Category: Updates
An Appeal to Help Preserve the Legacy of St. Patrick’s Church in Whiteside on Cape Breton Island

An Appeal to Help Preserve the Legacy of St. Patrick’s Church in Whiteside on Cape Breton Island

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Please Consider a Donation to The Whiteside Church Preservation Society (St. Patrick’s), Cape Breton Island

Preserving our past in memory of all our ancestors.

Dear Friends of St. Patrick’s Church,

It is with sincere thanks that we extend our heartfelt appreciation to all those who have generously supported St. Patrick’s over the last 10 years. Financial donations, donations of labour for preservation, assistance with our annual summer and St. Patrick’s Day Masses and lunch celebrations, and memorial bequests on behalf of your loved ones have been greatly appreciated. The Whiteside Church Preservation Society was established in 2014 because so many of you recognise the importance of preserving local heritage and honouring our ancestors.

Today we are reaching out to you for your help. The church windows must be repaired, and we are launching a fundraising appeal to cover the cost of this historic restoration. The $28,000 restoration will be completed by Sherbrooke Village. Our goal is $30,000, and any donation, large or small, will help with the restoration. Donors will receive a charitable receipt for donations over $20.00, and all names (not amounts) will be published on our Facebook page to recognise your generosity.

Perhaps you prefer to give a gift of your time. We would love to see you reach out to all your relatives near and far, to organize and sponsor a window in memory of a family ancestor. A permanent dedication plaque will be located below the window. This church has served as a faith and community foundation to our ancestors bearing the names of Doyle, MacDonald, Cameron, King, Morgan, Shannon, Scanlan, McNamara, Proctor, White, Walker, Cogswell, Fougere, Morash, Welch, Johnson, Meagher, Boudreau, MacCuish, Hearn, Ferguson, Hayes, Malcolm, McCarthy, Arsenault, and many others.

Now is the time to honour our Cape Breton ancestors, who built this church through hard work and sacrifice. St. Patrick’s Church is an integral element of the history, identity, and culture of Cape Breton Island. See below how you can help. Thank you in advance for your kind assistance.

Kindest regards,
The Whiteside Church Preservation Society

Did you know?

  • The first church on St. Patrick’s site faced westward and was built in 1865. The current church was built in 1919 and blessed by Rev. Angus D. Beaton. During the first Mass, Fr. Beaton also blessed a new bell donated by Mrs. Timothy White of Whiteside and four statues donated by Miss Mary McCormack of Cleveland.
  • St. Patrick’s Church is designated as an Official Historic Property and has Municipal Heritage Status.
  • With honour and respect, we proudly recognise that St. Patrick’s sits on the Mi’kmaq traditional ancestral homelands.

How can you help?

  1. Sponsor a family or ancestor window for $2,000. A permanent plaque listing names will be placed under the window. Example:
    In loving memory of Joseph and Elizabeth Carlton.
    Donation by: Joe and Mary Jones, David Smith, Carol Green, and families.You may also wish to sponsor a window in honour of a family ancestor name (e.g., “O’Leary Family”) or dedicate it to something meaningful, such as:

    • “To Our Irish Ancestors”
    • “In Memory of our Indigenous Ancestors”
    • “In loving memory of all those who perished at sea”
    • “Dedicated to all nurses, past and present”
  2. Make any size donation and be recognized for the “In memory of Ancestors of St. Patrick’s” window.
  3. Give a gift of time to help spread the word of our fundraising appeal through social media, email, and other forms of communication.

New Volunteers Welcomed
No experience needed. Time commitment is just a few hours a year to assist the executive committee with various small tasks (many of which can be done remotely). The society is well-established, and now is the time to join. Don’t be shy. Email or leave your name with one of our members:

  • Brenda White
  • Paul and Lorna Tyrell
  • Elaine and Richard Cook
  • Karen Walker
  • Frank Meagher
  • Marilyn Demers
  • Michelle Hayes

Donation Details:
Cheques may be mailed to:
St. Patrick’s Church Preservation Society
Module 3, P.O. Box 7, 1621 Whiteside Rd., Whiteside, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, B0E 1J0

Or send an e-transfer to: stpatrickswhiteside@outlook.com

Get updates on our appeal via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WhitesideChurch

