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Windsor’s Parade You Found What Why Archives are Attendance Estimated in in the Basement? Important the Tens of Th ousands Special collection items (and required by Canon Law) Page 10 PagesPages 2 & 11 Page 3 NEWSLETTERN E W S L E T T E R OOFF TTHEH E DIOCESE OF LONDON Fall 2009 • Number 133 Elgin, Essex, Huron, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford and Perth Counties www.rcec.london.on.ca Arc hives Archives Play a Vital Role in Our Diocese Among all areas and divisions within purpose for maintaining the diocesan Closer to home, the Archives of the Diocese of London is a formidable the central administration of the archives is to centralize, organize, Diocese of London have proven to task, yet it is handled with skill and diocese, perhaps the least visible and preserve, protect and make available be an invaluable and indispensable enthusiasm by our Assistant Archivist, least known are the Archives of the the records and materials which resource in recent diocesan Debra Majer. Her passion for and Diocese of London. Yet, their low pertain to the origin, history, spirit endeavours. devotion to this labour has made our profi le belies their importance in the and development of the diocese. diocesan archives an asset not only for work of the chancery and in the overall Th e publication of the fi rst history of researchers but also for the leadership, eff orts of the diocese to maintain Archival materials created from the diocese, Gather Up the Fragments, parishes and people of the diocese. continuity with our past as we face the within the Diocese of London provide published to mark the one hundred challenges of the future. knowledge of the Church’s heritage and fi ft ieth anniversary of the diocese, Th us, while their profi le may be and furnish an incentive to continue would not have been possible without low, the Archives of the Diocese of In some ways, the diocesan archives the good work of the people of God the vital assistance of the archives in London, nevertheless, off er a service are the heart of the diocesan Curia. in the local Church. In addition, the providing primary source materials to our diocese that is unique and Indeed, one of the synonyms for diocesan archives are a continuation of for the authors and researchers. irreplaceable. Like a gigantic family “archive” is “chancery.” Th e archives the history of southwestern Ontario. Th e enormous initiative of parish photo album, the archives reveal where are the depository of the documents Th us, they contribute in a singular reorganization also benefi tted from we have come from and the people and records of the government of way to the distinct historical fabric the services of the diocesan archives. who have been a part of our story. the diocese as it carries out its work of the Church in Ontario and even to With parishes and churches closing, Th ey provide a bridge from the past to of assisting the bishop in his task of an understanding of the Church in the archives ensured the preservation the present and into the future. shepherding that portion of the people Canada. and protection of records, artifacts and of God entrusted to his care. Th e liturgical items from the communities aff ected. Th e management Canada Post Corporation/Société canadienne des postes of the huge and Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, c.s.b. Postage paid Port payé Publications mail Poste-lettres growing collection in Bishop of London the Archives of the 10198 London NEWSLETTER OF THE DIOCESE OF LONDON FALL 2009 2 >> Not Quite! with the SchoolSchool of Christ. Mr. come back home from spending PensaPensa was a pupil iin one of the more than 30 years in Peru. ByBD Debrab Majer,Mj Assistant A i fifirst rst classescclasses of tthehe sschool then Archivist for the Diocese to bebe an announcer during his The Holy Rosary World War II Scrapbook of London teen years. Monsignor West In the summer of 2007, as Th omasom Flannery was the force “You are a what?” records were being identifi ed behindbehin this very successful It is never easy trying to and collected from the former ministry,mini which aired on radio explain what I do for the Our Lady of the Rosary church, for thet fi rst time on December diocese. Many people are Windsor, or more formally know 3, 19391 and in 1954 made surprised that the Diocese as Holy Rosary, a scrapbook was its way to television, airing of London has enough found aft er laying forgotten for ununtil 1963. Students from the historic records to require a nearly 65 years. vault, let alone enough that I LoLondon elementary separate need additional storage space.ce. scschools were selected to Records of 344 men and women What I have come to realize ttake part as pupils of the who had enlisted in the war in the last fi ve years is that thehe pprogram or members of the eff ort for the Second World majority of people have neverer vavvariousr choirs. Th e radio and War were typed on the back been introduced to the necessityssity tettelevisionl broadcasts, which of cards from the Ford Motor whwwhere intended to teach the of preserving the Diocese off aspectsaspeccts Company. Entries consisted trtruerue Catholic faith to Catholics London’s history. At times, a off the h Archives’A hi ’ of personal, family, novel and anand non-Catholics, were signifi cant part of my role has collection would not military information along with picked-uppic by stations across been to educate those around have been organized. a photograph. Some included OntarioOn and parts of the United me, within the diocese as well Steering students specifi c battle information, States.Sta as those not affi liated with the through various especially if they fought during Dieppe or took part in D-Day. Church, towards the nature of arrangement and Fr. Paul F. Mooney has also For those who lost their life our Catholic history and how it description as well takentak part by sharing stories during service, a white cross has shaped and complimented as conservation aboutabo his time in Peru and the marks the entry. On occasion, the overall history of projects has allowed missionarymi work which he was the actual obituary from the southwestern Ontario. for additional involvedinv with from 1961-67. records and local paper was included. Much of the work in BeingBei one of the fi rst priests artifacts to be Th e men and women maintaining the archives is to fromfro the diocese to be sent to the processed which in turnurn immortalized in the locate, organize, centralize, Oral MissionMi in Monsefu, Fr. Mooney builds and enriches thehe archives’ scrapbook were all members preserve, protect and make HistoryHistory would forge ahead to establish catalogue. of the Holy Rosary parish available materials which pertain Initiative a Mission in Zana. Fr. Mooney’s community. It has been stated to the history, and development Th ere never seems to be a dull As a continuing commitment in personal account of his time in that many of the names are of the diocese. Historical records moment in my job. If I am not capturing the complete history South America is completely still very much a part of created from within the diocese’s in the vault trying to put some of the diocese, an oral history invaluable as much of the records the Windsor community. A geographical area provide us order to the documentary chaos, initiative has taken shape by way which exist in the archives mystery still surrounds what with knowledge of the Church’s then I’m on the road eager to of gathering eyewitness accounts on the Peruvian missions are person or church group was heritage and how it has impacted locate the next great historic about past events, programs and administrative and do not responsible for the collection the history of southwestern fi nd that continues to support ministries within our diocese. capture the true essence of the of personal information Ontario. As one can imagine, the our rich diocesan history-both Collecting personal interviews priests’ personal experiences. and photographs. Such an collection attracts researchers the triumphs and tragedies. are intended to fi ll in gaps Th is chapter in the diocese’s initiative would have taken from many diff erent disciplines It has been a gift to develop where the written record is not history would offi cially end in much coordination and who are mostly interested in the archives and have the present and to gainn a broader 1992 when the last of our time tto complete. What researching from the bishops’ opportunity to discover many understanding of events from a priests wouldd papers, sacramental registers, treasures while rummaging more personal perspective.rspective. an ininvaluable treasure priest biographies and parish hahass bbeen left for the through dark, damp church/ Th e fi rst of these fi les. Th e collection also attracts diocdiocese and especially rectory basements and attics. oral histories was teachers and students who have the Windsor area. But overall, the true gift is the an interview with a curiosity on the nature of attention and support which Claude Pensa, Th e Windsor Star Catholic archives. has been bestowed upon the counsel to the didigitized all 344 safeguarding of our diocesan Without the continued support major Southwesternrn enentries, which can past, a past so worthy of of summer students and Ontario law fi rm, bbe viewed on their preserving! volunteers from Western’s Harrison Pensa, wwebsite.