History of St. Veronica's Parish (Part Four)
1936 - Parish of St. Veronica
officially proclaimed at 9:30 a.m., August 30 at Pontifical High Mass
celebrated by Right Rev. R. H. Dignan, Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste.
Marie.
Father Leo Gerard Smith was appointed parish
priest.
July 10: First baptism of six infants took place.
They were: Cecelia Joyanne McMillan, Walter Thomas Piche, Olga Mary Piche,
Stella Anne Piche, Frederich Joseph Wasylewich and Edward James
Wasylewich.
September 2: first wedding celebrated between
Edward Michael Potoczny and Annie Pollock by Father L.
Smith.
First funeral of one of our parishioners, Joseph Dupuis who passed away November 21, 1936.
1937 - May 30: class of 73 children receive their first holy communion.
1938 - March 22: Right Rev. R. H. Dignan, Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie, administered the sacrament of confirmation for the first time in our parish to 132 youths.
1939 - Luigi Amadio, son of the late Mr. & Mrs. G. Amadio was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Consolata Missionaries at the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in Turin, Italy by Cardinal M. Fossati on June 29.
1944 - One of the city's finest softball teams, St. Veronica's wins city championship and goes on to win the Northern Ontario softball championship.
1945 - Dec. 27 Thomas O'Dell, son
of the late Mr. & Mrs. Charles O'Dell, Sr. was buried with
full
military honours.
1946 - August 15: The first young lady of our parish Vicky Shami, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. G. Shami professed her final vows in the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in North Bay and assumes the name of Sister St. Paul.
1948 - August 15: Another young lady of our parish Edith Amadio, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. A. Amadio professed her final vows in the congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in North Bay and assumes the name of Sister Editha.
1951 - Work commenced on present
church which was consecrated in 1952. The new church was built
at a cost of $90,000. Father V. J. O'Donnell, pastor, and Father F.O. Murphy,
assistant pastor. The church was heavily damaged by fire July 12,
1955.
The parish at this time was one of the largest in the city.
1955 - July 12: church heavily damaged by fire. The interior and roof were completely destroyed. Damage estimated at $50,000. Only four months later, during the rebuilding of the church, fire broke out again. However, damage was slight mostly smoke and water.
