Mystery Donor Gives $1.25 Million To Local Church

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Photo from Ste-Anne’s Parish Facebook Page

An anonymous donor has come forward with a $1.25 million donation to Ste. Anne’s Church in Tecumseh, and made a commitment to match up to $1.25 million in funds if the parish can find a donor or group to contribute to the $2.5 million church restoration campaign.

Pastor Fr. Eugene Roy said he was recently contacted by an individual who has a keen desire to see the historic church fully restored.

“This individual is hoping that his offer to match funds dollar for dollar up to $1.25 million will encourage an individual or a group in our community to step up and raise the other half of the funds required,” states Fr. Roy.

According to Fr. Roy, the church requires extensive restoration work. “When I first arrived here, back in July of 2010, I didn’t realize that what looked like a stone wall structure, is not any stone at all but a ‘mortar stucco’ that gives the building a stone appearance over a red brick surface.”

Time has taken its toll resulting in a serious deterioration to the stucco causing it to peel off the wall with chunks of it falling randomly to the ground, according to Roy. It has also spoiled the original brick surface that was used to build the wall back in 1873.

The donor has set a two-week timeline for matching funds to come forward which adds a sense of urgency to St. Anne Church’s capital campaign.

“Our parish is deeply grateful for this generous commitment of support to fully restore our church building which has been a beacon in our community for 143 years. Parishioners have been made aware of the current need to step up to the plate if we are going to make the church building safe and secure for generations to come. We hope this offer will serve as an incentive for other donors in the community to participate in this restoration project,” added Roy.