Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines

Mon Petit Coin   by   Norm Léveillée

Paroisse de Notre-Dame du Bon-Conseil
Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish
West Warwick, Rhode Island

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As I mentioned in previous articles, the place of my birth was in my maternal grandmother's home at 68 Mill Street, in the village of Harris, in the town of Coventry, Rhode Island. When I was baptized in the church of Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil - Our Lady of Good Counsel, the Catholic parish that served that village as well as several surrounding villages had been in existence for only 38 years. In this article, I would like to give an historical perspective of the parish of my ancestors here in Rhode Island.

Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil Presbytery & Church            Pen and Ink by Lois Wright 2/00

The parish was a mission church of St-Jean-Baptiste - St. John the Baptist parish in Arctic or Jericho as it was originally called, in the town of West Warwick, Rhode Island. When the first French-Canadians began arriving in the Valley of the Pawtuxet, the Catholics attended the first Catholic Church in the Valley, St. Mary's in Cromptom which was established in 1845. By the beginning of 1870, there were many more French-Canadians immigrating into the Valley. Therefore, by late 1872, a group of these French-Canadians petitioned the pastor of St. Mary's to form their own parish in Arctic. Thus on 4 July 1875 was born the parish of St-Jean-Baptiste. As more French-Canadian immigrants moved into the western part of the Pawtuxet Valley, a need for a mission church was established. On 28 February 1891, the Bishop of Providence purchased land at the corners of Summit and Pleasant Streets in the Phenix section of the Valley. This became the site of a church-school for those French-Canadian Catholics living in Harris Village, as well as in Phenix, Riverpoint, Arkwright, Fiskeville and Hope.

From 1891 through 1897, this church-school served as a Mission of St. John. Priests from St. John celebrated masses on Sunday, heard confessions and conducted Vespers. My maternal grand-parents, Gédéon Bélanger and Mélina Théroux were married on 8 Jun 1896 in this Mission Church of St-Jean-Baptiste parish. The Reverend J.E. Giguère was the officiating priest at the ceremony.

Since attendance at Sunday services reached over eleven hundred people by 1897, it was decided that a new parish was necessary to serve this growing French-Canadian Catholic population. It was called Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil. Father Jean Lebel was its first pastor. The first marriage in the new parish was on 22 June 1897 between George Durand and Georgiana Parent. Its first recorded baptism was that of Miriam Reginam Godreau, daughter of Alfred Godreau and Cordelle Prévost, on 7 February 1897. Father Lebel rented the Agnew property on Pleasant Street until May 1898 when the first rectory was built.

By 1900, the church-school building was not large enough to accommodate its parishioners. Thus, a church building fund was initiated by Father Lebel. The church-school building would now be used solely for a school.

The first church of this parish was blessed by Bishop Harkins on Thanksgiving Day 1903.

     

The entire front page of the Pawtuxet Valley Times was dedicated to the ceremonial event:

CONSECRATED TO THE WORSHIP OF GOD

Imposing Ceremonials at Phenix Yesterday When the New Church of
Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil Was Duly Blessed and
Dedicated to Divine Service.

BISHOP HARKINS
ASSISTED BY OTHER CLERGY
CONDUCTED SERVICES

     In the presence of a crowd that completely filled the spacious auditorium the solemn and impressive services were carried out and henceforth the handsome new building will be used for nothing but the worship of God.
     The mass was sung with Rev. Fr. A. Bérubé of St. Hyacinthe Church, Providence, as celebrant, Rev. Fr. Fauteux of Warren as deacon and Rev. Fr. M. Hébert of Woonsocket as subdeacon.
     The seron which occupied some three-quarters of an hour and was given in French, was preached by Rev. Alphonse Graton, pastor of St. Jean-Baptiste church in Pawtucket.

On 1· October 1908, the Pawtuxet Valley Times reported that

the Rt. Rev Harkins, Bishop of Providence officiated at the blessing of the bell in Notre-Dame church, and administered the sacrament of Confirmation to the youth of the parish... The bell weighed 850 pounds and was placed in the chancel rail, suspended from a chain falls...

The first school of Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil was held in the church-school building when the parish was a Mission of St. John's Catholic Church in the Arctic section of West Warwick. This building served both as a chapel and school. During the early years, 1891-1897, the students were taught by lay teachers, among whom were Mrs. Mary Achey, Miss Audette, Miss Dufresne and Miss Blanchette. In 1908, Father Lebel asked two sisters of the Présentation de Marie from St-Jean-Baptiste convent to teach at the school. By September 1909, a convent was built and a staff of four sisters became permanent members of the Notre-Dame Convent, under the supervision of the new pastor, Father E.B. Renaudet. They were Sr. Marie St. Bernardin, Directrice, Sr. Marie-Antoinette, Sr. Marie St. Victor and Sr. Marie-Émilienne. The first graduate of the old school was Rose Achey in 1911. The first graduating class was in 1916. My father, Jean-Baptiste Léveillée, attended this school from 1912 through 1921. My mother, Jeannette Bélanger, also went to school here. My wife's parents, Wilfred Lavallée and Alexia Regnaire, also attended this school, as did many of our ancestors and relatives.

