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8 The Acton Free Press Wed Juno Doors reopened for those attending Oustic RC church ST PETER SRC church in Oustic is one of history and architect iml After a s closing it was reopened last September and a growing congregation attends regular Sunday services Inserts show Father J Olinsky talking to a parishioner after service and the beautiful circular balcony of the district church and Within the portals of church built in IBM living church Is being resurrected and after n year of closing Is once again operating as a flourishing community place of worship drawing In a large weekly congregation St Peter a Roman Catholic church In has long been considered one of the finest small churches ar chitecturally in the Hamilton Diocese It was built in 1883 In the heart of a Roman Catholic community but its history Is much older A small group of pioneers some of them Catholic set tied In the and Oustic areas about the same time that the royal city of was first being colonized The Jesuit Fathers came to In and began looking the Catholics scattered over vast areas Including nearby Rock wood and The Catholics in the two centres trekked to Guelph for divine service for the most part but were also able to attend Mass on occasions in private residences Shortly after the establish ment of the church In Guelph a small building was obtained In Rockwood village and con verted for church use It wa3 given the title Sacred Heart church St Peter church Oustic was completed In 1B83 Both churches were tended by the Jesuit Fathers attached to Acton When Acton was established as a parish in 1893 the charge was attached to Acton as a mission The Sacred Heart church in con to be administered by Church of Our Lady Guelph until it was constituted a parish In at which time was attached as a dependent mission The arrangement continued for sometime with llltlc Increase in Catholic families in the area In a newspaper lary written in 1956 it says Although during World War II the Rockwood Oustic par has experienced a very smalt increase in Catholic population it continues to be a relatively small parish of Catholic families with about souls This figure is proximately the same as it was at the time of the blishtncnt of the parish in 193S In future years itlspos Out this parish may grow since theCfth of population is growing to wards the boundaries of the parish at the present time At the time of the article the Rev was In charge For several years he divided his time between the two lions Little by little the dance waned With the coming of Father Elliott into the area a few years ago changes occurred lie was put in charge of two parishes one Erin and the other the combined parish of the Rockwood ana churches The new priest Implemented Saturday night Masses but with the congregation already down loa minimal number of people the split was too much For the small farming com Farmers were unable to attend the Saturday Masses gradually only a few people were attending Decision made to dote rather reached his decision to close the church approximately two The congregation was requested to attend Heart in Rockwood I itlle by little Interior fur of the historical building Oustic were removed symbolic of the Roman Catholic tradition were placed in a back area of the church and several tides were taken into homes of families whose ancestors had been the donors Unhappy parishioners were dismayed at seeing their of worship closed down as the ecclesiastical furnishings were removed the barren building was bo irded up w ith the next step putting it on the for sole Many residents of the hamlet remembered when the local church was the Important centre In the area They felt a historical building was being disallowed without effort being to retrieve whit had been lost Bishop Paul Redding was contacted number of times by those who felt the church should be reopened Approximately one ycir ago new hope moved in on horizon of the congregation Pother A J was brought to parish to be in charge of the churches only He came with the intent of ministering to needs of the people and arrived full of energy and zeal The met his congregations saw the churches and acted Today the doors of St Peter ore open with regular Sunday masses held at 11 a m drawing great numbers of people Tne parking lot at the bock of the church hosts monyearsand as the 12 noon Angelus bell peals forth from STAINED GLASS windows in the historical church are ornate and beautiful the belfry it lells a story of rebirth of a church which Is no longer dead Restoration Father Is modest about his part In re establishing the church Ills philosophy Is that restoration begins with faith anil under his leadership work parties are bringing the beautiful old building back into shape The exterior has been worked on and wood areas painted The vintage bells donated years ago have re claimed to work perfectly Stone steps at the side of the church have been rebuilt and as the outside is completed the interior is also showing signs of Red carpet has been purchased and graces both entry hall and aisle to Ihe church chancel Next step is painting