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St. Brieux church celebrates centennial

ST. BRIEUX — St. Brieux Catholic Church has passed its centennial date and is incredibly structurally sound, said parish council chair Bernard Ferre.
St. Brieux Catholic Church

ST. BRIEUX — St. Brieux Catholic Church has passed its centennial date and is incredibly structurally sound, said parish council chair Bernard Ferre.

The church’s centennial anniversary on July 27 included a Saturday morning service, auction, cemetery blessing, children's activities and a presentation on the history of the church within the community.

The church was constructed in 1918, before it was blessed on July 27, 1919, said Ferre. Since then, it’s undergone a number of additions, including the eastern and western wings in 1950 and a rectory in early 1960.

In 1988 through ‘99, major renovations were required for the roof and foundation.

“It looked pretty scary” at that time, Ferre said, “… like it was going to be condemned.” 

Yet both were fixed to near-perfect condition with the help of local labourers, he said.

Like with the renovations decades ago, St. Brieux’s church has a tradition of attracting help when it’s needed for a good cause, said centennial committee member Kristen Bertrand.

“If something needs to be done, you talk to the people who are at the church,” she said. “They come together and they rally, and they get things done.”

Betrand has lived in St. Brieux for 11 years, but said she was immediately drawn to the community provided by the town’s church.

“It was wonderful to see how welcoming everybody was,” she said.