1879-1902
Born on July 15, 1879
Educated at Mont St. Michel in Normandy, The College of the Immaculate Conception in Laval, France
Received his bachelor's degree in 1899
Educated at Mont St. Michel in Normandy, The College of the Immaculate Conception in Laval, France
Received his bachelor's degree in 1899
1902-1908
Traveled to Vermont, U.S.A. in 1902
Made his novitiate at Winooski Park, Vt, from December 1902-03
Pronounced his vows for priesthood in Montreal, Quebec on December 8, 1903
In 1904, assisted in founding Saint Michael's Institute at Winooski Park along with
-Later taught and studied theology
-also taught mathematics
Famed as a Builder:
"Father Cheray's fame as a builder was well known in the order. Even as a students before ordination, he displayed such ability as a mathematician that he was assigned to draw plans for enlarging the old farm house (that was orginally on the site where Saint Michael's College was built), known now as Old Hall." (quote from "News From St. Michael's College" written by John D. Donoghue in 1949)
"Father Cheray helped plan the extension which contains most of the administrative offices. Then in 1907, he sketched and helped plan the second addition which included the old library. It was that year before the wooden structure was bricked over that Father Cheray was first assigned to England."
From 1906-1908 held the title of treasurer, procurator, and unofficial builder of Saint Michael's Institute
Made his novitiate at Winooski Park, Vt, from December 1902-03
Pronounced his vows for priesthood in Montreal, Quebec on December 8, 1903
In 1904, assisted in founding Saint Michael's Institute at Winooski Park along with
-Later taught and studied theology
-also taught mathematics
Famed as a Builder:
"Father Cheray's fame as a builder was well known in the order. Even as a students before ordination, he displayed such ability as a mathematician that he was assigned to draw plans for enlarging the old farm house (that was orginally on the site where Saint Michael's College was built), known now as Old Hall." (quote from "News From St. Michael's College" written by John D. Donoghue in 1949)
"Father Cheray helped plan the extension which contains most of the administrative offices. Then in 1907, he sketched and helped plan the second addition which included the old library. It was that year before the wooden structure was bricked over that Father Cheray was first assigned to England."
From 1906-1908 held the title of treasurer, procurator, and unofficial builder of Saint Michael's Institute
1908-1925
Assigned to Hitchin, England as Resident Pastor
Became founder and first pastor of an Edmundite Catholic parish at Hitchin
Assisted in building a church and parochial: Saint Michael's School
OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR ONE: Clergymen, originating from France, were forcibly drafted into the French army
From 1915-1919 Father Cheray served as an interpreter during The Great War
Returned to Hitchin after his service, again serving as treasurer and procurator of Saint Michael's School
In 1924 was elected Superior General of the Edmundite Order, but humbly declined the position
Became founder and first pastor of an Edmundite Catholic parish at Hitchin
Assisted in building a church and parochial: Saint Michael's School
OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR ONE: Clergymen, originating from France, were forcibly drafted into the French army
From 1915-1919 Father Cheray served as an interpreter during The Great War
Returned to Hitchin after his service, again serving as treasurer and procurator of Saint Michael's School
In 1924 was elected Superior General of the Edmundite Order, but humbly declined the position
1925-1931
The Edmundites gave up both the school and the parish in Hitchin, Hert, England in 1925.
As a result, traveled back to France and spent a year with Assumptionist Fathers
October 1925 returned to Swanton, VT accompanied by Brothers Vanholme and Weston
In Swanton, he held the titles of Novice Master, Econome, and local superior
Also served as administrator of St. Louis Parish, Highgate, Vt from February 1931-August 1931
Supervised the construction of two large additions to St. Edmund's Juniorate
As a result, traveled back to France and spent a year with Assumptionist Fathers
October 1925 returned to Swanton, VT accompanied by Brothers Vanholme and Weston
In Swanton, he held the titles of Novice Master, Econome, and local superior
Also served as administrator of St. Louis Parish, Highgate, Vt from February 1931-August 1931
Supervised the construction of two large additions to St. Edmund's Juniorate
1931-1934
Assigned to Putney (southern) VT in 1931
Worked at Saint Joseph's Novitiate
Again, accompanied by Brothers Vanholme and Weston
Became Putney's first superior and professor of moral theology at Edmundite Theologate
Worked at Saint Joseph's Novitiate
Again, accompanied by Brothers Vanholme and Weston
Became Putney's first superior and professor of moral theology at Edmundite Theologate
1934-1947
Assigned to Whitton, England with the mission to establish a church, school, and rectory
Cheray blessed a barn on September 3, 1934 to temporarily use as a chapel for daily mass
The permanent church opened on September 30, 1934
First service was held that Sunday by Cheray at eight in the morning
SEPTEMBER 1, 1939 OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR TWO
On October 29, 1940, the Church at 213 Nelson Road, Whitton, England was bombed by a German oil bomb during a night raid.