the walls and already congregation members are making plans for that A ways and means com has been formed The group under direction of chairman Richard burton is planning ways of raising money for restoration completion A thermometer graph placed the back of the church Indicates that date members of the congregation have donated towards renovations At one time the church was heated by a wood stove Today s heating system Is electric another newly Installed Item What is pleasing parishioners and their priest is that restoration in the old church simply means a return of the original in Romanes que design It boasts circular balcony for extra seating a circular altar rail ond other original fixtures many of which have been re trieved from places of safe keeping Idea is to bring back as opposed to update the original ap pearance of the church Huge lanterns which once hung from the ceiling ire being found smaller lanterns which hung by windows will also he hopes be discovered and replaced A tiropin at the home of Vincent and Ruth Price in the village shows them to be home again after a few months of visiting In the south with family members They arc both looking chipper and great and friends will be happy to know they are back in tne village again The Death family Including Ray Betty Ken Ronny ana granddaughter Amanda enjoyed a tour to via their 39 Plymouth recently Sixty carloads of people enjoyed a Saturday evening dance an early morning barbecued breakfast and a tour of the country including a visit to a leather and wool plant As usual the antique car buffs had a wonderful time and are getting in shape for more bummer car rallies Members of the and area Bible study group had their morning coffee mites from home last week when they decided to pa a visit to the home of a former member Mrs Williams Mrs Williams moved to London with her husband the Rev Ralph Williams about a year ago He was minister of the United church here and also president of the Sunshine Club Word Is that the couple are now settled into big city life They arc enjoying both the activities of their new church and community and their special role ab loving grandparents Their only son and family live close by Chatting over village happenings and catching up on news of friends and neigh bors occupied much of the visit The guests enjoyed a delicious luncheon served by the hostess who sends her best back to to her and her husband many friends Parents are asked to note there has been a change in Ihe date of the vacation Bible school It will be held during the last week of the summer Conservation purchases Approximately acres formerly known as the Bramalea property have been purchased in the city of Guelph to be added to the creek conservation ares According to the Grand ver Conservation Authority all member municipalities are designed as benefiting with the city of Guelph being named the major benefiting municipality vacation and organizers are anxious that all children mike a point of enrolling A busload of little people travelled to last and enjoyed the day visiting the Niagara area The grades four and five students of Cen school had their an nual outing and students bubbled with excitement when they home around anxious to explain the delights of the day activities It welcome home to Anne Vos who is back In Eden Mills once again after her sojourn in the hospital Word Is that she not completely recuperated but friends will be pleased to know she is home Great also to note is that Bardon is around in the vUlage again looking chipper after her recent stay in the hospital Welcome home to you too The Mills community centre was jumping last Wednesday evening when a large number of villagers attended the community shower for the popular Judy Guide leader Diana Wallace has relumed to Eden Milts after her four weeks Diana and her 13 year old son visited relate and friends in Diana s hometown of Potters Bar Hertfordshire England For Shane it was his first time visit to the seashore at Fantastic visit said the pair and Diana has mixed emotions about being home We arrived In at the end of April just when all the flowers were out and cherry blossoms were in full bloom According to Diana it the kind of England poets write about GRCA The increasing number of tent trailers and larger campers using conservation camping grounds is causing concern for the Grand River Conservation Authority Be cause the units require water sewage and electrical con veniences they arc placing a heavy load on available facilities at peak times With more and more units coming on the market the says more demands are being made and a de cision will have to be made on whether facilities In the parks will be extended or lines drawn on what can be offered to the campers Parish picnic planned at closing CWL meeting Nineteen members it ended the June meeting of the and Oustic Catholic Women League held at the home of Mrs Francis Coppes President Mrs A St ok man opened the with prayer and reports were given The treasurer s report showed that profit made on the Stanley Brush demon held at a recent meeting amounted to 35 Correspondence was read A letter from the