“Now an influx of immigrants is invigorating our parish and integrating with those families that have been here for 150 years,” said Whalen, adding that the church has an annual ethnic festival celebrating the cultures of congregational members. “We should always be a welcoming Church, and in this influx we see the true universality of the Church.”

With renewed vibrancy comes a growing parish life.

“There are so many events and programs to co-ordinate,” said Whalen. “We were 40 years without a parish hall and now the parish committee is still trying to decide all of the uses. We are feeling our way.”

Within its first month the new centre was being used for meetings of the Catholic Women’s League, Knights of Columbus and as a home base for active lay ministries for youth and the sick. It is also available for receptions celebrating baptism, first communion and all the sacraments. On its first weekend, more than 60 people attended a three-day course for St. Andrew’s School of Evangelization. This movement, begun in Mexico with the goal of multiplying the experience of Christ by forming new evangelists, has a growing presence in Belleville.

It took nearly two years of renovations for the doors to open. Bumps in the road included a flood, expensive asbestos remediation and a costly fire, the cause of which was never identified.

The building was built in  1941 as a convent for the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, whose ministry saw a large presence in Belleville schools. When the Sisters left the convent in 1997, its small rooms needed extensive renovation to be adapted for parish life.

“It was down to the bare bones,” said Whalen. “We removed walls, put in support beams, a new ceiling, plumbing, wiring, terrazzo floor. It was brand new everything on the main floor. We also did renovations on the upper floor with all new wiring and plumbing.”

The construction bill is nearing $700,000, and the construction debt is well in hand.

“We have very generous people at St. Michael’s,” said Whalen. “We have already paid off half of our debt in a year and a half. We are well on our way. We won’t be in debt for very long.”

This accelerated debt payment is even more impressive in view of the fact there have been no major events or elaborate fundraising schemes. St. Michael’s has relied solely on the generosity of residents in “The Friendly City.”

“We just asked parishioners,” said Whalen. “We have over 1,200 families in our parish and they are generous folks. We are not rolling in dough but I have never worried. God has always provided.”

(Therese Greenwood is a writer in Kingston, Ont.)