St. Francis de Sales Parish History©
(continued)

music: Sinfonia
In 1905, St. Francis was divided to form the new parish of Sacred Heart which was intended to serve the English-speaking Catholics. The new parish included 60 Irish and 200 French families.
In 1908, a census of the French-Canadians in Maine was made by Odule Laplante. Results of this census were reported in the Jan. 4, 1909 issue of Le Méssager which stated that St. Francis de Sales parish had 972 families for a total of 5,001 souls and a parochial property worth $94,000.
In 1910, another cut was made in St. Francis de Sales parish when the south end of the city, beginning at Redington Street, was set off as the parish of Notre Dame.
Although not directly connected with St. Francis de Sales parish, The Sisters' Hospital on Highwood Street was a Catholic Institution which began its existence when the Sisters of Mercy purchased the property on May 1, 1913, having bought it from Drs. D. B. Cragin and E. W. Boyer who operated it as the Libby Memorial hospital. In 1920, this hospital had a capacity for 38 patients and handled some 600 cases per year with a staff of several Sisters, nurses, nursing students, plus a few local doctors who practiced there. This relatively small wooden building was later expanded and modernized by the addition of a large brick structure.
In 1920, even after cutting into the parish by the establishment of Sacred Heart and Notre Dame parishes, St. Francis de Sales still included 700 families. In September 1920, the acreage of the Grove Street cemetery was doubled by the purchase of adjoining land. From October 21 to 27, the parish celebrated a Golden Jubilee, saluted its 192 parishioners who served in the Great War (WWI) in its' Jubilee booklet, and parishioners put on a series of plays on the 21st at the Opera House which included a drama about St. Joan of Arc, a pantomime, and a comedy (all in French), supported by a 14-piece orchestra under the direction of William Provencher, the church organist. On Sunday, the 24th, a General Assembly of the parish was held at the Opera House where the orchestra played an overture, followed by an address from Judge Mathieu and gave special honors to Rev. Charland for his 40 years of service to the parish, and was followed by singing the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada." Other activities were held and the Jubilee concluded on Wednesday, October 27 with a special funeral service at 8 AM for all the deceased of the parish.
On Jan. 19, 1923, Father Narcisse Charland died. Flags in the city were ordered to be flown at half-mast by the mayor of Waterville until the funeral obsequies were over. The epitaph on his gravestone at St.Francis cemetery reads "Prêtre pour L'éternité."

FATHER MARTIN It was during the tenure of Father Denis J. Martin (1923-1934) that the unique hydraulically-operated pulpit was installed in the church. This beautifully finished massive wooden pulpit would quietly rise from the sanctuary floor through two large hinged doors upon activation of the system by an altar boy who would lift up a T-handle located just behind the altar rail in the sanctuary. This pulpit was located in the middle of the sanctuary directly behind the altar rail. Where the priest now stands behind the new altar is exactly where it used to be located. This pulpit would rise about six feet from the floor in about 30 seconds and the altar boy would lower a hinged step (which had about 3 steps) in order for the priest to climb into the pulpit. Father Bouchard, in his later years, having difficulty standing for the full duration of his unusually long French sermons, had a small yellow kitchen stool placed in the pulpit so he could sit down after reading the Gospel. One interesting, but nearly tragic, incident with this pulpit was recounted to me by a long and reliable parishioner. He said that one Sunday, Father Bouchard was in the pulpit and had evidently forgotten something, so he called one of the altar boys to go and get it. The altar boy followed his instructions and returned (on the side of the pulpit) so as to pass it up to Father Bouchard. Unfortunately, the altar boy's long gown got caught on the pulpits' operating handle. When he started back to his seat, it was enough to activate the hydraulics and the pulpit started going down - with Father Bouchard on board. Immediately upon observing this, our astute parishioner jumped out of his pew, ran up to the communion rail, and pulled the handle back up. This water-operated pulpit was unique to Maine churches, and probably unique to New England as well. After the homily, an altar boy pushed the T-handle down which caused the pulpit to gradually descend and eventually disappear below the sanctuary floor as the two massive folding doors, by their own weight against the sides and decorative metal scrolls attached to the top and sides of the pulpit, came together again making a level floor. The little step would also fold in automatically. The tops of those doors were carpeted in red to match with the rest of the sanctuary.
In 1926, the parish was again dismembered by the establishment of St.John the Baptist parish in Winslow with Father John W. Frawley as its pastor for many years.
In 1929, the church pipe organ was remodeled from the old tracker-action system to an electro-pneumatic system. Also that year, the Brothers of Christian Instruction were established at the school to teach the boys from grades 4 through 8. The boy's school closed in June 1957 and the convent-school closed in 1969.

