Reverend Father Dominique Chardon du Ranquet

Reverend Father Dominique Chardon du Ranquet. and the Little Mission Church. , Born in Chalut, France in 1813, Père Dominic Chardon du Ranquet became an ordained Deacon in 1838. He joined the Jesuit priesthood like his three older brothers before him. Instead of following them on their missionary work to India, he volunteered for mission duty out of Montreal in 1842. After two years studying the Algonquin and Ojibway languages, du Ranquet set off into the wilderness for 66 years of service to God and the remote residents of Northern Ontario. , Dominic C. du Ranquet served the missions at Walpole Island, Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island and Fort William, which was the headquarters for missionary work throughout Northwestern Ontario. His legendary "grand voyages" included annual trips to Red Rock (100 miles), Lake Nipigon (200 miles), Michipicoten (300 miles), Longlac (380 miles) and Grand Portage, Minnesota (50 miles). , Dominic C. du Ranquet was described as "a short, thick-set and strongly built man with excellent health and tireless energy. He travelled on snow shoes, or on foot, by dog sled, on a toboggan, or in a canoe, travelling light, sleeping little and living on berries and wild game. His arrival at every mission always meant catechisms, baptisms, anointing and rejoicing." , From 1859 to 1888, du Ranquet visited the Hudson's Bay Company post at Michipicoten River and Michipicoten Harbour on a regular basis. He kept a detailed diary of his travels and described the people, country and his missionary work. Ojibway and European settlers alike would walk miles to ensure they did not miss du Ranquet's much anticipated visits. The HBCo. factor often obliged du Ranquet by allowing services and gatherings in the post buildings. In 1875 Father du Ranquet asked the current Chief Trader and Factor Peter Bell for permission to build a house and a chapel. The logs for the chapel were transported on the steamship 'Manitoba' and the building was completed in 1877. Dedicated to St. Ignatius de Loyola, the little Mission Church (or 'le Petite Eglise' as it was locally called) was built on the opposite shore from the HBC post in 1877 and soon became the centre of permanent settlement for residents in the area. , In 1926 the chapel was dismantled and enlarged and later renamed the St. Margaret-Mary Church in 1936. Abandoned in the 1960's, the little Mission Church was destroyed by fire in 1984. , Du Ranquet died at 86 in 1900 and is buried in the Holy Cross Mission Cemetery Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island. , Source: "St Monica Church , 75 Years of Celebrations", Joanne De Vries, 2011.