An elaborate pipe organ was custom made for the choir loft during Father Renaudet's tenure. My mother Jeannette Bélanger was baptized in March 1911 by Father Renaudet. Father Laverdière succeeded Father Renaudet in 1913. My father received his First Communion from Father Laverdière in 1914. The first assistant pastor, Father Charles E. Roberge, was appointed in 1915. My mother also received her First Communion at the hands of Father Laverdière in 1920. Throughout this parish's history, my ancestors and relatives who lived in Harris Village and in the surrounding villages worshiped in this church and received the sacraments: Baptism, Penance, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Last Rites. Many of them are buried in the Notre-Dame Cemetery on Burlinghame Road in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The Mass of Christian Burial of my maternal great-grandfather, Cyril Bélanger was held in June 1918 and he was buried Notre-Dame cemetery, alongside his grandson Williem "Willy" Bélanger, who died in December 1917. There were parishioners who dedicated their lives as priest, religious sister or brother.

In 1916, two parcels of land on the corners of Summit and Pleasant Streets were purchased and would become the site of the new school. In 1923, The Revered Stephen Grenier, later to be elevated to Monsignor Grenier, became the fourth pastor. His pastorate has often been termed as the "Golden Age" of Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil. In May 1925, Bishop William Hickey pontificated at the Blessing of the Cornerstone of the new school. The official opening was held on 8 March 1926. Students were assigned according to grade in nine classrooms. It is in this school that I, as well as all of my relatives who belonged to Notre-Dame Parish, received our bilingual, elementary education.

Monsignor Grenier proceeded to build an addition to the convent since more sisters were needed for the increase in the school population. He also purchased a parcel of land on Pleasant street and deeded it to the parish as a larger play area for the school children. The interior was redecorated for the 25th anniversary celebration in 1929. The wooden doors of the Tabernacle of the Main Altar were replaced by solid gold - gold melted down from rings, bracelets, necklaces, pocket watches, among other gold items, once worn and donated by the parishioners and by my relatives in response to Monsignor Grenier's request. My parents, Jean-Baptiste Léveillée and Jeannette BÉLANGER, were married on 5 Sept 1932 in Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil church.

From 1934 through 1939, Father Donat Lussier was the pastor of two thousand souls, in four hundred families, with three hundred eighty-five children in the school. I was baptized on 10 March 1935 in this church. I began my elementary education in the first grade of the parish school in September 1941.

The Reverend Evangéliste Brunelle holds the record for the longest tenure in the parish, from 1939 to 1952. He was a deeply religious man. I remember Father Brunelle coming to visit our classes to speak to us about our Catholic religion. He was the officating celebrant at the Mass when I received my First Communion in 1942. Father Brunelle officiated at my graduation from Grade 9 in June 1950, along with 24 of my classmates.

There were several organizations formed within the parish: Dames de Ste-Anne (Ladies of St.Ann), les Enfants de Marie (Children of Mary), Holy Name Society, League of the Sacred Heart and les Coursiers (messengers) of St-Denis.

Between 1939 and 1940, the parish initiated a new organization for its youth, which became the Catholic Youth Organization. My father, Jean-Baptiste Léveillée organized and coached a youth baseball team, which was a precursor to the Little League. I remember going to the Interlaken Field, a five minute walk to the west of my home on Harris Street, to watch his basball team play and defeat other local parish teams. I remember playing, not very well however, for the Notre Dame basketball team. My maternal grandmother Mélina Théroux Bélanger was buried in Notre-Dame Cemetery, West Warwick, RI on 8 Dec 1943. On 16 April 1944, the Boy Scouts of America granted a Charter to Troop 2, Phenix, sponsored by Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. During the troop's early beginnings, credit must be given to Mr. Jean-Baptiste Léveillée and Mr. Robert Smith who supported the troop morally and financially. The first scoutmaster was Mr. Alphonse Archambault; among others were my father and Gérard Héroux, the author of two of the booklets used in my research for this article. I served as a scout and as an assistant scoutmaster in the 1940's and early 1950's. My paternal grandmother Césarie Théroux Léveillée's Mass of Christian Burial was held in this church in October 1947. Fr. Brunelle purchased, through a bid, a parcel of land which became the parking lot for the parish. I was confirmed by Bishop Keough in the church in 1948. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Gédéon Bélanger, my maternal grandfather, on 4 Nov 1948. He was buried alongside his wife in Notre-Dame Cemetery, West Warwick, RI. My sister Rita received First Communion in 1949. I graduated from Grade 9 of Notre Dame School in 1950.

