Visite de l'église Sacred Heart Church à Massena, NY, USA et du père Donald Manfred

January 5, 2012

Father Donald Manfred

Dear Father Donald,

Let me thank you for your warm and friendly welcome during the visit of Sister Antoinette Castonguay, MIC accompanied by Pierre Benoit, Huguette Aubin and myself in your beautiful parish in December 2011. From the photos taken by Pierre Benoit, I prepared a little video to remind us about these good moments.

Since our meeting, the Montreal Canadiens has not given you a credit to wear the Centennial tuque (hat) but yesterday, young Lars Eller scored four goals against the Winnipeg Jets for a total of 7-3, allowing our Habs to take courage anew after many bad hockey games.

Here is the link of the video that you can find on YouTube. Just click on the link for the viewing on Internet:

I take this opportunity to wish you a 2012 year of joy, happiness, spirituality and health because health is highly valuable and enables us to accomplish so much.

With the assurance of our prayers and our gratitude, please accept the expression of my best feelings and my profound respect.

Pierre Castonguay

c.c. Pierre Benoît (& Huguette Aubin) Sister Antoinette Castonguay M.I.C.

History : By the 1870' s, Massena's status as a town grew with the renown of its mineral springs. Folks from far and wide came to Massena Springs to experience the healing qualities of its sulfur springs. As the town's fame grew, so grew its population and the number of Catholics to be ministered. In 1873, a tract of land between Massena and Massena Springs, on what is now Main Street, was purchased. A year later, on April 25, 1874,Bishop Edgar P. Wadhams incorporated the new parish as the Church of the Sacred Heart.

The newly independent Sacred Heart Parish was first served by Father John Brennan, who organized the construction of the first Church of the Sacred Heart, using mostly volunteer labor. It was dedicated in July of 1875. A few years later, Father Thomas Kelleher took the lead in the building of a rectory. Both the church and the rectory were built of brick. The two-story rectory, with its grand front porch, was used for many years.

As World War I began, Fr. Timothy P. Holland was appointed Pastor. He was an energetic and creative priest. He successfully built up a devoted parish community, which required a larger church. Ten years later, having marshaled $100,000 plus the labor of many parishioners, a new magnificent gothic building was completed. The first mass was celebrated Christmas Day, 1924