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Christianity was first presented within the vicinity of Pickering Village by French Roman
Catholic missionaries who spent the winter of 1669-70 among the Indians near Frenchman's
Bay.
While there, they knew of Duffin's Creek and named it ""Riviere au Saumon"".
Among the earliest settlers in the village and township were many of the Roman Catholic faith
and they constituted an important part of the population.
Previous to 1843, Roman Catholic families living in Pickering and in the township occasionally
went to mass in Toronto, site at the nearest church.
Children of that period were carried by their parents is their arms or on their shoulders all the
way to St. Paul's, Toronto, to be christened.
In 1843, a church was erected in Oshawa and the Roman Catholics of Pickering were able to
enjoy the ministrations of their church there.
In 1848, Rev. J. B. Proulx was appointed to Oshawa and the neighbouring missions of
Pickering and Highland Creek.
Father Proulx built the first Roman Catholic Church in Pickering — St. Wilfrid's. It was a
wooden structure and was situated about 40 rods south of the Kingston Road on the Station
Road (Notion Road) at the extreme western limits of the village.
Tombstones of the early settlers were grouped in the middle of the old graveyard about a
quarter century ago. The present cemetery is about half a mile farther south, adjacent to
Highway 401.
Before construction of the present church in 1869-70, the Duffin's Creek Mission consisted of
two churches, St. Wilfrid's in Pickering and St Joseph's at Highland Creek.
By this time, however, St. Wilfrid's was in a bad state of repair. In 1871, Father Hayden
reported that the new church of St. Francis de Sales was nearly completed, the probable cost
being $7,000.00.
This old church now commands an imposing position in the village and its graceful spire is
visible for miles in all directions.
St. Francis de Sales is the patron Saint of Roman Catholic writers and journalists throughout
the world.
The course of St. Francis de Sales' history closely parallels the economic condition of the
township as a whole.
From 1880 — as the population declined — until 1940 when the population again began to
rise as a result of the influx of vast numbers of workers employed by Defence Industries at Ajax.
In 1913, a disastrous fire completely destroyed the rectory which was situated on the present
site of the St. Francis de Sales Separate School. .
The church building itself was untouched but for the next 29 years the parish was a mission
served by priests from Whitby.
In 1942, Father Bernard Kyte re-opened the parish of St. Francis de Sales when the
shell-filling plant in Ajax brought many Roman Catholic families into the district.
Father Kyte was an outstanding young priest, beloved by all He established a mission at
Ajax which in 1950 became St. Bernadette's Parish.
Priests from St. Francis de Sales were also in charge of the mission at Rosebank. In 1953,
a separate school was built beside St. Francis de Sales in Pickering, at a cost of $35,100.00.
Father Walter Forgach, on coming to the parish, embarked on an extensive program of
re-construction and re-decoration of the church building. The steeple was repaired and lawn
and shrubbery replaced the asphalt in front of the church.
In the interior, the choir loft stair has been moved and the sanctuary was completely
reconstructed to conform with the modernization of the church's ritual. The interior was
repainted and panelled and the sanctuary re-carpeted.
In 1967, a new rectory was built adjacent to the church. It is of brick and complements the
church building to the north.
During the 1950's many Dutch Catholic families came to Pickering. Their native thrift and
industry was an asset not only to St. Francis de Sales but also to Pickering Village and the
community at large.
The St. Francis de Sales Parish Credit Union was formed in 1954. Dutch residents of the
parish were early and strong supporters of the Credit Union.
Source unidentified
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