St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church was originally known as the Church of St. Mary Magdalen. It is not known just why or when the name was changed.
In the year 1865 the congregation or parish consisted of about twenty families. They lived in the town of Westford and along the Fletcher Road as well as in Fairfax itself. Fr. Magliore Pigeon was given charge of the Catholic community in Fairfax in 1868. According to his letters, Bishop Louis DeGosbriand intended to build a church in Fairfax as soon as there were enough families to support one financially. This, however, was not the case at the time that Fr. Pigeon was appointed, so it is assumed that one of the homes in the village was used for the saying of Mass for the Catholic members of the community.
Things stayed this way for several years. But the Catholic population in Fairfax was growing steadily for those years until, in 1876, the Bishop gave his permission for land to be purchased along the Lamoille River in the village for the building of a church. So, the land ... was purchased on September 27, 1876 by the Bishop in the name of the Diocese of Burlington. Very soon afterward the church building, seating about 100 people, was built and placed under the patronage of St. Mary Magdalen.
In those early days Mass was offered in Fairfax about once a month by priests living elsewhere and traveling to Fairfax for the Sunday Mass. On many Sundays, though, due to bad weather and bad roads, the priest found that he had to send word ahead that he could not come. (The same priest was in charge of mission churches in Milton, South Hero, Alburg, and Isle LaMotte, as well as in Fairfax).
The first recorded baptism in the new church was that of Augustine Messier, born and baptized on Christmas Day, 1878.
For the next 25-30 years several priests had charge of the Fairfax mission for varying periods of time. During these years many different people assisted at Mass in spite of great hardship, some of them traveling ten miles one way by horse and wagon or sled. There were others who had to travel many miles by foot to assist. There were other times when people arrived at church for Mass only to find that the priest had been unable to get there because of drifting snow or impassable, muddy roads. When the Pastor was unable to say Mass for the people, usually one of the older members of the congregation would lead the group in the recitation of the Rosary and other prayers.
During this time priests came to Fairfax to say Mass from the Cathedral in Burlington, St. Mary's in St. Albans, St. Ann's in Milton, and from Our Lady of the Lake in St. Albans Bay.
St. Luke's remained a mission church until 1928. In the fall of that year, however, Fr. Alfred H. Couture was assigned to the parish in Milton with Fairfax as a mission. He offered the first weekly Masses at St. Luke's and was pastor here for 14 years. It fell to Fr. Couture to carry out the extensive repairs on the church that became necessary when the church was inundated and almost destroyed by the flood of 1927 (pictured). During the flood water from the Lamoille River filled the sanctuary to a height of nearly six feet. Toward the end of Fr. Couture's pastorate a tract of land was purchased in 1941 on Fairfax Plains and a cemetary was developed there. In 1942, William Wells, a former sexton of the church, was the first adult buried there.
On Oct. 1, 1942, St. Luke's became a parish with a resident pastor when Bishop Matthew F. Brady appointed the Rev. Donald C. Kelly to come to Fairfax. Earlier that year [a] rectory (pictured) was purchased for the resident pastor whom parishioners hoped would soon be coming. During the years that Fr. Kelly was in Fairfax much work was done on both the church and the rectory.
The Rev. Francis Hickey came to Fairfax in 1959. He noticed the need almost immediately for catechetical facilities for the children of the parish. There was not enough land to build any such facilities at the site of the church building itself, but in 1961 two tracts of land on Huntville Road, totaling 5 and 1/2 acres were purchased from Roy Warren and Roma Lavedure.
With the permission of Bishop Robert F. Joyce and the Diocesan Building Commission, Fr. Hickey contracted with Ralph F. Branon, a South Burlington architect, for Mr. Branon to draw up plans for a parish catechetical center on the Huntville Road property. Contruction began on Sept. 3, 1963 on the new building.... Construction was completed in March, 1964, and the new parish center was blessed by Bishop Joyce on April 9, 1964.
As construction began, on Nov. 25, 1963, a cornerstone was blessed and laid in place by Fr. Hickey and the building dedicated to the memory of Rev. Alfred Couture, the Rev. Joseph Sawyer, both former pastors who were deceased, and to the memory of Pres. John F. Kennedy, whose funeral was held on that date.
