Faith And Mission Defined A Depth Of Purpose

By Andrea Grimes

Reflecting upon our community’s diverse history, there are chapters dedicated to the struggles of many African American refugees throughout the southern United States, who turned their backs on oppression (the only life they ever knew).

Giving up on that premise just wasn’t an option!

Driven by the strength of faith, many families followed the North Star along the Underground Railway to their freedom destination in Windsor, Ontario. As settlers, many families contributed to the growth of our community, while many other refugees were captured and returned to plantation owners, leaving those children arriving in Windsor orphaned.

Moved by devotion for pastoral care, Reverend Dean Wagner, (Windsor’s first pastor of St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Parish) launched a fundraising “letter” campaign appealing for donations to build an orphanage and school within his parish.

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital (HDGH) archives confirm: “One of these letters was delivered to Mother Justine Bonneau, Superior of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph (RHSJ) in Montreal. Mother Bonneau responded to the letter with a donation of $2.50 and an offer to help if consideration would be given to building a hospital. Wagner wasted no time responding to this request and on 14 September, 1888, Mother Josephine Paquet and Sisters Josephine Lamoureux, Philomena Carriere, Josephine Boucher and Victoire Caron arrived in Windsor.”

Wagner’s appeal for funding was met with resounding success!

Hospital archives indicate: “Construction of Hôtel-Dieu began 10 October 1888. The cornerstone of the hospital was laid and blessed 29 November 1888. Hôtel-Dieu officially opened its doors on 13 February 1890.”

Hospital archives further note “Reverend Wagner’s orphanage and day school opened in the spring of 1890 and was built next to the hospital. Unfortunately, the mission did not last due in large part to irregular attendance. On 3 March 1893, the day school was closed and the orphanage was slowly phased out, closing in March 1909.”

“My great uncles, James W. Lockman and Jerome Lockman were students of a Catholic Mission school founded by Reverend Wagner and the Sisters of the Hospitallers of Saint Joseph in 1888,” says Barbara Porter, Vice President of the Amherstburg Freedom Museum (277 King Street; AmherstburgFreedom.org) and retired Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital nurse. “They were African Canadian Veterans who served with the No. 2 Construction Battalion in WWI. Returning to Windsor, Uncle Jerome entered the construction trade as a plasterer and Uncle James was employed with the City of Windsor in the Public Works Department.”

Wagner’s lifelong commitment advocating for the furtherance of society is a milestone chapter of Windsor’s history.

“HDGH is honoured to have Father Wagner as part of our organization’s history and we celebrated his memory on September 19, 2013 at the former and original site of Hôtel-Dieu Hospital on Ouellette Avenue, with the installation and dedication of a beautiful bench in his name,” says Bill Marra, President and CEO of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. “We remember and celebrate our long history, which began with Reverend Dean Wagner, through our interactive Heritage Wall, which is proudly on display for all to see, and especially in the values we hold and ways we change the lives of our patients and clients each day.”

Preserving Windsor’s history is central to sustaining the foundation of our diverse heritage. As such, memorial benches (whether placed in a public space or in gardens) serve to connect the past to the present with a measure of distinctiveness.

“Ornamental benches not only hold memories of a passing of time, they can build the presence of a signature garden instilling ‘a little of ourselves’ by design . . . all year round,” says Randy Ruggaber, Owner of Daniher Topsoil (5355 Manning Road, Maidstone; DaniherTopsoil.com).

As part of their services the company operates a retail garden centre featuring ornamental benches, statues, memorial markers and patio/pond/garden accessories.

He adds: “With over 48 years in business, our company takes great pride in being committed to providing unsurpassed customer service by being flexible to our customer needs.”

To quote the author Robert Brault: “If you’ve never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden.”

As a civilian Veterans Advocate, Andrea Grimes was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Governor General’s Medal, for her volunteer service to Veterans and a number of non-profit organizations supporting Windsor’s military families’ network.