The 1904 establishment of Sacred Heart Parish, North Attleboro, was due originally
to the efforts of the Conseil Duvernay de L'Union St. Jean-Baptiste d'Amerique, which
started working for a French parish in 1901. subsequent gatherings of the group
resulted in a drive which brought $2,500, the creation of a parish committee,
and the appointment of members to present a petition for a French parish to Bishop
Stang. The Bishop said a parish would be created if the fund was increased to
$3,000. By September 4, 1904, this was accomplished. The previous month,
Rev. d. D. Villandre had been appointed Sacred Heart's first pastor, a parish
composed of 162 families.
Residing in a house on East Street, Father Villandre celebrated the first parish
Mass in Memorial Hall on September 11. Only a week later he organized catechism
classes for the children of the parish.
The following month the new pastor purchased Wamsutta Hall, where Mass and religious
services were held until a church could be built. Soon a choir was formed, and in
January the first retreate was conducated, followed by the estabilishment of the
League of the Sacred Heart.
Other organizations promoted by Father Villandre included the Congreation of the
Ladies of St. Anne and the Children of Mary.
Many parish activites were planed during the succeeding years in preparation for
the erection of parish properties. By 1905, Father Villandre was able to purchase
a large piece of property on Church Streetn, and the existing house was repaired
to serve as the rectory.
Land for the church was bought in 1907, and on January 21, 1909, construction
was under way. The basement church was completed and the first Mass celebrated
in August of that year.
A large bell was installed in October, 1911.
The first pastor remained in North Attleboro for 17 years, leaving on June 5, 1921.
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