In 1952, Father Francis Bouchard succeeded as pastor. During his pastorate, he created two new societies: Notre Dame Veterans, of World War I and II and the Korean War. The Mothers' Club banded together in 1954 to raise funds for the school and convent. In 1956, the Reverend Oscar Guilbault became pastor. He initiated the Notre Dame Improvement Fund which eventually became the 20-20 Club. In 1957, the old school's top floor was eliminated and a new Social Center was created in the remaining part of the building. Today, this building no longer exists. My grandfather Joseph Léveillée died on 6 May 1959. His Mass of Christian Burial was held in this church where he worshipped for over fifty years.

Over the remaining 27 years, several pastors initiated remodeling of the various buildings. Under Father Guilbault's administration, the new school was renovated: a new cement floor, new steel chairs, an updated playground, and the interior completely painted and varnished. The interior of the church was also completely renovated and repainted. My sister's marriage took place in Notre-Dame in 1963, with Father Auguste Delvaux, assistant pastor, as the celebrant of the nuptial mass. My father's Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in this church on 16 July 1965. The funeral cortège of more than seventy-five autos filled with family, relatives and friends proceeded to Notre Dame Cemetery, on Burlinghame Road, West Warwick, where Jean-Baptiste Léveillée was buried among his parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and fellow parishioners.

Father Joseph Charon succeeded Father Guilbault in 1966. As a result of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the Communion rail was removed and a new altar was placed in the center of the sanctuary. The traditional Latin mass was replaced by the vernacular. Also, many improvements were made in the school: the original 1925 wooden desks were replaced by modern ones; carpeting was installed throughout the school and modern school equipment was purchased for the faculty.

In 1968, the Revered George Girouard became the pastor. The church floor was covered with red carpeting. By 1970, the school population decreased drastically to the point that a merger with the neighboring SS. Peter and Paul parish created the Notre Dame Regional School.

In 1977, Father Donat Barette was appointed pastor. The Restoration Drive Committee and the Building Committee were organzed in 1978. The church remained closed for eight months during the renovation. Church services were held in the school hall. The church roof was lowered by sixteen feet and the interior of the church was completely remodeled. The restored church was enhanced by a brick façade. There were six hundred families in the parish at this time who pledged the funds for this restoration.

There were 24 assistant pastors between 1915 and 1977, among whom were the Rev. René Malboeuf who baptized me in 1935, Father Joseph Bousquet who guided me during my high school days, the Reverend Auguste Delvaux who was a classmate of mine at the American College in Louvain and a personal friend, and also Richard Levesque and John Fournier who were close, personal friends.

Father Donat Barrette, the 13th pastor, administered the parish from 1977 through 1985. Father Raymond Tetreault was the pastor from 1985 to 1992. Various repairs took place: rectory roof repaired, replacement of windows and interior redecoration in the convent. The Revered Paul Lemoi was appointed the 15th pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1992 and is still there at the present. Repairs to the exterior of the church and rectory took place; the parish offices were renovated. In 1995, the Convent was closed with the remaining sisters moving to St. Vincent de Paul Convent in Coventry. It was under Father Lemoi's administration that the parish celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 1997.

Eventually the Notre Dame Regional School merged with St. Vincent de Paul School in 1995. Just recently, in 2004, it merged with St. John the Baptist School to become Christ the Redeemer Academy.

Even though my mother had moved to West Greenwich with us, her Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by Father Lemoi, was held in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on 7 November 2000. She was buried alongside my father in Notre Dame Cemetery. I wrote a short eulogy for her.

Writing this article on the parish of my youth brought back some very fond and poignant memories of my life then and there. I need to give credit to my family and relatives, to the priests, sisters, leaders and parishioners of Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil who guided me during those formative years and who helped shape my life.

A huge "MERCI BIEN" is definitely in order.

Resources
The data in this article came from several sources: stories and anecdotes related to me by my parents, grand-parents and other relatives, my own personal experiences in the parish and photos, my genealogical research, and the following three pamphlets written on the anniversary celebrations of the parish:

(1)"Re-Dedication Celebration 1903-1979", Miss Gertrude Blais and Mr. Gérard J. Héroux.
(2)"Célébration du jubilé d'or 1908 - 1958", Commémorant l'Arrivée des religieuses de la Présentation de Marie dans la paroisse Notre-Dame du Bon Conseil, Phenix, RI, 2 Nov 1958.
(3)"1897 100th Anniversary 1997 - Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 60 Pleasant Street, West Warwick, RI", Miss Gertrude Blais and Mr. Gérard J. Héroux.

I wish to thank Father Paul Lemoi, Pastor, and Mrs. Madeleine Brown, Secretary, for allowing me to use the anniversary pamphlets.

Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines
Copyright © 2003 & 2004 Norm Léveillée
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Created 1 Feb 2003