Hello, Within the past month or so, someone was asking about a Catholic Church in Lowell which was for the French-Canadian population ! In this morning's "Lowell Sun," there is an article, entitled "Acre group staying positive in bid for church." www.lowellsun.com The article starts out: "Officials from the Coalition for a Better Acre, a local neighborhood activist group ... are continuing to press their bid to acquire the closed 'Nuestra Senora del Carmen Church' from the Archdiocese of Boston. ...." Further on, the article says, "Opened in 1890, Nuestra Senora del Carmen was previously known as t. Jean-Baptiste and was Lowell's first French-Canadian parish. It was rechristened as the Archdiocese's first explicitly Hispanic church in 1994. Archdiocese officials closed the church in Aug. 2004. The huge granite edifice on the fringe of downtown, its ornately painted interior hall and its soaring, tiered balconies are considered cultural icons to many in the city, particularly in the French-Canadian community. ....." I don't think you can see the photos which go along with articles in "The Lowell Sun" via the on-line version, but there is a picture in the newspaper. I am familiar with this church as it sits right beside the "St. Vincent de Paul" thrift shop which I shop in occasionally. It's quite a large church situated directly next to the sidewalk on Merrimack Street. Continuing down the street (away from Downtown Lowell), you come to the intersection with Pawtucket Street - where the buildings formerly housing "Saint Joseph's Hospital." And, taking a left on Pawtucket, you will shortly arrive at the long-standing, still open French-Canadian grammar school ---- which I can't think of the name of right at this second. (The "French-Canadian area" of Lowell was larger than people might realize.) Betty (near Lowell, MA)

Hi Betty and all listers: When I was growing up in Lowell and attending LHS class of '50 There was a "French Church" on Branch St, east of School St., where it connects with Middlesex St. and opposite the park that is now called Clemente park. I think it was called Notre Dame De Lordes. (spelling ????) Edd Sinnett ----- Original Message ----- From: "Betty" <bbffrrpp@comcast.net> To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 7:42 AM Subject: [MAMIDDLE] French-Canadian Church in Lowell > Hello, > > Within the past month or so, someone was asking about a Catholic Church in > Lowell which was for the French-Canadian population ! > > In this morning's "Lowell Sun," there is an article, entitled "Acre group > staying positive in bid for church." > > www.lowellsun.com > > The article starts out: "Officials from the Coalition for a Better > Acre, a local neighborhood activist group ... are continuing to press > their bid to acquire the closed 'Nuestra Senora del Carmen Church' from > the Archdiocese of Boston. ...." > > Further on, the article says, "Opened in 1890, Nuestra Senora del Carmen > was previously known as t. Jean-Baptiste and was Lowell's first > French-Canadian parish. It was rechristened as the Archdiocese's > first explicitly Hispanic church in 1994. Archdiocese officials > closed the church in Aug. 2004. > > The huge granite edifice on the fringe of downtown, its ornately painted > interior hall and its soaring, tiered balconies are considered cultural > icons to many in the city, particularly in the French-Canadian community. > ....." > > > I don't think you can see the photos which go along with articles in "The > Lowell Sun" via the on-line version, but there is a picture in the > newspaper. > > I am familiar with this church as it sits right beside the "St. Vincent de > Paul" thrift shop which I shop in occasionally. It's quite a large > church situated directly next to the sidewalk on Merrimack Street. > Continuing down the street (away from Downtown Lowell), you come to the > intersection with Pawtucket Street - where the buildings formerly housing > "Saint Joseph's Hospital." And, taking a left on Pawtucket, you will > shortly arrive at the long-standing, still open French-Canadian grammar > school ---- which I can't think of the name of right at this second. > > (The "French-Canadian area" of Lowell was larger than people might > realize.) > > Betty (near Lowell, MA) > > > > > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.5/147 - Release Date: 10/24/2005 >