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(EDITOR'S NOTE — This is another in a series of articles on early French-Canadians who, settled in Biddeford.) By MICHAEL GUIGNARD The maintenance of parish schools has been the most important function of the Church in the quest for ethnic survival. These schools served not only to impart a thorough knowledge of Catholicism, but also of the French language and culture. The first French-Canadian parish scool in New England was begun in Mancheter, N.H., and was called the Academie Notre Dame. It was founded because public school officials refused to teach French to Manchester’s Franco-American students. Biddeford’s first parochial school was started in 1875 and was located in part of St. oe first church building acon Street. (A French school had been started on Washington Street by Alphonse Pare, a member of La Societe St. Jean Baptiste de Bien faisance, however.) The school was moved to the basement of the present St. Joseph’ s Church and was taught by Helen Paquet, a Canadian woman who selflessly answered Pastor Ponchardin’s desparate call for a French teacher. Parishioners built all of the new school desks, seats and black boards. When a fire destroyed their handiwork they quickly rebuilt the furniture. Helen Paqueten a dedicated teacher. She taught all day and volunteered to teach evening classes to French- Canadian adults learning English. She married a prosperous Biddeford phar macist and doctor, Narcisse Thivierge. Their daughter, Helene, was one of Biddeford’s most eminent Franco - Americans. (The French-Canadian Institute at St. Francis College has an excellent collection of her poems and other literary works. The directress was reluctant to come for it was a hard trip from Quebec to Biddeford. It would mean cenoration from their rent. Their first convent was situated on the corner of South and Kossuth streets. To aarn manay thaw tank in Adelaide, realized that the order could no longer ply bilingual ‘nuns from its ‘Quebec novitiate. [Ravan anedidatae, cantaend sha about plans for a new school. By building a larger school, he ‘hoped to entice an even greater et wee a . anon . o . ane ‘ ane , * ue Uys yee ciyereu It Helene Pa que! Va soon their home ‘a id ‘oO face the pens 1 ° . but soon had 0 ‘ ISS from the Number of youngsters ou of the joined at the school two hazard s iS or ne r by ‘ 1 strange land. But more ause the house Was i 5 5 mil's where a threat to their other teachers By 1881 they he ac epted the ‘ l i and cold, Theis 4 Marie we be] } ne I faith and a were clearly overburdened, challen be suse they saw the presse convent on Adam et S Joseph's tongue W 4 constantly present, teaching almost 400 students, oopportuni to promote the Stre¢ as 1885 from me i i 1 we was ought in : years Wr paris } Consequently, Pastor Dupont glory of God and to save souls, Peppe i a ‘ Andrew Haines ed al already j le I Dupont, wrote 0 Mother Sie Croix of SIX n i 3 made i ‘ t he exhausting After enlarged ! ‘ nen of thre CA nanagemen the Good Shepherd sisters, journe ) Biddeford 1 1882, ru led as Whe Good | i i and had oo h 4 mn say ‘ ‘ | soliciting her help. He stressed determined foster a fur Shepherd US Province Hous eS } students } ’ or { } i 1888 he the great service the nuns could Vivan t amidst Biddeford’ or as he order their er s } wat ’ f ‘ bought 0 cents pre Joseph’s schoo perform or parish by Protesta a nosphere The presen headquarters df ay i n opene i ¢ | s } ; } Street t h an reventing s Franco sisters | 1 Emma View. The convent also served a 1 4 t ro 1 RAO uden merican children from gro Leign me j e corner as ‘ . of the first novitiates ‘ ‘ ‘ iV ¢ than 1 ‘ ) ) ) ‘ \ ‘ ; f Donora helr 5 i ee 5 ! N England, The bir . ‘ iM . ‘ nN i ‘ i } A PUD « \ ‘ paid, Bidds i t ) ——$——— A sr —_ ouper ’ Mere . im — — ——_-— ————— Weather Our Numbers RAIN TOMORROW News Dept. 282-1535 (Complete Report on Page Two) Business Depts. 283-3625 Biddeford -Saco Journal — ee ee a meneneneeenee ee ee VOL. 88, NO. 216 York County’s LOCAL news Daily Since 1884 14 PAGES — — BIDDEFORD-SACO, MAINE FRIDAY, SEPT 15, 1972, Associated Press Wire Service ————— FIFTEEN CENTS =
Newspaper Details
Biddeford Saco Journal
Biddeford, Maine, US
Fri, Sep 15, 1972
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Diane C.
ME, USA 06 Jul 2026
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