The parishioners are happy
After Bishop Grouard’s visit to Donnelly, the people were pleased and felt that a weight had been removed from their shoulders. They felt they had gained some respect and independence. There were many happy people and also some very talented people. Here I am thinking of a priest who had said,” Many priests would like to be pastor of Donnelly because it’s a nice, warm parish.”
Here are but a few examples of people who helped make the parish a warm place in which to live. Philias Maisonneuve (he who had made the plans for the addition to the Falher church…1916) and other parishioners gave of their time to work on the construction so that it would cost little for the Falher parish (1917).
Mrs. Marie-Anne Gravel who took care of 21 sick people and saved 20 of them is another example. During all this time Mrs. Gravel had not once slept in her bed, but rather in a chair to be close to the sick and dying. The medical authorities in Edmonton were always surprised that this woman could hold out so long. My father who ran errands for those who were ill, but especially for Mrs. Gravel told us that when she opened the door of the Immigration Hall a sliver to take in the errands, the smell of fever made one step back, but she remained with these ill people during all the time needed. I wonder how many other “Mrs. Gravels” there were in Alberta in 1918…
In 1919, the veterans with Philias Maisonneuve’s co-operation cut logs in the Maisonneuve sawmill in order to fulfill their promise to build a chapel.
In the 1920’s and after, the parishioners, at least once a month and often twice per month gathered to sing together. Each had his own particular song. Mrs. Blanche Béland had copied (by hand) all the songs which everyone sang. Mrs. Georges Servant was always the first to sing and then each one sang his/her song when the time came. I saw this notebook, and gave it back to Mrs. Béland but as the years went by, we each moved and each kept certain souvenirs for a few years then each of us lost, misplaced or got rid of some things….
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