(click on picture to enlargen)
Interior after 1941 renovations In 1941, the church interior was renovated and new pews were installed. The entire sanctuary was restyled and the old Gothic altar was replaced by one of modern design. Also, in May 1941, the brick home at the corner of Elm and Winter streets was purchased and converted into a residence for the four Brothers of Christian Instruction. It was a gift from Dr. Napoléon Bisson. After the Brother's school closed, that building was sold.
In 1944, two new tracts of land were purchased for the St.Francis cemetery. One tract was owned by Dr. Poulin's estate, the other, known as Pinbanks Park, was owned by Central Maine Power Company.

FATHER HEVEY During the administration of Father Elie Hevey (1946-1953), $60,000 worth of improvements were completed. Some of the fund-raising was accomplished with parish fairs which were held regularly on the school grounds and also by pupils selling miniature bricks for 10 cents each. In 1952, the old pipe organ was dismantled and replaced by a large Hammond organ. In 1952, the parish could count 750 families with 2,689 souls; in 1953 it had 743 families and a total of 2,785 souls while the school had 423 students from grades K through 8. The Church World of July 12, 1957 reported the parish with 700 families, 3,000 souls, and 425 children in the parish school.
In the 1930's and for many years later, it was customary for the students of the parochial school to attend the 7:30 AM Sunday Mass - the boys in grades 4 to 8 sitting in the front pews on the left side with some of the Brothers with them and the girls and boys from grades K to 8 sitting together with their Ursuline teachers in the right front pews. The church had several choirs - the boys sang in one service, the girls at another, adults at a third, but the 6 AM service usually only had pipe organ music, if any. The sanctuary was lined on both sides with servants and altar boys. Christmas midnight Masses were a sight to behold and people had to arrive 30 to 45 minutes early so as to assure they had a place to sit. Special singing and a long procession of pupils dressed as angels (wings and all) were part of the great feast. Until the 1960's, all homilies at the church were delivered in French.
For many years, St.Francis de Sales boys school had a hockey team and a large ice rink with side boards and flood lights for night-use was erected each winter by the Brothers and boys in the school. The rink was located in the present parking lot. The boy's school also had an award-winning drum and bugle corps which reached its peak in the 1930's but was disbanded in the 1950's. Their 50 or more musicians, dressed in their white uniforms and white shoes, red capes, red belts and red barets, were the pride of the school and were in demand in all the parades due to their marching precision and music. They were under the leadership of the Brothers.
Under Father Albert's administration, stained glass windows depicting the twelve Apostles were added to the church. The statue of St.Francis was removed from its position over the main entrance and placed on the lawn between the rectory and the church. It is also about this time that the exterior of the church was painted brick-red.
In the early part 1964, due to the declining number of parishioners, the side galleries were removed, thus restoring the interior to its' original design. The unique, hydraulically-operated pulpit was also dismantled and replaced by a traditional pulpit on the right side. The parish could not find anyone to repair it after it had broken down. A few years later, the old elaborate altar was dismantled and a small centrally located altar with the priest facing the congregation was constructed following the spirit of the Second Vatican Council.

