1918

The parish of St. John in South Osgoode, Ont., will shortly boast of a fine new church which will be erected in the near future. Plans for the new church have been completed and as soon as sufficient funds are forthcoming, construction will be commenced. The parish is under the capable and energetic direction of Rev. Father Frank Corkery, an old Ottawa College boy, who before taking charge of this large and flourishing parish, was curate at St. Brigid's Church, where he was identified with the Rev. Father Fay.
Father Corkery, in his brief ministry at Osgoode, has won the respect and admiration of all classes of the citizens. The new church is the direct outcome of his enthusiastic endeavours and will be a fitting monument to his work. Messrs. Millson and Burgess are the architects who have designed the church, and their plans have resulted in a simple and imposing structure. The appeal for funds to meet the building expense has so far been very satisfactory, and Father Corkery is delighted with the progress made. It is proposed to hold a series of euchres and concerts during the coming winter, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to defraying the cost of the building of the church. All the parishioners are heartily supporting Father Corkery in his work of giving to South Osgoode a fine new church.

Rev. Father Frank Corkery.
Parish Priest of South Osgoode, Ont. Father Corkery took his Arts courses at Ottawa College, and was ordained from the Grand Seminary, Montreal. He is the son of Mr. John Corkery, of Pakenham, and has been successively at St. Brigid’s and Blessed Sacrament parishes as curate. Father Corkery’s two brothers are both in khaki.

Three Ottawa parishes with which Rev. Frank Corkery, now parish priest of Osgoode has been popularly Identified — St Brigid’s, the Blessed Sacrament Church at the Glebe, and St. Joseph’s — will send large contingents to his picnic on Saturday in Osgoode, near Greely’s Corners.

Mr. R. H. Millson of Ottawa, who is the Architect of the new St. John’s Church, in Osgoode, expects the imposing edifice now in course, of construction, to be ready for service this fall. St. John’s is one of the pioneer parishes of the Ottawa district and dats back to the day of By Town and Bishop Guigues.

Dr. Leech, Dr. Byres and Dr. Howard, of Ottawa, have consented to act as judges at the Osgoode Baby Show, which is a feature at Father Frank Corkery’s annual picnic in McEvoy’s grove on Saturday. Mrs. Millson and the Misses Laderoute will conduct the ladies fancy work auction. Several returned soldiers who were college friends of the Osgoode pastor, and his two brothers who are still in the uniform, will direct the athletic sports.

The ceremony of laying the cornerstone of the new Roman Catholic church which is being erected in St. John the Evangelist parish, Osgoode, Ont., was conducted at four o'clock yesterday afternoon, by Mgr. Routhier, vicar-general of Ottawa diocese. Mgr. Routhier was assisted by Rev. Father Martin, who acted as master of ceremonies, and Rev. Father Prudhomme, of South Gloucester, and Rev. Father Gorman, of Metcalfe, Ont., who acted as deacon and sub-deacon respectively. More than two thousand people attended the ceremony. The sermon was preached by Rev. Father Finnigan, O. M. I., of St. Joseph's Church, Ottawa.

Members of the Roman Catholic clergy of Ottawa who attended the ceremony were: Rev. Father Fay, pastor of St. Brigid's Church, Rev. Fathers P. C. Harris, of the Blessed Sacrament Church, and Rev. Father Fitzgerald, of St. Mary's Church. The Ottawa Council of the Knights of Columbus, of which Rev. Father F. Corkery, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, is a member, was represented by a committee composed of E. P. Gleeson, F. X. Laderoute, and J. Vaughn.

The decorations on the platform erected to accommodate the attendants were arranged by Miss Moore and the ladles of the Tabernacle Society of St John's Church.

The annual picnic of St. John's Church of Osgoode took place on Saturday afternoon at McEvoy's Grove at Osgoode. Despite the fact the rain fell several times during the afternoon, nearly 1,500 people attended. Only half of the programme was completed owing to the rain, and it is the intention of Rev. Father Corkery to rearrange the programme and hold the picnic again for the benefit of his parish.

However, the Knights of Columbus Minstrels made up for the part of the programme which was canceiled and gave over an hour's performance to the large crowd. Their new jokes and songs appealed to the spectators, and they drew much applause. The baseball game, the baby show and several other events were cancelled owing to the rain, but the other results were:

Standing broad jump -- 1, E. Evaire; 2, Cunningham.
Running broad jump, 1, G. Willis; 2, F. Terrany.
100 Yard dash, 1, G. Willis and E. Evaire tied.
220 Yard dash, 1, G. Willis; 2, E. Evaire.
High jump, 1, Cunningham; 2, E. Evaire.

Father Corkery was in charge of the programme, while M. M. O'Connel was in charge of the sports.

On Sunday the Second of June in the year of our lord one thousand nine hundred and eighteen. We the undersigned Major Routhier being duly authorized by his grace the most Rev. C. H. Gauthier D. D. Archbishop of Ottawa, have blessed with the prescribed solemnities the corner stone of St. John's parochial church of Osgoode, The said church built of stone is 105 feet long by forty two (42) feet wide and a wall (25) twenty five feet high, the plans were drawn by Richard Millson Archetect, the stone work was done by James Moore, the carpenter work by Mr. Joseph Meagher, the trustees were Messrs, Michael Herbert, John O'Callaghan, and John Deverix. Were present a great number of parishioners several members of the clergy who together with the architect trustees have signed the present act.

The Annual Picnic of St. John's Church, Osgoode, Ont., will be held on Saturday. July 27th, at McEvoy's Grove. There will be a full program of sports for young and old. Busses and automobiles will leave the corner of Bank and Sunnyside avenue, for the convenience of Ottawa visitors, every hour from 12 p.m., July 27th.

On the 29th day of September in the year One thousand nine hundred and eighteen, We the undersigned Viscar General have blessed with the prescribed solemnities the new parochial church of St. John the Evangelist, said church built of stone is 105 feet long and 42 feet wide and 38 feet high. The plans were drawn by Millson & Burgess architects, the stone work was done by James Moore, the carpenter work by Mr. Joseph Meagher, the trustees were J. O'Callaghan, Michael Herbert and J. Deverix the first Mass was sung by Mgr. Routhier Vicar General.