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

Visite du cimetière Old Pine Grove de Massena USA

Visite de la Maison Patrimoniale des Castonguay à Glen-Nevis

Antoinette Castonguay, Pierre Benoît, Huguette Aubin et Pierre Castonguay visitent la maison ancestrale de Glen-Nevis. Pierre en profite pour raconter la légende d'Allan ''Bratt'' MacDonald enterré avec son violon. La légende raconte qu'il qui joue la jigue qu'il a composé à minuit chaque soir de novembre en bordure du cimetière de Glen-Nevis.Le vidéo comporte des photos de la visite de Sylvie Castonguay, fille de Réal, fils d'Alexandre il y a cinq ans chez les Allan et de la récente visite d'Antoinette et Pierre Castonguay en décembre 2011, chez les Nielson. Pierre Castonguay remercie les propriétaires actuels pour leur accueil chaleureux malgré cette visite improvisée. À noter la plaque de datation de la maison de 1837 au dessus du foyer. Cette maison a d'abord servi de poste d'arrivée des voyageurs avant d'être une maison de ferme familiale. Plusieurs immigrants écossais des High Lands et des voyageurs y ont transité.

Antoinette Castonguay, Pierre Benoit, Huguette Aubin and Pierre Castonguay visit the ancestral home of Glen Nevis. Pierre took the opportunity to tell the legend of Allan ''Bratt'' MacDonald buried with his violin. The legend tells that he plays the reel that he composed at midnight every night of November from his toumb at the edge of Glen-Nevis cemetery.The video includes pictures of the visit made by Sylvie Castonguay, daughter of Real, son of Alexandre five years ago with the Allan family and the recent visit of Antoinette and Pierre Castonguay in December 2011, with the Nielson family. Pierre Castonguay thank the current owners of the house for their warm welcome in spite of this unexpected visit. Note the plate of the house dating from 1837 above the fireplace. This house was first used for the post and the arrival of travelers before becoming a family farm house. Several of the Highands Scottish immigrants and travelers have passed by this house.

Visite au Cimetière de Glen-Nevis, South Glengarry, Ontario

Voici l'adresse de l'église paroissiale et du cimetière :

21505 Butternut Lane, Glen-Nevis, North Lancaster Ontario K0C 1Z0