Interior as it appears today

It should always be remembered that St.Francis de Sales parish is the oldest "French" parish in the State of Maine when we realize that this parish was simply the continuation of the earlier St.John's church and the presence of the first French-Canadian settlers here in the early 1830's. Of course, St. Luce in Frenchville (1827), and St.Bruno in Van Buren (1838) are a bit older; however, that part of Maine was then in disputed territory until it was settled by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 after which those towns officially became a part of Maine. The next oldest French parish in the State (not including the previous ones) is St. Joseph's of Old Town, dating back to 1862. These were later followed by other "French" parishes in Lewiston, Lisbon, Biddeford, South Berwick, Bangor, Augusta, Springvale, and several other towns in Aroostook county. FUTURE DATES TO KEEP IN MIND On Sunday, June 13, 1999, St. Francis de Sales church will celebrate 125 years of faithful service to this area's Catholics. It will also be the 161st year since the first French-Canadian Catholics began to settle in Waterville.

July 16, 2016 will be the 175th anniversary of the first Roman Catholic service held in Waterville.

St. Francis de Sales parish is not only the oldest Catholic parish in this region with its roots in St. François d'Assise of Beauceville and St. George de Beauce from where most of its earliest parishioners originated, but is the mother church of the French-Canadians of upper Kennebec county, Somerset county, and much of Piscataquis and Franklin counties plus the western part of Penobscot county. It can be proud of its history where more than 7,500 persons were married and some 18,000 were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The preservation and continuation
of this church is important to its people, to this region and to its diocese. It is the symbol of Franco-American Catho-
licity in this city and the greater-Waterville area and a living part of our 170-year presence and contributions to all these communities.

FATHER GERALD LEVESQUE
(a native of Waterville and pastor from 1993-1995) In June 1995, St.Francis de Sales, Notre Dame, and Sacred Heart parishes were united into a single, large parish known as the Waterville Catholic Community to be served by one pastor (Rev. James S. Plourde) and one vicar or assistant, Rev. Claude B. Gendreau with residence at the Sacred Heart rectory only. In June 1996, the three parishes were officially dedicated and united into a single parish called the Parish of the Holy Spirit with three churches of worship. A single parish council and parish office were established with Nelson J. Megna as the first Parish Manager. In March of 1997, a new building was constructed behind Sacred Heart church for all parish administrative offices. The Notre Dame rectory was sold.

BISHOP DONALD PELOTTE On May 6, 1986, the Most Reverend Donald-Edward Pelotte, one of Waterville's native sons, was appointed Bishop of Gallup, New Mexico. On June 25, 1986, St. Francis de Sales Parish honored him in a special ceremony and Mass with Bishops O'Leary and Proulx in attendance along with a group of Native Americans dressed in their colorful costumes who added some of their unique Indian rituals to the event. The Indians were of particular significance since Bishop Pelotte's ancestry is said to be part Native American plus the fact that he was the first ordained American Bishop with Indian roots. Born in Waterville on April 13, 1944, son of Honoré-Albert Pelotte and Marguerite-Yvonne Labrie, his twin brother, Dana-Gerald Pelotte also entered into a religious vocation as a Blessed Sacrament Brother and will shortly be ordained as a priest in the same religious order. In August, 1997, Bishop Pelotte was honored with a special Mass of Thanksgiving at Notre Dame Church in celebration of his 25th Anniversary in the priesthood. In attendance, along with his brother and many relatives, were Bishops Joseph Gerry, Michael Cote and Edward O'Leary, Very Reverend Anthony Schueller, provincial of the Blessed Sacrament Order (S.S.S.) and Reverend Eugene LaVerdiere (S.S.S.), a native of Winslow, Maine. This was also a joint celebration with the 50th Jubilee of the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament sisters who came to Waterville during the summer of 1947 to establish their first house in the United States.