sisters of St Joseph regarding the foster child in Guatemala was discussed and a motion was made thai the C W should adopt a new child named Cesar Lopez which the sisters have chosen The last child had left the sister Mrs Halliburton give report on the annual convention held this year in Hamilton She outlined two of activities A note from Mrs S regarding Bible school in was read and discussed This was followed by a Bible reading given by president Stokman motion is made that the price of tickets for the C I dance set for Oct 18 be raised from to per couple It was decided that a com CWL mem be given to Mrs Mary a resident at House Members learned the travelling basket for St Martin s Manor Health unit now checking units Manned with a spade prepared to dig if necessary representatives of the representatives of the Wei Guclph Health unit are in the village this week checking out septic systems and taking water samples According to trustee Pat Smith Main St will be thoroughly checked from limit to limit Men the rounds arc prepared to dig and investigate where they feel it is required Reportedly they are taking with them an elaborate questionnaire and ire questioning villagers on pro blems if any Some residents whose systems have been checked live outside village limits Others say Iheir water has not been checked for some time It would seem this most recent survey is covering a larger area of the village than those of previous invesli gallons 1M1 ItANT I HOURS ThurklOam ft Sat 10 Sunday 12 Noon Tel 8532060 FARM BUILDINGS lor every MARTIN UNITED Talk To Our Friendly Representatives Aspiration restorrd As the appearance of Ihe church Is restored so It arc the aspirations the faith and the numbers of those attending Coffee after services provides lime for parishioners lo fraternize and get to know each other It Is served faithfully each Sunday as another reach toward Christian friendliness in Iroduccd by Father when he reopened church last September At this point It is obvious that the smaller church In could not handle the combined congregations of both St Peter and sacred Heart the same time The congregation is pleased that they can now stand atone as strong and self supporting Although St Peter is enjoying new status of independence members of both churches in the parish remalnconstnnt Through 111 Ihey hold Joint such as parish picnics dances etc In Sep ember a mammoth antique auction CHURCH ST 1 Sunday km THE NEW sign donated by a member of the congregation will soon hang outside the Oustic 11C church on Fifth Con cession Grass too high High grass and an over abundance of weeds raised concerted beefs after last Sunday Decoration Day service held at the cemetery Several village and district residents at tending the ceremony said they were going write the village trustees and com plain disgraceful was the remark passed several limes Some said the cemetery has not been kept up this year felt for such an important event it should have been specially sale is on the agendo Placed carefully on a side wall of the church is a brand freshlypaintedwith black lettering ready for j hanging outside at the front It reads SI Peters Roman Catholic Church Oustic 1883 Sunday Mass 11am Rev A J The sign is donated by whose grandfather drew one of the first slones used as lion for the building Mr always felt the church should have a sign but one was never placed Tourists visiting the area would have to make enquiries to learn about times service It seemed appropriate to Mr tint at this time of fixing up such sign should be made will be hung sometime this week and will be one way of that the church is now open again welcoming alt visitors and residents in the community to enter and participate in its fellow ship Your Hortw Decorating Headquarters HOME DECORATING CENTRE 25 Steele Ave Milton 8783263 ESTIMATES TltUfl 111 p Work Boats rcilUcd a profit of this I year I After discussion it was I decided to break for the I summer and hold the next I meeting in September it the I home of Mrs Willtim Mrs Bacon I will be charge of notes or cards sent to the sick of the parish Parish picnic Minutes of the meetings I will be put in the Sunday I bulletins for all parish women I to read The decision that the I annual parish picnic will be I held the third Sunday of I August met with approval of I ill members Talent v discussed Time of returning j money has been extended to October so that all members may complete their projects It was decided to send a card of congratulations to Father the former parish priest who will eelebnte an anniversary on Sept 7 Mrs Saunders explained the lottery that Bishop high school was having A motion was made to one for the Rock wood and CWL I was served by the hostess Winner of Ihe evening lucky draw was Mrs May Synnot FULL SWING TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LOWEST PRICES ON TOP BRAND NAME MERCHANDISE INTHE AREA Many people have already taken advantage of the fantastic sayings to be had on our complete lines of Home Furnishings Why dont you FIRST COME FIRST SATISFIED omestea INTERIORS FURNITURE PLENTY OF FREE PARKING FREE DELIVERY FREE SET UP GEORGETOWN ONTARIO