40th ANNIVERSARY NEWS LETTER
We are celebrating our 40 years as a Parish. Transfiguration of Our Lord 40 Years What is this all about? It means memories of happiness and sadness with 40 years of a wonderful Parish and life styles for many families. Let's wander down memory lane to the beginning of this Parish. Some five years before Transfiguration of Our Lord became a canonical parish, English-speaking parishioners in the area of Cartierville and northern parts of St. Laurent recognized the need for religious services in the area. Cartierville was booming with new families. At this time the population served as a mission of St. Rita's Parish located in Ahunstic. Sunday masses were celebrated in Blessed Oliver Plunkett School located on the southeast corner of O'Brien and Salaberry. Several different priests from St. Rita's including Father Michael Healey, Father Walter Lallemond and Father David Fitzpatrick helped the people celebrate mass.
At one point the local parishioners discerned that they needed a parish of their own. Their desire was granted and Transfiguration of Our Lord was...established by Paul Emile Cardinal Leger, Archbishop of Montreal, November 30, 1961. Its territory actually consisted of portions of the parish of St Rita, Our Lady of Fatima and Notre Dame de Bois Franc. Father Edward Penny was named the first pastor of Transfiguration. There was no shortage of commitment for this fledging parish as eight wardens were chosen from fifteen candidates to accept the responsibility of administering the parish along with Father Penny on December 27, 1961.
On April 21st, 1963, the parishioners accepted the proposal to purchase the land from the city of Montreal for the erection of a parochial building. During the preparation for and construction of the church building on the corner of Dudemaine and Filion, the community continued to celebrate Sunday mass at Blessed Oliver Plunkett School. The children born during the construction were baptized in Father Penny's home located on Jean Masse and at St. Rita's Parish. First Communion and Confirmation took place at Our Lady of Fatima, while church bazaars and other activities were held in the school. The first mass in our present church, blessed by Paul Emile Cardinal Leger was celebrated on Thanksgiving weekend, Sunday October 10th, 1965.
This is the first of several newsletters we will be publishing during the year. Each newsletter will give you a glimpse (photo shot) of the past. We hope you will attend various events we have planned for the year, these events will be promoted in our bulletin. Our first event was a very successful dinner dance held on Saturday, January 27th in our church hall.
40th Anniversary Steering Committee
Founding Pastor
