St Peters Catholic Parish
Trenton ON

We are a Spirit-filled, caring and compassionate community of pilgrims under the patronage of St. Peter. United in Christ Jesus, we come together in the historic Church of St. Peter-in-Chains, Trenton of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston to celebrate our faith in Word and Sacrament. Drawing life from the Eucharist, we serve in charity and promote justice so all may share in the reconciliation, peace and hope of Christ. In this way, we strive to live the Good News of the Lord. Please remember St. Peter-in-Chains Parish in your will. A gift to the Parish will help carry on the Lord’s work you so generously supported during your life time.

 

https://stpeters-trenton.org/  

 

Ministries, Groups and Committees

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Altar Servers
Catholic Women’s League
Choirs
Columbian Squires
Finance Committee
Followers of Jesus Prayer Group
Knights of Columbus
Ladies of Columbus
Legion of Mary
Mother of Perpetual Help Rosary
Mount Calvary Cemetery Committee
Pastoral Council
Pastoral Outreach
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (Convert Class)
Screening in Faith Committee
Spirituality and Evangelization Committee
St. Peter’s Book Club
St. Peter’s Men’s Group
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Widow’s Support Group
Youth Ministry  

St. Peter’s parish is older than Canada, and the present church was built a scant seven years after Confederation.

BEGINNINGS

From 1832 to 1847 St. Peter-in-Chains, Trenton was a mission of St. Michael’s Church in Belleville. The first visiting missionary was the Reverend Michael Brennan, who offered Mass in the home of Captain J.D. Murphy. The first frame church was completed in 1833. Priests from Belleville ministered to the congregation at Trenton until the appointment of a resident pastor, the Reverend F.P. McEvay, in 1847. He served for six years and was succeeded by the Reverend P.J. Madden, D.D. In 1854 the first rectory was built. Frankford, Brighton and Codrington were missions of Trenton at this time.

Trenton’s first separate school was built in 1860, the second in 1884 when four teachers looked after 214 pupils.

To meet the needs of the increasing congregation the present church was constructed in 1874. It is of interest to refer to the following Order-in-Council which was found in Quebec in 1863,which refers to the Trenton Church property:

“On the petition of the Rt. Rev’d Alex McDonald, Bishop of Regiopolis, and other Catholic inhabitants of River Trent, the following Order-in-Council dated August 18, 1836, was made: Recommended that the two blocks of ground being lots, 1, 2, 3 and 4 on Dundas Street and the 12 lots in rear be granted, as paid for, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands be directed to return the first instalments paid by purchasers on any of these lots which had been sold. And the Council further respectfully recommends that, if the petitioners desire it, the street between the two blocks of land comprised of the present Order be also granted to them.”

In 1882 the churches at Brighton and Codrington were transferred to the newly formed Diocese of Peterborough. Frankford was made a separate parish of the Archdiocese of Kingston. The church tower was built, a pipe organ installed and a new bell was christened “Patrick”.

OPENING OF THE NEW CONVENT, TRENTON

The convent was built in 1885 when the Congregation of Notre Dame Sisters came to staff the school.

Following is a contemporary account of the convent’s opening.

On Sunday last, before high mass, His Lordship the Bishop of Kingston solemnly blessed the new convent adjoining the Catholic church, and the Sisters who came from Villa Marie to teach the children in attendance in the Separate School. The convent was erected during 1885 at a cost of $7,000.00. It is built of red brick, with sandstone ornaments, is 40 feet by 62 feet, 2-1/2 stories height. It is well furnished interiorly, and is heated by hot air. The building is in every way suitable for the purpose for which it is intended, and is a credit to the town. After communion the reception committee stepped inside the sanctuary and read the following address to His Lordship:

To the Rt. Rev. James Vincent Cleary, S.T. D., Bishop of Kingston:

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, -

On behalf of the Congregation of St. Peter in Chains we extend to your Lordship a most cordial welcome to Trenton. Always delighted to have your Lordship in our midst, your presence on our altar today fills our hearts with joy. On former visits your Lordship frequently assured us of your great love for your Trenton flock. Ample proof indeed have we on the present occasion of the tender solicitude your Lordship has for us. In the ceremony about to be performed a great blessing will be conferred on the parish, for which we are all profoundly grateful. The opening of the New Convent means much for this congregation. Ever since the Separate School became a living institution in the parish it has been the sole desire of its supporters to make it worthy of the great work expected to be done. A wide held it has in the shaping of the future of the young minds seeking knowledge within its precincts — and in imparting that knowledge it has always been the aim of those having special supervision of the work to see that while the mind was being stored, the heart should not be overlooked.

We are gratified to know that the labour honestly performed is about to be rewarded; that your Lordship appreciating the honest effort being put forth in the cause of Catholic education, is about to strengthen our hands by sending into your schools holy women whose lives are devoted to the instruction of Catholic youth. Words cannot express our feeling of gratitude for this touching evidence of the deep interest taken in us by your Lordship. Our steadfast devotion to your Lordship will show how much we realize the benefits that will flow from the presence of the Reverend Sisters who have come from the renowned institution, Villa Marie, to take charge of our little ones. We know that the example of their lives will influence young and old for good.

