"A Great Christian Leader" - Rev. Charles Lanoue

Charles Ernest Lanoue was born on April 22, 1916 in Tilbury East, the eighth child to parents Joseph Lanoue and Arthemise St. Denis. Tragedy struck the family early on, as Arthemise died not six weeks later, on June 10, 1916. While records are unclear what happened to Joseph Lanoue, Charles was taken in by his father’s sister and her husband, James and Hermine Sterling. It was through their loving influence that Charles eventually found his vocation.

In 1921, the Sterlings moved back to Tilbury, where Charles attended St. Francis’ School. In 1930, Mr. James Sterling died, and Charles went to study at the Seminary of St. Theresa in Montreal, where he stayed from 1930-1938, eventually graduating with a Bachelor in French. From there, he entered St. Peter’s Seminary to study theology. He was ordained on May 30, 1942, by Bishop John T. Kidd, at St. Peter’s Cathedral.

From there, he became assistant pastor, briefly, at St. Anne’s Parish in Tecumseh, in 1942, before immediately moving to St. Theresa’s Parish in Windsor from 1942-1943. He then went on to Sacred Heart Parish, also in Windsor, from 1943-1949, before spending a brief period of time at St. Joachim Parish, in St. Joachim, in 1949.

It was in that same year, 1949, that he was made pastor of St. Charles’ Parish in Stevenson, a position he held from 1949-1958. During this time, he founded Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament Parish in Wheatley, and alongside Father Olyssec Lefaive of Stevenson, ministered to the people of Wheatley.

He continued his ministry when he again returned to St. Anne’s Parish in Tecumseh, this time as pastor. This was one of his longest appointments, from 1958-1970, and so many memories can be traced to his time there ―he was described as “a powerful leader, compassionate father, and true friend.” He was so loved because he shared in his parishioners’ joys, sorrows and everything else in between, a habit that he demonstrated everywhere he went, not simply in St. Anne’s Parish.
From 1970-1977, he served as pastor at St. Philippe’s Parish in Grande Point, before becoming assistant pastor to St. Francis Xavier Parish in Tilbury from 1977-1979. During this same time period, he was also chaplain at the Ursuline Motherhouse, The Pines, in Chatham. He held this position from 1977-1989, at which point he retired.

This is but a small glimpse at a large and extraordinary life. Father Lanoue’s ministry lives on in his parishioners and all those he influenced.