St. Therese’s Relics and Two Oblate Bishops

by Harry Winter,OMI and Tony Rigoli,OMI

Most Rev. Arsene Turquetil O.M.I. (1876-1955)

For four years, from 1911-15, Father Arsene Turquetil labored among the Eskimo around Hudson Bay, learning their language and attempting to tell them about Jesus Christ. On visible results, 1916 slipped by. Then something strange happened. In October, on the last boat of the year before the bay froze over, someone sent the priest two letters. The first contained a pamphlet, The Story of A Little Soul, detailing St. Therese’s interest in the missions, and her love of snow. The second letter contained dust taken from her grave. Fr. Turquetil had an inspiration.

That very evening, he invited some of the Eskimos to warm themselves by his fire. While he played music on a small harmonium, he had Oblate Brother Girard sprinkle the dust on them from behind. That night, the two Oblates prayed long and hard before the Blessed Sacrament for the conversion of the Eskimo.

The following Sunday morning, the Eskimos changed from jeering to asking for instruction! After concealing his astonishment, the priest began instructing them. And as they left, he whispered a prayer to the little saint, adding “Keep on, little girl, you are a fine missionary.” Conversions came steadily, and on July 15, 1925, Hudson Bay was made a prefecture with Fr. Turquetil the first Prefect Apostolic; later it became a diocese, with Fr. Turquetil as its first bishop. He was instrumental in having St. Therese proclaimed patroness of the missions (see the 31 page booklet by Michael Devaney, O.M.I., Arctic Apostle--Bishop Arsene Turquetil O.M.I. for a fuller description).

Most Rev. Michael Fallon O.M.I. (1867-1931)

The year was 1925. St. Therese’s canonization was scheduled for May 17. In North Buffalo, New York a Carmelite convent begun by Mexican nuns fleeing the bitter persecution in their country, was ready for dedication. It would be the first religious building ever dedicated to a saint on the actual day of that saint’s canonization. The bishop who would preside at the dedication would be the Oblate bishop of London, Ontario, Canada, who had been the last provincial of the Oblates in the USA when they formed on province, and the first provincial of the Eastern American Province when the one province was split in two (the other being the Southern Province), Most Rev. Michael Fallon O.M.I. He had served as pastor of Holy Angels Parish, Buffalo, New York while being provincial.

In 1998, the Oblates of Mary accepted the care of another parish in Buffalo. St. Rose of Lima. When the Carmelite convent of St. Therese became too small for the people of the area, the mother superior asked the bishop of Buffalo to establish this parish, in November 1925. When St. Therese’s relics visit this convent on October 31, 1999. Oblates will be concelebrating the Mass in the very chapel where Bishop Fallon Presided in 1925.