Join our Facebook community group: www.facebook.com/groups/whitesidechurch/

All donor names will be recognized on our Facebook site (names only) unless you indicate you wish to remain anonymous.An Appeal to Help Preserve the Legacy of St. Patrick’s Church on Cape Breton Island
Thank you

Thank you

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The Whiteside Church Preservation Society would like to extend a very special thank-you to all those who made it
possible to celebrate our July Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Whiteside. A sincere thanks to Celebrant Fr. Duncan
MacIsaac, altar server Paul Tyrell, lectors Barbara Meagher, Lucy Voss, and Frank Meagher, Eucharistic Minister Elaine
Cook, ushers Dennis McNamara and Lorna Tyrell, pianist Elizabeth McNamara, soloist Richard Cook, the St. Francis de
Sales Choir, bell ringer Billy Proctor, and gift bearers Vera Bourque and Brenda White. The mass was offered for all
those who are buried at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, with special mention to those community members who passed away
since our March 17th Mass (Howard Cogswell, Elmer Scanlan, Bernard Fougere, Eileen Reinders, Shirley Joyce, Shirley
McNamara, Beryl MacDonald-MacLeod, and Martin Bertele). After mass, Fr. Duncan offered a special blessing in the
cemetery to honour our ancestors. The Whiteside Church Preservation Society unveiled a framed heritage designation
plaque which was awarded to St. Patrick’s by the Municipality. A special thank-you to Francis McEachern for mounting
the plaque outside the church. The community luncheon was enjoyed by all at the Riverdale Community Centre thanks
to the support of several people including the Board Members of the Riverdale Community Centre for use of the
facility, Ralph & Dorothy Wildsmith and Marie King who helped at the luncheon and prepared tea and coffee, all those
who graciously donated food trays and flowers for the occasion, and to Michelle Hayes for the donation of the beautiful
cake. There was a special lucky draw during the luncheon for a hand-crafted storage bin donated by Francis and Brenda
MacEachern. The winner was Michelle McPhee. We extend our thanks to Francis and Brenda MacEachern for donating
this great prize. Our deepest appreciation to all who were able to attend, and we ask for your prayers and support as we
continue to preserve St. Patrick’s Church in honour of our ancestors.

Thank you!

Thank you!

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A wonderful thank-you to Elizabeth Finnigan for the donation of a beautiful statue of St. Joseph. The statue has been placed in the church for all to see.

 

In Memory of Roseann Proctor

In Memory of Roseann Proctor

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The Whiteside Church Preservation Society wishes to extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Ms. Roseann Proctor upon hearing of her passing. She was a resident of Evanston and a longtime member of St. Francis de Sales parish. Roseann was well known in the area for her outstanding community contributions, including her involvement as a Lay Minister in her parish of St. Francis de Sales, and in the Catholic Women’s League. Burial is at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Whiteside.

May her soul and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace.

St. Patrick’s Mass & Luncheon

St. Patrick’s Mass & Luncheon

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St. Patrick’s Annual Mass will take place Sunday July 15th, 2018 at St, Patrick’s Church in Whiteside. Luncheon to follow. Our church is 99 years old this year! Come out and help us celebrate, and bring a friend!

 

A very special note of thanks is extended to all those who helped make St. Patrick’s Day Mass in Whiteside such a wonderful occasion.

  • Celebrant Fr. Joe MacKenzie
  • Music Ministry Elizabeth McNamara, Wayne McNamara, Terry McNamara, Richard Cook, and Donelda Boudreau
  • Church Preparation: Elaine Cook, Francis and Brenda White, Marilyn Demers
  • Liturgical Ministry: Sharon Hearn, Catherine Totten, Richard and Elaine Cook, Rose Ann Proctor, Paul Tyrell, Edward Sampson, Sylvester MacInnis, Colleen Morgan, Marilyn Demers, Carol McNamara, and Billy Proctor.
  • Organization and Programs: Barb Malcolm

 

We must also extend a heartfelt thanks to all those who were in attendance. Your presence was a concrete reminder of the importance of St. Patrick’s Church. So many people commented on the wonderful turnout of children and youth. It is a blessing to see multi-generations coming together to celebrate the Eucharist. We hope to see all of you again on July 15th for the Annual Family Mass and Luncheon.

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to All!