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HISTORY FRIENDS OF PRAYER PROJECTS and CONTACT MAP and LINKS


Current Projects and Contacts

The Home Base of The Friends of Prayer
(Le comité des ami.e.s de la prière inc.)
is in the Richer, Manitoba region.
Our postal address is:
Friends of Prayer
 Box 216
 Richer, Manitoba
 R0E 1S0

telephone: (204) 422-9369
<Yvonne Fontaine Godard, chair>

Since its origin in 1995, The Friends of Prayer Committee has accomplished many tasks in its efforts to preserve the Enfant-Jésus Church and its site:

It is important for us to mention that all the projects that have been accomplished as well as those in progress are done in full consultation with The Saint-Boniface R. C. Archiepiscopal Corporation and the administration of the Ste-Anne Pastoral Region.

We are also very grateful to all the people from the region of Richer who participate in our ongoing activities, our work bees and who contribute time, energy as well as material and financial support.

  1. Status of 'Non-profit, Incorporated' organization obtained from Manitoba Corporations Office
  2. Repairs to the soffits and the chimney
  3. Installation of poly on the windows
  4. Installation plywood on the basement windows to increase security for the building
  5. Regular maintenance and care of the site and of the interior of the church
  6. Celebrations are organized for the Parish Centennial in 2004; mass officiated by Msgr Goulet in the Enfant-Jésus Church
  7. Creation and sale of Souvenir Centennial Calendar
  8. Several fund raisers were held to raise funds for maintenance of the site
  9. Removal of pigeon waste from the church attic and from the bell tower and ousting of the pigeons
  10. Installation of windows in the attic openings to keep the pigeons from returning
  11. Building and installation of screens for the bell tower openings to keep the pigeons out
  12. Holding of the first Community Celebration, The Métis Jamboree, to raise funds for the church
  13. Re-installation of hydro to the church
  14. Purchase and installation of two electric furnaces in the basement for air circulation and heating
  15. Cleaning of the basement to remove accumulated debris
  16. Installation of a sump pump to pump out seepage
  17. Installation of a heavy poly vapour barrier on the sand floor to prevent seepage by osmosis
  18. Adding and levelling of sand over the poly to protect the poly
  19. Purchase and installation of T-posts to replace the rotting timber support posts; the 13 T-posts each have a support capacity of 14000 lbs / 6 tonnes
  20. Replacement of heavy poly on the windows
  21. Installed a sump pump in the basement
  22. Repaired the bell tower and repainted the bell
  23. Repaired and repainted the Sacred Heart statue in the facade wall
  24. Insulation and vapour-barrier installed in basement openings to the ouside
  25. The Enfant-Jésus church is designated Municipal Heritage Site with the passing of By-law 5-2008, on October 22, 2008 with the concentrated efforts of the Friends of Prayer (Comité des ami.e.s de la prière)
And the work continues . . .

Ongoing Projects and Events
We are presently in the process of having the church roof redone with new cedar shingles. This is a major capital project that is proving to be very costly. We are hoping to cover the costs of this project with fund raising activities, donations and grants from government and corporations.
  1. Repairs to the steeple
  2. Let's Ring out the Bells

Planned Fund Raising

Donations
Le Committee, Friends of Prayer have obtained the status of a Registered Charity and are able to emit receipts for tax purposes for donations of $20 or more.

As such, we are continuing our fund raising campaign that was launched at our annual Jamboree on July 6, 2008. For more information on this subject, please consult the following link: Donations for the Enfant-Jésus Church roof. This link will provide you with all the related information for making a donation as well as allow you to download related documents.
If you wish to make a donation to help with the maintenance of the historic site, you are most welcome. You may do so by sending your cheque made out to: Friends of Prayer, to the address listed at the top of this page.

For more detailed information, please contact Yvonne at <204 422-9369> or Léon at <204 422-8137>, or by email : enfant.jesus@yahoo.com.