The Sudbury Jesuits

Jesuits played a big role in city's history

By Claire Pilon

The Jesuit Fathers (La Compagnie de Jesus) played a very important role in the lives of francophones by establishing many groups, organizations as well as the first French Catholic parish and school in Sudbury.

The first Jesuit priest was Father Joseph Specht, who arrived in 1883. He managed the first mission while Father Jean- Baptiste Nolin, who came to help Father Sepcht, was the priest responsible for establishing the first French Roman Catholic church known as Ste-Anne-des- Pins.

Father Nolin was also the first to own land in Sudbury. Most of the land was situated in the city centre as well as in the Flour Mill. The many pieces of land he owned included the land where the Jesuits later built College du Sacré Coeur on the corner of Notre-Dame and Kathleen.

The Jesuit priests also sold the land where St-Jean-de-Brebeuf church is built. Collège du Sacré-Coeur opened its doors for the education of boys in 1913. Many College du Sacre-Coeur graduates went on to become francophone leaders and prominent citizens.

The Jesuits then established the University of Sudbury and offered programs on the Sacré-Coeur site until 1957.

The retreat, House Villa Loyola, located on Long Lake Road, was also the initiative of the Jesuit Fathers. It opened on 1962 and stands on a 12- acre lot.

The Way of the Cross located near the Notre-Dame de Lourdes Grotto was also initiated by Jesuit Father Alphonse Raymond. He was named responsible for Ste Anne parish in 1950 and with the help of women from that parish, raised enough money to erect the Way of the Cross, which still stands.

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