Most fees waived for Good Friday procession, request to be made for another waiver

By Ron Giofu

The Good Friday procession is returning this year and town council has waived the fees under its authority.

Another fee will be the subject of a request to the Windsor Police Services Board to have it waived as well.

A road closure fee of $250 and a noise bylaw fee of $59 have been dropped by Amherstburg town council but the policing fee was not, though the town will ask the WPSB for that to be removed as well as its outside of the town’s jurisdiction.

Anna Donatucci approached town council with the request, pointing out she and husband Marino have organized the procession since 2016.

“This is an event that has taken place for almost 50 years, being started by the Italian Community within St. John the Baptist Church. This is our first event being held since the pandemic and all its closures,” said Donatucci. “The event is described as the re-enactment of the events leading to Jesus’s crucifixion, starting within the church at St. John the Baptist.”

Participants and parishioners in attendance move on out onto the streets and make their way through Amherstburg, using designated streets, this year being Brock, Richmond, Ramsay, Park, Bathurst and Simcoe streets.

Donatucci said the participants of the procession then return to St. John the Baptist where the reenactment of crucifixion is concluded on the steps, after which participants and parishioners proceed back into the church.

The Good Friday procession is expected to move outdoors, weather permitting, shortly after 9 a.m.

“This event has been the same for as long as I remember it. Up until this year, I was never made aware of the fees involved to hold this event. With that being said there is no record of any fees invoiced or paid to the Town or for the police services by the church,” said Donatucci.

“These fees cover costs of permits needed and off-duty police officers to assist in the rolling road closure and the safety of all involved in the walk.”

Donatucci added “this beautiful event has been enjoyed by many over all these years and has brought together the parishioners of St. John the Baptist Church, residents of Richmond Terrace Nursing Home and members of the

Mary Ann (Pouget) Mailloux

December 10 1936 – March 26 2023 other churches along our route. There have been hundreds of followers from our town that have joined in the walk and watched from businesses that we pass along the way. This annual event has been very memorable and thoroughly enjoyed by all and we happily are anticipating its return.”

MaryAnn passed peacefully after a long battle with dementia. She and her husband Bernard moved to California in 1962 where they raised their six children.

Preceded in death by her parents Edward & Myrtle Pouget and her grandson John Kearley.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Bernard & her children, Richard, Donald (Sherry), Donna Baptista (Mark), James (Cheryl), Rita Lesan (Ken), and Judy Kearley (Paul), along with 21 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Also survived by 6 siblings, Marjorie Dufour, Bob Pouget, Dorothy Thrasher, Linda Stewart, Rose Balvert and Lucy Hall.

She will be laid to rest in Turlock California, near her home.

Other churches anticipated to participate include Christ Anglican Church and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.

Councillor Peter Courtney wondered how the procession was presented previously and wondered about costs pre-pandemic. Donatucci said when she and her husband became organizers, they presented before town council twice but there were no costs ever identified to them. She said she knew permits were needed, but believes it was dealt with by thenchurch staff.

“The original organizers always told me there was never any costs. Moving forward, that’s all I was ever told,” Donatucci told council. “I understand, as I’ve been speaking to different people with the town and Windsor police, there are fees involved. I think they’ve always been there. They didn’t just appear this year. With that being said, I’m asking if there’s a way we can go about it so that we can continue without any cost.”

Mayor Michael Prue said they will contact Windsor police but told Donatucci if they hear nothing back, the church can contact them directly.

Memories of Yesterday...

Photos courtesy of the Marsh Historical Collection

80 Richmond Street Amherstburg 519-736-9191 • www.marshcollection.org

The Amherstburg to Windsor streetcar service, started in 1903 by the Sandwich, Windsor & Amherstburg Railway Company, was popular with commuters, market gardeners and social group charters. Past passengers recalled a bumpy ride, but a fun atmosphere and a bargain at 15 cents per trip. One of the regular operators, Art Taylor, had a comedic flair and would even sing to the passengers when the car got crowded, urging them to make room for their fellow travellers. The trip was only 65 minutes long by 1925.