Some photos used from Henry Raymond's vtgrandpa.com
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History of Ascension Church
Taken from Our Labor of Love, Ascension Church: 1968-1993 (Booklet celebrating 25 years of Ascension Parish)
The Georgia Catholic community was initially served by five area churches: Holy Angels and St. Mary's, both in St. Albans, Our lady of the Lake of St. Albans Bay, St. Luke's in Fairfax, and St. Ann's in Milton.
In an effort to unify, the prayer community mission status was requested by the pastors of these five churches in January, 1968. Approval was granted by Bishop Robert F. Joyce (pictured below) and the first Mass was celebrated on April 21, 1968. The parish of Holy Angels was determined as the "parent-parish" of the newly created mission with Msgr. Walter Charland serving as pastor.
Msgr. Charland informed the chancery office of the well-attended first Mass. Over 150 people came to worship at the Georgia Elementary School and spirits soared with enthusiasm. Dr. Henry Tulip was reader at the 8:30am Mass and Francis Jacques was usher. Within a few weeks, the community of 125 families created its pastoral board. Officers were Dr. Henry Tulip, Chairman; Francis Goulet, Treasurer; Burton Sorrell, Secretary, with members including; Germaine Gregoire, Hosanne Montcalm, and Mrs. Francis Goulet.
On May 24, 1968, the mission members chose, by large majority, the name Ascension for their newly formed community.
Religious education was and continues to be a priority for the community of Ascension. CCD was established immediately with an enrollment of 83 students attending weekly, from grades 1-8. By 1976-77 enrollment was 205 students. Preschool and high school programs were created and attendance rose to 235 in 1977-78.
On July 1, 1969, the Ascension community contacted the Chancery Office requesting a church to house the growing community. On July 11, 1969, Bishop Joyce, promptly responded. He encouraged the members of Ascension, stating that the Diocese of Burlington "definitely expects to have a parish [building] there [in Georgia]" but continued that more members were needed as well as more funds to insure a sturdy foundation upon which to base such a structure.
The people of Ascension were motivated by their bishop's recommendations and began efforts to raise funds to build a church. Many dinners were prepared and served, beginning with dime-a-dip meals and graduating to sumptuous feasts! Mrs. Fabien (Rita) Ferland was "master chef" since the first dinner and her co-workers have served as many as 553 people at one time. Father Giroux was our pastor from Holy Angels at this time.
By the mid 1970s, the counties of Franklin and Chittenden had begun to greatly expand. After study, the diocese transferred the mission of Ascension in February, 1980, to the jurisdiction of St. Ann' Church in Milton with Father Phillip LaMother. Efforts continued as did prayers, in the hope of constructing a church. Father LaMothe was a strong guiding force for the community. His support and encouragement extended far beyond the much prayed-for building. He instilled in the parish that "unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor is in vain." His spiritual character added to the cohesiveness of the entire prayer community.
In 1985, Mrs. Doris LaPierre Samson gifted the Ascension community a parcel of land on Route 7, north of what is locally known as Post Curve. This generous gift enabled the prayer community to once again inquire to the Chancery in regard to building a church. This time the group submitted a request to build a multi-purpose building, one which would enable the community to celebrate weekly Masses, as well as accommodate CCD classes. The members stated that a resident priest was not requested and stressed the self-sufficiency of the community. Plans were submitted in March for a single story building, the main level to be the primary place of worship to seat approximately 225 people, with space allotted for a vestibule, office, and confessional, the basement to be utilized as a center for religious instruction and possible banquet area. These plans met with approval by the diocese. The building project became known as "Our Labor of Love."
September 22, 1987, marked a great change for the Catholic community of Ascension. After nearly 20 years of continual effort, the members of Ascension witnessed their bishop, John A. Marshall, spade the earth upon which they would build a church. The building represented growth within the community, as well as spiritual commitment. Getting to this point was not an easy task, but was made possible by a lot of prayers, hard work, and dedication on the part of all parishioners.
The first Mass in the new church was celebrated by Fr. Phillip LaMothe, pastor of St. Ann's, Milton and Ascension, Georgia, on the eve of Palm Sunday, March 26, 1988. The building was overflowing wit the spirit of prayer and thanksgiving.
On May 12, 1988, the Feast of the Ascension, the church as filled with parishioners, invited clergy, friends and relatives, to witness the confirmation of 16 candidates and the dedication of the church, which included the anointing and the incensation of the altar. Bishop Marshall was principal celebrant of the Mass with concelebrants including Father LaMothe, our pastor and many other priests from the surrounding area.