450,000.00 since we had $200,000.00 in the building fund. He is presently working at the Barnabite Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Youngstown, N. Y.
REV. JAMES M. BOUDREAU, CRSP, 1989 - 96
Father Boudreau became Pastor in 1989. He had been here to assist Father Papa before his ordination. This enthusiastic, outgoing pastor has worked successfully to pay off our mortgage and to improve our church. He will be remembered for his outgoing personality and his abilities as a preacher. He left the Barnabites in 1996 to become a Diocesan priest and is presently the pastor at St. John Church in Kitchener.
REV. LOUIS M. LENSSEN, C.R.S.P. 1996 - 2006
Our present pastor is a Barnabite priest, born in Holland and educated in Ontario who presently brings his special gifts to our parish. A new roof was put on the church in 1999 costing $20,300, and in 2001 a roof was put on the rectory costing $6,500. During 2002 the parish hall received a new roof for $9,500. In 2005 the parking lot was completely restored at a cost of $125,000. Before Christmas of 2005, a letter was circulated to all our parishioners notifying us of the departure of the Barnabites after 28 years of marvellous dedication to our parish. Father James Petrie, a diocesan priest, become pastor on June 28th, 2006.
We have also been fortunate to have the efforts of a Pastoral Assistant, SISTER M. IGNATIUS MCLOUGHLIN, CSJ, who had been here from 1981 - 85 with both Father Papa and Father Solcia and returned to assist Father Boudreau in 1989. Currently, the pastoral assistants at the parish are MRS. SUSAN KLUNDER and SISTER CELESTE SWAN, SSND.
Since 1951, the Parish has experienced phenomenal growth. The Satellite City has added many new families to the Heritage Green area, Albion Estates area and more recently, Summit Park area. Many Catholic families are now living there. Presently 1,500 Catholic families are registered with the parish, though many Catholic families attend their national churches in Hamilton.
With the leadership we have witnessed in the past and hopefully with the same enthusiasm and dedication in the years to come we will see the people in our parish community continue to grow in the blessings of God.
Certainly, the roots for such development have been planted deep in the clay of our parish by those who have toiled so well during the past four decades.
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