PASTORS AND ASSISTANTS
PASTORS
1855-1862 Jean Jacques Nicollin
1865-1868 Louis A. L'Hiver*
1869-1870 François Picard
1870-1880 David J. Halde
1880-1923 Narcisse Charland
1923-1934 Denis J. Martin
1934-1946 Joseph A. Normand
1946-1953 Elie A. Hevey
1953-1963 Origene J. Bouchard
1963-1969 Wilfred Albert
1969-1972 Joseph Allard
1972-1982 Laurent Patenaude
1976-1982 Lucien G. Grondin
1982-1989 Sylvio J. Levesque
1989-1992 Paul U. Paré
1992-1993 David Flood#
1993-1995 Gerald A. Levesque
1995-1998 James S. Plourde
1998-200_ Philip A. Tracy
ASSISTANTS
1871-1872 Thomas H. Wallace
1872-1873 P. Coffee
1873-1875 Patrick Lunney
1876-1879 Ovide Beaubien
1879-1880 John Canning
1880-1882 Edward J. Walsh
1882-1884 A. Fortier
1885-1887 Nicholas J. Horan
1887-1889 Adolphe O. Lacroix
1890-1894 Damase de Carufel
1892-1894 John E. Kealy
1894-1895 L. Caisse
1895-1897 J. Nerée Desilets
1896-1897 J. P. Ovila Casavant
1897-1898 Matthew W. Reilly
1901-1904 George C. Chabot
1903-1905 Joseph M. LeGuennec
1905-1909 George C. Chabot
1909-1912 Alexandre Laventure
1912-1918 Louis Nonorgues
1918-1919 J. Hoen
1918-1923 Joseph Kalen
1920-1921 Eugène L. Cramillon
1921-1922 J. P. Pacaud
1922-1923 Henry L. Semery
1923-1926 Joseph Fredette
1925-1926 Adolphe V. Ancieux
1926-1929 Emmanuel Grondin
1929-1930 Charles E. Rivard
1930-1932 Félix Martin
1932-1938 J. Walter Gélinas
1934-1935 Napoléon Pelletier
1935-1938 Rodolphe L. Poliquin
1938-1944 Ralph C. Corbeil
1938-1940 Roméo J. Doiron
1940-1941 Henry St-Amand
1941-1957 Roland J. Marcotte
1945-1961 Edmond J. Haché
1961-1966 Gérard Parent
1966-1967 Richard St-Cyr
1967-1970 Raymond Picard
1970-1972 Marcel Robitaille
1973-1976 Gérard Doyon
1995-1997 Claude B. Gendreau
1997-199_ Scott Mower
* From Rev. Nicollin's transfer until Rev. L'Hiver's arrival, the parish
was a mission under Rev. Charles Egan of St.Mary's parish in Augusta.
# Rev. Flood, a Franciscan priest, filled in for about six months while awaiting a new pastor.

REFERENCES & BIBLIOGRAPHY
St.Francis de Sales baptismal, marriage and death registers 1865-1988
St.Francis de Sales Parish, Waterville, Maine - a parish booklet, Nov 3, 1985
History of St.Francis de Sales Church by Leonard Cabana, 1990
Fêtes du Jubilé - a booklet on the October 21-27, 1920 Jubilee of St. Francis de Sales
Centennial History of Waterville, Maine 1902
The French Canadian Community of Waterville by Albert C. Fecteau, June 1952
Waterville Morning Sentinel Wed. Oct 27, 1920 - Golden Jubilee of St.Frs. de Sales
Archival records from the Diocese of Portland
Catholic Directory, Diocese of Portland
Portland Sunday Telegram Sun. Nov 6, 1955 - Diocese of Portland - Centenary Year
Boston Sunday Globe Feb 21, 1982, page A2
St.Georges de Beauce parish registers
History of pastors of St.Georges de Beauce parish
Letter from Rev. Sylvio Levesque 1994
Personal recollections of the author
Photos: courtesy of St. Francis de Sales Parish Archives and the Waterville Historical Society NOTE: This article was published in the three-volume series of St. Francis de Sales parish by the author. Copies of these volumes are available for research at the Maine State Library, the Waterville Public Library, the Winslow Public Library, the Bibliotheque of Montreal, the LDS Library at Salt Lake City, Utah, Special Collections of the Folger Library at the University of Maine in Orono, the French-Canadian Genealogy Society of Quebec, numerous French-Canadian genealogy societies and other genealogists in New England, the Taconnet Genealogy Club at the LDS Church in Waterville and the Parish of the Holy Spirit. For other information and Catholic links click on: Parish of the Holy Spirit.
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