Eugène-Réal Angers was educated in Montreal, winning the Bachelor of Arts degree upon the completion of a classical course in St. Mary’s College. He was graduated from Laval University with the degree of LL. L. in June, 1907. In July of that year he was admitted to the bar at Quebec and soon after formed a partnership for the practice of law in Montreal with Ernest Guimont under the firm name of Guimont & Angers. A year later the senior partner removed to St. Hyacinthe and Mr. Angers entered into other partnership relations, leading to the adoption of the firm style of Brosseau, Brosseau, Tansey & Angers. In September, 1913, he joined with Howard Salter Ross, K. C., in forming the law firm of Ross & Angers. They now have offices in the Transportation building, where they care for the interests of a growing clientele. Broad reading and study have constantly augmented Mr. Angers’ ability to handle complex and intricate problems of law, and he is becoming recognized as one of the ablest of the younger representatives of the Montreal bar.
EUGENE-REAL ANGERS
On the 15th of September, 1909, Mr. Angers was married to Germaine Tousignant and they have one son, Pierre.
REV. THOMAS F. HEFFERNAN.
Rev. Thomas F. Heffernan is now in the sixth year of his able service as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas’ church in Montreal, a parish which he has built up through his energy, zeal and well directed enterprise into one of the most popular and well managed in the city. He was born December 22, 1869, on Colborne Street, in St. Anne’s parish, Montreal, a son of the late Thomas and Ellen (Murray) Heffernan. In his infancy the parents moved to the east end of the city, where the father purchased several properties, some of these on Craig, Lagauchetiere and Dorion Streets.
As a child Father Heffernan attended St. Bridget’s school, taught by the Christian Brothers, and when he was twelve years of age he entered St. Mary’s College. After one year and a half he enrolled in St. Lawrence College, conducted by the Fathers of the Holy Cross. Here success attended his efforts and in due time he became professor. He afterward took a four years’ course in the Grand Seminary and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood December 22, 1894, when he was twenty-five years of age. His first appointment was with the Rev. William O’Meara, pastor of St. Gabriel’s, with whom he remained for three years. At the end of that time, at the request of His Grace Archbishop Bruchesi he was appointed in September, 1898, professor extreme at Montreal College and did excellent work in this field for two years. Resigning at the end of that time, he was appointed assistant to Rev. J. E. Donnelly, pastor of St. Anthony’s, and he retained this connection for eight years, severing it in order to accept the appointment to the newly-founded parish of St. Thomas Aquinas. This was established for the English-speaking people of the west end who were living within the district bounded on the east by Atwater Avenue, on the west by the middle of Cote St. Paul Road, on the south by the canal and on the north by the Canadian Pacific Railroad track. There were about three hundred families; about one hundred residing between Atwater and Rose de Lima Streets, who belonged to St. Anthony’s parish; and two hundred attached to St. Henry’s. For a number of years previous there had been dissatisfaction among the St. Henry’s portion inasmuch as it was difficult for the Rev. Canon Decary to meet their needs satisfactorily. Accordingly a new parish was formed and placed in charge of Father Heffernan, who has since made St. Thomas Aquinas one of the most important Catholic congregations in the diocese. He has accomplished during the period of his incumbency a great deal of remarkable work. He had no money and he required fifteen thousand dollars to pay for the ground. He secured thirty thousand dollars from the Travelers Insurance Company and fifteen thousand dollars from Molson’s Bank and erected a thirty-five thousand dollar building now used as a church. The structure is two stories in height and so constructed that an additional two stories may be added if necessary. Father Heffernan also erected an attractive residence and has now a property valued at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and a debt of only thirty thousand dollars. During the year of 1914 he is to build a new church of Florentine style of architecture, on Convent Street. When asked to explain how this work was accomplished Father Heffernan said: “God has visited his people and this people received him. My people work from conviction, illumined by the light of faith. I have no sick, no infirm, no needy. Health, wealth and blessings are ours. But you must leave here. Never, until they sing my Mass of Requiem. I attribute the whole success to the prayers of the children and to the good work of my Reverend assistant, Father Polan.”
Father Heffernan gives all of his time and attention to the affairs of his parish, working zealously and conscientiously in the promotion of the spiritual and material interests of his congregation. He has indeed accomplished a wonderful work at St. Thomas Aquinas and has the love of his people in large measure as well as the high regard and warm confidence of people of all denominations.