A native of Weert, Belgium, in the Flanders region, Father Charles Swéron had been recruited by Bishop Connolly of St. John, New Brunswick, during a visit to the College of Propaganda Fide in Rome. Ordained priest on February 7, 1858, he was appointed as assistant to Father Henri Dionne at St. Luce, Frenchville, Maine, on August 29, 1858. The two men found their personalities were not very compatible. Father Swéron's brusque character clashed with Father Dionne's mild demeanor.
In January,1859, Father Swéron was named the first pastor of St. François de Madawaska, thus easing the tension between the two priests. When Father Henri Dionne retired in December 1859, Swéron became his replacement in January 1860. He continued to minister to St. François until 1864 when Father Dougal S. McDonald was named the resident pastor. Father Swéron was to remain pastor of Ste. Luce for 48 years until his death in 1908.
During this time, he built the second church in between 1889 and 1890, replacing the first church destroyed by fire started by lightening on May 19, 1889. A strong proponent of eduction, he was instrumental in bringing the Sisters of the Holy Rosary to the parish and built their first convent. On September 5, 1905, the convent caught fire, moving to the church, completely destroying both buildings. The families of Damas Levesque and Michel Gagnon provided temporary lodging for the Sisters. Amidst controversy with his parishioners on which to rebuild first and where to rebuild, Father Swéron rebuilt the convent first between 1905 and 1907 and then the third church of Ste. Luce between 1907 and 1908 in their previous locations. Father Swéron celebrated the first Mass in his new church on March 8, 1908. He died eleven days later and was buried in the parish cemetery.
In January,1859, Father Swéron was named the first pastor of St. François de Madawaska, thus easing the tension between the two priests. When Father Henri Dionne retired in December 1859, Swéron became his replacement in January 1860. He continued to minister to St. François until 1864 when Father Dougal S. McDonald was named the resident pastor. Father Swéron was to remain pastor of Ste. Luce for 48 years until his death in 1908.
During this time, he built the second church in between 1889 and 1890, replacing the first church destroyed by fire started by lightening on May 19, 1889. A strong proponent of eduction, he was instrumental in bringing the Sisters of the Holy Rosary to the parish and built their first convent. On September 5, 1905, the convent caught fire, moving to the church, completely destroying both buildings. The families of Damas Levesque and Michel Gagnon provided temporary lodging for the Sisters. Amidst controversy with his parishioners on which to rebuild first and where to rebuild, Father Swéron rebuilt the convent first between 1905 and 1907 and then the third church of Ste. Luce between 1907 and 1908 in their previous locations. Father Swéron celebrated the first Mass in his new church on March 8, 1908. He died eleven days later and was buried in the parish cemetery.
A native of Weert, Belgium, in the Flanders region, Father Charles Swéron had been recruited by Bishop Connolly of St. John, New Brunswick, during a visit to the College of Propaganda Fide in Rome. Ordained priest on February 7, 1858, he was appointed as assistant to Father Henri Dionne at St. Luce, Frenchville, Maine, on August 29, 1858. The two men found their personalities were not very compatible. Father Swéron's brusque character clashed with Father Dionne's mild demeanor.
In January,1859, Father Swéron was named the first pastor of St. François de Madawaska, thus easing the tension between the two priests. When Father Henri Dionne retired in December 1859, Swéron became his replacement in January 1860. He continued to minister to St. François until 1864 when Father Dougal S. McDonald was named the resident pastor. Father Swéron was to remain pastor of Ste. Luce for 48 years until his death in 1908.
During this time, he built the second church in between 1889 and 1890, replacing the first church destroyed by fire started by lightening on May 19, 1889. A strong proponent of eduction, he was instrumental in bringing the Sisters of the Holy Rosary to the parish and built their first convent. On September 5, 1905, the convent caught fire, moving to the church, completely destroying both buildings. The families of Damas Levesque and Michel Gagnon provided temporary lodging for the Sisters. Amidst controversy with his parishioners on which to rebuild first and where to rebuild, Father Swéron rebuilt the convent first between 1905 and 1907 and then the third church of Ste. Luce between 1907 and 1908 in their previous locations. Father Swéron celebrated the first Mass in his new church on March 8, 1908. He died eleven days later and was buried in the parish cemetery.
In January,1859, Father Swéron was named the first pastor of St. François de Madawaska, thus easing the tension between the two priests. When Father Henri Dionne retired in December 1859, Swéron became his replacement in January 1860. He continued to minister to St. François until 1864 when Father Dougal S. McDonald was named the resident pastor. Father Swéron was to remain pastor of Ste. Luce for 48 years until his death in 1908.
During this time, he built the second church in between 1889 and 1890, replacing the first church destroyed by fire started by lightening on May 19, 1889. A strong proponent of eduction, he was instrumental in bringing the Sisters of the Holy Rosary to the parish and built their first convent. On September 5, 1905, the convent caught fire, moving to the church, completely destroying both buildings. The families of Damas Levesque and Michel Gagnon provided temporary lodging for the Sisters. Amidst controversy with his parishioners on which to rebuild first and where to rebuild, Father Swéron rebuilt the convent first between 1905 and 1907 and then the third church of Ste. Luce between 1907 and 1908 in their previous locations. Father Swéron celebrated the first Mass in his new church on March 8, 1908. He died eleven days later and was buried in the parish cemetery.
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