Saint Joseph Parish (Tilley) Founded: Population: Families: 1903 94 46

ANDERSON ROAD, BLUE BELL, PLASTER ROCK,
AND TILLEY PASTORAL UNIT

Members of the Parish Pastoral Team

Fr. Curtis Sappier, moderator
Mr. Harold Short-Evans, Mrs. Anne Dickson, Mrs. Georgine Rioux
and Mrs. Judy St. Peter, pastoral agents,
Mrs. Rita Baker, and Mrs. Patricia Rossignol

P.E.A.C. Chairperson: Mr. David Baker (506) 273-2339

Mass / Celebration of the Word

Sunday: 11:00AM

"Come to the Lord, the living stone, rejected by men but approved, nonetheless, and precious in God's eyes. You too are living stones, built as an edifice of spirit, into a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2: 4-6)

The land on which St. Joseph Church now stands was purchased from two neighbours, George and John Baker on August 23, 1894, each ceding a portion of his property. The cornerstone was laid and the church built in 1895. The pews were made in 1906 by Bill Ryan, brother of Father Frederick Ryan, the then parish priest. The same year, the bell was bought from the Meneely Company of West Troy, NY, and bears the following engraving: "The Immaculate Conception—Godfather: Henri McQuade, Godmother: Mrs. L. McQuade" and the names of Joe Beaumaster, Owen Goodine, Isaac Sullivan, John Baker, and Lewis McQuade. The rectory, built in 1926, once stood on the church ground; in 1929, a sacristy was added on to the rear of the church. It is now incorporated to the Paul Baker house, next to the church.

The parish was ministered to by:

1894-1895:  1895-1903:  1904-1906:  1906-Aug. 1921:

Fr. F. Wallace Fr. F. Dugal Eudist Fathers Aimé Morin and Olivier de Fer de la Motte Fr. Frederick Ryan

In 1921, the anglophone missions of southern Victoria County became the charge of the Franciscan Fathers. Among those who ministered at Tilley were:

1921-1923:  1921-1924:  1923-1936:  1926-1936:  1936-1940:  1940-1943:  1943-1948:  1948-1970:  1970-1972:  1973:  1973-1990:  1990-1996:  1996-1998:  1998-1999:  1999-2007:  2007-....:

Fr. Hugolin Lemay, O.F.M., the first superior Fr. Sylvester Beaudet Fr. Raymond Pennafort Willey Fr. Berard Nobert Fr. Samuel Côté Fathers Gregory Léger and Berard Nobert Fr. John Paul Morneault Fr. Berard Nobert Fr. Lionel Beaulieu Fr. Matthew Audibert Fr. Norman Thibodeau Fr. Leo Grégoire, I.V.D. Fr. Curtis Sappier, Administrator Fr. Pierre Thibodeau, Administrator Parish Pastoral Team (Fr. Pierre Thibodeau, Moderator) Parish Pastoral Team (Fr. Curtis Sappier, Moderator)

Référence : Livre-souvenir à l'occasion du 50e anniversaire de la fondation du diocèse d'Edmundston publié par la Revue de la Société Historique du Madawaska (vol. XXIII, numéros 1, 2, 3 et 4), 1995.

Photo : Jacques G. Albert