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Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Parish This historic parish community is to be found in the southern half of Tyendinaga Township in Hastings County. It is composed of Concessions 1 to 4 and the eastern half of Concession 5 Irish Roman Catholic settlers began settling in the township in the early 1820s and were cared for spiritually by Father Michael Brennan of St. Michael’s in Belleville. Sufficient numbers had arrived in the area by 1831 to warrant the petitioning of the government for a church, school, and burying lot on the 1st Concession. A second petition in 1835 signed by 128 laymen resulted in the building of a stone church in 1837. (This historic building still stands and is used as the parish hall.) Early records contain entries from Richmond, Camden East, Fredericksburg, Adolphustown, and Tyendinaga. It is not clear that the first priest was appointed in 1837 since the records in Marysville begin on January 1, 1841. Early records from Marysville can be found in St. Michael, Belleville. From 1841, Father Charles Bourke actively tended the needs of this large, geographic area as evidenced in 1853 when Father Bourke administered 123 baptisms. The growth in population resulted in the creation of the parish of St. Charles Borromeo, Read, in 1854. This was to cover the northern townships and western half of the 5th Concession. The Catholic community in Napanee built a church which was shared by Read and Marysville priests until 1864. Until 1878, the Catholic community of Deseronto either was served at Marysville or in the home of Tobias Butler. At that time, Napanee took over the care of the community. Father Bourke died in 1856 and was buried beneath the sanctuary in the old Marysville church. His grave was moved to the graveyard when the new church was built. Father Thomas Walsh then became pastor until 1858. At that time, Father Mackey, who had been one of the early settlers and a school teacher, became pastor for the next 35 years. He was the focus of a strong and vigourous community, marked by a large number of vocations to the priesthood and to the religious communities. On Father Mackey’s retirement in 1893, Archbishop Cleary indicated he would only appoint a new priest if a decent rectory was built. The prompt action of the community resulted in a new rectory being built by 1894 and the appointment of Father J. S. Quinn in 1893. It was in late 1893 that Archbishop Cleary met with Catholic ratepayers regarding the 5th line school and had the school section (which served both Read and Marysville parishioners) become a separate school section. Three other school sections in the parish of Read also became separate school sections. In 1899, Father John S. O’Connor became the pastor of Marysville. He was followed in 1907 by Father Meagher who was then succeeded in 1921 by Father O’Gorman. The inadequacy of the old church led to deliberations in February, 1930 to build a new church. The large amount of money that was donated by the “George McGurn” family alleviated the financial concerns of the enterprise. The sod was turned at the end of April and the cornestone was laid on August 3. On December 18, the new church, Holy Name of Mary, was solemnly blessed by Archbishop O’Brien. Father O’Gorman died in 1948 and is buried in Marysville. He was succeeded by Father Ignatius Donoghue. The present spruce trees at the front were planted in the late 1950's. Father Donoghue died in 1960 and was succeeded for a short term by Father Gerald O’Hearn. Father O’Hearn began proceedings for the establishment of a separate school on the church property. His good work was continued by Father J.J. O’Neill who arrived in 1961 and oversaw the building of a three-room Holy Name of Mary Separate School in 1962. In that year, 93 students were enrolled in Grade 1-8. Father O’Neill had the church parking lot paved. A two-car garage and enclosed verandah was added to the rectory. A large cross, a gift of the McCauley family, was added to the cemetery while the statue of Our Lady was built between the rectory and church. Father O’Neill was replaced by Father William Dwyre in 1967. Father Dwyre completed the renovations of Holy Name of Mary that were started by Father O’Neill. One of the notable accomplishments was the completion of a floor to ceiling mural of the Risen Lord. During his tenure, the parish council began. Holy Name of Mary School added another classroom, gym, stage and kitchen in 1968. Kindergarten education began in the school in 1971. In 1977, Father Gerald Scanlon arrived . During his tenure, hall renovations were completed. Ceiling fans, a washroom, and carpeting were added to the church. The parking lot was repaved. Father was instrumental in establishing pot luck dinners with entertainment. In 1980, the 50th anniversary of the new church was celebrated by Archbishop Wilhelm. Shortly afterward, in 1981, Deseronto parish began to be administered by the priest in Marysville. In 1984, one of Marysville’s foremost historians, James F. Kenny, one of the founders of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association, was remembered by an unveiling of a plaque in the cemetery. The early records were laminated and bound in green leather by Father Jackman. In 1987, the parishioners celebrated 150 years as a parish. Special celebrations included the celebration of the Eucharist by Archbishop Spence, the publishing of a parish history, and the visit of many former parishioners and descendants of the early pioneers. In 1987, Father Pat Carty became the pastor of Marysville. The parish began its annual Christmas concert in that year and started Children’s Liturgies which continued until 2004. In 1991, Father Lloyd Cummings replaced Father Carty. During his tenure, in 1996, renovations of the church occurred with a beautiful hall and kitchen in the basement gracing the church. In 1994, Holy Name of Mary School added a 4 classroom portable onto the main school building. In 2001, with Father Cummings’ retirement and the shortage of priests, it was necessary to place Deseronto, Marysville, and Read parishes under the administration of one priest who resided in Marysville. Father Michael Reed was instrumental in ceramic tiles being placed in the basement. Some renovations occurred in the rectory at this time. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Monday through Wednesday began during this time. The parish was blessed with the visit of the cross which went to Toronto for World Youth Day in 2004. In 2005, Father Mark Chochrek moved from Thunder Bay Diocese and became the pastor of the combined parishes. Since his time, washrooms in the church hall have been upgraded, renovations have occurred in the rectory, and an upgraded sound system has been added in the church. The parish was blessed with the visit of the Ark of the New Covenant in March 2007, while it was on its way to Quebec for the Eucharistic Congress. The recording of the Church cemetery will be finished in the summer of 2007. Vocations
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