But the great boon conferred on us this day is not a matter of surprise to those at all conversant with Your Lordship’s past live. Long before departing from the Island of Saints Your Lordship had become distinguished as a friend of the oppressed, as a champion of Catholic education. And in coming to a new sphere of labour Your Lordship had become distinguished as a friend of the oppressed, as a champion of Catholic education. And in coming to a new sphere of labour Your Lordship brought these titles with you. Proud we are indeed to have a round of duties with the object of opening up new parishes, sending faithful priests to tenderly care for Catholics in distant parts of the diocese and making our schools real halls of learning and piety. But prouder still are we to have a Bishop who is ever ready to buckle on his armour and as a true champion defend the rights secured to Catholic parents by the constitution. Our children must receive an education that will fill their minds with Catholic principles, that will instill into their hearts the love of God.

The lambs must be protected from the fierce attacks of the wolves, who instead would give them a Godless education. So long as we have such faithful sentinels on the watch tower as your Lordship we fear nothing. Long may our Bishop be spared to defend our rights by voice and pen.

Through your Lordship we desire to bid kindly welcome to the good Sisters who, through a sense of duty have cast their lot with us, for the performance of a holy work for us and ours. We can assure your Lordship that we shall do all in our power to make them happy and contented, which we are sure can be done by faithfully supporting them in the task before them; by humbly endeavouring to profit by the every day examples which their lives will afford us.

We cannot close this address without bearing a tribute of praise to our zealous and beloved pastor who has, since assuming charge of the parish, worked so earnestly and so successfully for the advancement of our interests. The many evidences of that labour, to be seen on all sides, are the result of the indefatigable efforts put forth by him for his people.

In conclusion we beg to assure your Lordship of the love we bear our Lordship’s person and to ask Almighty God to bless this diocese by giving her devoted Bishop many years of health and usefulness in order that the great work of the past six years may be continued.

St. Peter in Chains January 23, 1887.

His Lordship preached one of his most eloquent and logical discourse, basing his remarks on 1st Matthew, 28th chap. 18th verse, “All power is given to me in heaven and on earth, going therefore teach all nations …” etc. It would be impossible to give anything like an adequate synopsis of his learned and profound exposition of this text. Suffice it to say that everyone of his bearers left the sacred edifice thoroughly convinced of this truth and beauty of the lessons inculcated therein. During his sermon the Bishop referred in eloquent terms of the nature and necessity of a sound and religious education for the young. His description of the dignity of the Catholic religion was truly grand, and our only regret is that we cannot reproduce it in the very words of His Lordship for the benefit of our readers. The Rev. Pastor, Father Walsh, and the Catholics of Trenton have every reason to congratulate themselves on the beautiful ceremony on Sunday last, and they have doubly reason to congratulate themselves on having such a profound scholar and estimable gentleman for their Bishop as is Dr. Cleary. After the celebration of mass His Lordship took occasion to return thanks to the choir for the beautiful music furnished. It was led by Prof. Deny, of Belleville; Prof Mon, Toronto, 1st violin; Brown, Ottawa, leader of Gilmour’s Band, Trenton, cornet; and Tierney, baritone. Mr. Murdoff’s beautiful voice showed to advantage on the occasion.

He also replied in exenso to the address presented by the congregation, and took that opportunity of explaining the stand taken by him at the late provincial elections. He was, he said, not a politician, but a Catholic churchman, standing at the door of the sanctuary, crozier in hand, ever ready to repel any political party whatever which should dare to intrude itself into it sacred precincts. Outside of such an event as this he simply preserved an armed neutrality towards each party. The remarks of His Lordship dispelled completely any idea that might be held by some of his favouring either one of the two sides in our provincial politics. They both are the same to him and since his coming to Canada he has never expressed any political preference. In fact the Bishop spoke so plainly on this point that there can be no excuse whatever for any one who should wish to distort his words into his favouring either Reformer or Conservative. We heartily endorse this noble stand taken by His Lordship, and we are convinced that it is the one in accordance with the dictates of prudence under the circumstances. We join in extending to our Catholic fellow citizen our sincere congratulations in thus securing the valuable services of the Rev. Sisters of Villa Marie for the educating of their rising youth. We warmly welcome them to our town, and we feel sure that we but voice the sentiments of all our townsmen when we say that we sincerely wish them renewed success each succeeding year.

The reception committee was omposed of the following gentlemen: Messrs. F.J. McGuire, T.A. O’Rourke, B. McBready, P.J. O’Rourke, J.A. Cluire, T. McCabe, P. McCue, L. Paquet, D. Viger, jr., B.A. Driscoll, J. Auinlau, T.D. Kinsella, Geo Auger, and W.H. McDonald. The address was read P.J. O’Rourke.

In replying to the address His Lordship expressed himself as highly pleased with the sentiments combined therein and the style in which they were developed.

Shortly after the bishop’s arrival in town the Gilmour band, under the direction of Prof. Brown, of Ottawa, serenaded His Lordship at Father Walsh’s residence.