Saint Viateur Parish in Limoges celebrated its 125th anniversary with a gala on October 24, honouring its history and raising funds for church renovations. (Paroisse Saint-Viateur de Limoges, Facebook)

Saint Viateur Parish in Limoges marked its 125th anniversary with a gala on Saturday, October 24, celebrating more than a century of faith and community involvement while raising funds for renovations to the church.

The event, held at the Saint Viateur School gymnasium, was part of a series of activities organized since June to mark the milestone. The celebrations will continue until December.

For Anne Charron Dignard, chair of the 125th anniversary committee, the milestone represents an opportunity to recognize the parish’s importance in the development of Limoges and bring the community together to help preserve it.

“Before a village can become a village, there is a church. The parish is established first. Then the community grows,” she explained.

Founded in 1901, the parish has served generations of families in Limoges. According to Charron Dignard, the church was rebuilt in 1924, reflecting the continuity of its role in the community.

The parish’s priest, Father Diego Rebeles, emphasized that the church represents much more than a building or a gathering place.

“It is first and foremost a focal point for a community. It is a source of Christian Catholic spirituality for generations of families,” he said.

From baptisms to funerals, including First Communion, confirmation and marriage, the parish accompanies parishioners through different stages of their lives. It also helps strengthen the bonds between members of the community.

Fundraising to Preserve the Church

In addition to celebrating its history, the 125th anniversary provides an opportunity to address the church building’s maintenance needs. Work is required to repair damaged ceilings and repaint the interior of the church.

The anniversary celebrations and fundraising activities were organized concurrently to support the renovations.

At the time of the interview, Father Rebeles said the parish had raised $ $40,000 toward its $50,000 goal. The gala was expected to help increase the total through sponsorships and a silent auction.

Charron Dignard said she was touched by the response from residents and businesses in the area, who had offered their support for the initiative.

“People come forward and say, ‘Yes, we can help.’ […] It warms your heart,” she said.

The gala featured performances by local musicians, including a young violinist, singer-songwriter Hugo Surprenant and a clarinet player. Testimonials, a silent auction and speeches by religious, municipal and school representatives were also part of the program.

For the organizers, this support demonstrates the community’s attachment to its church and its desire to preserve that heritage for future generations.

Strengthening Community Ties for the Future

The 125th anniversary also aims to renew the community’s sense of belonging to the parish. Father Rebeles hopes the celebrations will strengthen relationships among parishioners and give new momentum to community life.

He referred to the vision of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, which encourages communities to reach out to others, deepen their faith and move forward together.

The church renovations could also help attract new parishioners. The priest said some people had already expressed interest in getting married there after seeing the improvements to the building.

“People need beauty, they need transcendence, they need depth,” he explained, adding that he wants the church to remain a place of spiritual renewal and a pillar in the daily lives of Catholics.

Collaboration with Saint Viateur School and the Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien is also a priority for Charron Dignard. She hopes to further develop ties between the parish, students and school staff to support young people in their spiritual journeys.

Remembering Departed Committee Members

Father Rebeles also paid tribute to two members of the 125th anniversary committee who died in recent months: Aurèle Constantineau, an important figure in the Limoges community whose name was given to the local fire station, and Jeanne Dazé.

Both contributed to preparations for the celebrations but did not live to see them come to fruition.

As the anniversary festivities continue, the parish intends to keep highlighting its history while preparing for the future. A closing Mass for the 125th anniversary is scheduled for Friday, December 11, at 6 p.m., followed by a celebration at the Saint Viateur School gymnasium.

For the parish, the milestone represents both recognition of how far it has come and a commitment to maintaining its presence in the Limoges community.