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Mgr. Labelle, Much Missed Curé

Engraving in black ink depicting a priest in his fifties, with short, curly hair. He wears a buttoned cassock, and a wide sash, symbolizing position in the Catholic hierarchy. He is standing, with his arm resting on two books that sit on a table to his left.

Engraver: unknown; from a photograph taken the previous year
Date: 1891
Source: Journal Le Nord

The citizens of Saint-Jérôme and other Northern Townships were greatly saddened at the news of the death of their curé. He had celebrated Christmas Mass a few days before, and made a quick trip to Quebec City to settle some business, planning to return in time to spend the New Year with his parishioners and his dear Mouman. But events took a different course… Antoine Labelle’s casket travelled by train from Quebec City to Saint-Jérôme, where the people were waiting to pay their respects to their king. The townspeople stood vigil over his remains at the presbytery before the final journey to the church. A deep sense of sorrow was palpable in the streets of the town, sombrely decorated for the occasion. On the day of the funeral, all shops and factories closed so that every citizen could say a last goodbye to the man who had been their curé for the past 22 years. Saint-Jérôme’s city councillors observed a one-month official mourning period.