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Catholic Centennial Week 1926 - A Year of Celebration

Nineteen twenty-six was a banner year for Catholic London, marking the centenary of the founding of London, and it was the apex of Bishop Michael Francis Fallon’s episcopacy. Bishop Fallon crafted a wonderful calendar of events from September 26 to October 3 to highlight the achievements of Catholic London and its many beautiful architectural monuments.

The centenary program included:

September 26 – Re-opening of St. Peter’s Cathedral and Solemn Pontifical Vespers and Benediction in the evening.. The Cathedral was closed for 18 months for a full renovation. Much of the changes and art work from the 1926 renovation are still visible today.
 
September 27 – Solemn Requiem Mass For the Faithful Departed of the Diocese of London and a Organ and Vocal Recital in the evening.
 
September 28 – Formal Opening of Brescia Hall and a Baccalaureate Service in the evening.
 
September 29 – Opening of the New Saint Peter’s Seminary and Solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament at Saint Peter’s Cathedral.
 
September 30 – Laying and Solemn Blessing of the Corner Stone of the New Nurses’ Home at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
 
October 1 – Reopening of St. Mary’s Church.
 
October 3 –  Solemn Closing of Catholic Centennial Week at Saint Peter’s Cathedral and Solemn Pontifical Vespers and Benediction in the evening.
 
Bishop M.F. Fallon also chose 1926 to highlight the 300 years (the tercentenary) since the first Catholic Mass in southwestern Ontario. One of the earliest French missionaries to come to southwestern Ontario to minister to the First Nations peoples was Joseph de La Roche Daillon, a Franciscan Recollect priest. Daillon visited the Neutral peoples and celebrated Mass with them near the Grand River, close to St. Cecilia’s Church in Port Dover. The community of St. Cecilia’s continues the tradition of celebrating Mass as what has become known as the “wintering site”. To honour this occasion, Bishop Fallon issued a commemorative coin.