Dictionary of Glengarry Biography

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====== Foley, John Michael ====== 
 (died 2 Oct. 1944, aged 73 ), clergyman. Born at Goldfield, Finch Township, Stormont County. Parents: Thomas Foley and his wife Ann McDonald. John Michael Foley was ordained to the priesthood 11 Nov. 1900 at Alexandria. He was pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish, Lancaster, from 1904 to 1914. The rectory of the parish was built during his pastorship. The founding pastor of St. Anthony’s Parish, Apple Hill, he was pastor there from 1914 to December 1932. During this time the first church was built, together with a rectory, a convent, and a school. He was pastor of St. Columban’s in Cornwall from January 1933 till shortly before his death. St. Columban’s church and rectory were badly damaged in the Cornwall-Massena earthquake of 5 Sept. 1944. Bishop Brodeur, seeing the need for a well and active pastor to deal with the extensive earthquake damage, asked Fr Foley, who was in the hospital with his final illness, to resign. Mgr. William Smith (later Bishop Smith) arrived to take up his role as the new pastor the day before Fr Foley died. Fr Foley’s funeral services were held in St. Columban’s, Cornwall, while the church was in badly damaged state as a result of the earthquake. Fr Foley served as one of the directors of the short-lived and ineffective Glengarry Colonization Board, the aim of which was “to find buyers for some of the vacant farms in Glengarry.” (//Cornwall Freeholder// 23 April 1932) Admirably enough, he was remembered as being during the years of the Depression an “easy touch” for people wanting handouts or other assistance. He was the brother of Rev. Sister Mary Bernard (Margaret Foley). His nephew Francis J. Foley was ordained priest at Alexandria on 20 June 1946 but died on 24 Feb. 1962 at the early age of 43 through a car accident.


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<fs small>//Standard Freeholder// 3 & 5 Oct. 1944 * Villeneuve 60-61, 172, 226-228, 233, 239, 249 * Adolphe Gaudet, //Apple Hill: the Story of Saint Anthony’s Parish// (1979) * //150th Anniversary: St. Columban’s Parish// (1979?) * Fobert * //Glengarry News// 10 Jan. 1902, directs play at Alexander Hall, Alexandria * //GN// 10 June 1932, to attend Eucharistic Congress, Dublin * //GN// 16 Dec. 1932, transfer to St. Columban’s announced * Fr Francis Foley: ordination, //GN// 21 June 1946 (portrait) ; this article contains a valuable description of the connections of the Foley family in the Church and the RCAF; Villeneuve 219, 233; //Sinnsearchd// 27
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