Just days after the bombing, Father Cheray set out to find the funds to build another church.
In 1945, still hard at work to find the funds to build another church, Cheray is offered a perspective job in Havervill, Suffold, England by J.C. Leo, Bishop of Northhampton. He respectfully declined.
A year later, Father Cheray and his colleagues are still trying to come up with funds to prepare the church by means of fundraising. But, Cheray is forced to slow down when he goes to the doctors because he is in pain and they find a malignant tumor in his mouth.
On July 9th, 1946, he undergoes a surgery to remove the tumor before it spreads. The surgery leaves him severely handicapped.
He stays at a London hospital for six months. Father Langlois takes over his duties at Whitton for the time being.
On August 1st, 1946 Cheray received the Last Sacrament due his is lack of progress in his recovery.
Later that year, recovers to the point where he can return to work at the Church in Whitton, but is demoted to Procurator rather than resident pastor. Still experiences pain and has a hard time moving around making it very difficult to continue attempting to rebuild the church.
In 1947, Father Cheray was forced to leave Whitton due to his decreasing health, he needed an American hospital. The surgery had slowed down the growth of the tumor, but it was still spreading and causing other complications that left Father Cheray restless.
Cheray did not want to leave Whitton, it was his home and he determination to rebuild the church would be impossible if he was forced to leave. But, his colleagues and the Superior General knew that his quality of life would be better if he lived at Winooski Park in Vermont for the remainder of his life.
Cheray blessed a barn on September 3, 1934 to temporarily use as a chapel for daily mass
The permanent church opened on September 30, 1934
First service was held that Sunday by Cheray at eight in the morning
SEPTEMBER 1, 1939 OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR TWO
On October 29, 1940, the Church at 213 Nelson Road, Whitton, England was bombed by a German oil bomb during a night raid.
Just days after the bombing, Father Cheray set out to find the funds to build another church.
In 1945, still hard at work to find the funds to build another church, Cheray is offered a perspective job in Havervill, Suffold, England by J.C. Leo, Bishop of Northhampton. He respectfully declined.
A year later, Father Cheray and his colleagues are still trying to come up with funds to prepare the church by means of fundraising. But, Cheray is forced to slow down when he goes to the doctors because he is in pain and they find a malignant tumor in his mouth.
On July 9th, 1946, he undergoes a surgery to remove the tumor before it spreads. The surgery leaves him severely handicapped.
He stays at a London hospital for six months. Father Langlois takes over his duties at Whitton for the time being.
On August 1st, 1946 Cheray received the Last Sacrament due his is lack of progress in his recovery.
Later that year, recovers to the point where he can return to work at the Church in Whitton, but is demoted to Procurator rather than resident pastor. Still experiences pain and has a hard time moving around making it very difficult to continue attempting to rebuild the church.
In 1947, Father Cheray was forced to leave Whitton due to his decreasing health, he needed an American hospital. The surgery had slowed down the growth of the tumor, but it was still spreading and causing other complications that left Father Cheray restless.
Cheray did not want to leave Whitton, it was his home and he determination to rebuild the church would be impossible if he was forced to leave. But, his colleagues and the Superior General knew that his quality of life would be better if he lived at Winooski Park in Vermont for the remainder of his life.
1947-1949
Returns to Saint Michael's College in 1947
Resided at Saint Joseph's Hall while doing secretarial work for the Superial General, Father Purtill
Meanwhile, "his sickness threatened to come back at any moment, the last efforts by the doctors declared they were unable to continue operations, treatments that Father Cheray found very painful. But seemed to make him temporarily better. However, he was losing strength day by day and could barely watch, he complained of arthrital pains especially in his legs, and difficulty sleeping at night. He couldn't fall asleep without the help of injections, but he could have lived a bit longer, unfortunately he contracted peneumonia which could not be controlled especially because of his state of weakness that his illness put him in..." (Letter from a Fellow Edmundite to Cheray's sister in France, 1949, translated by Jeremy Wong)
On March 30th, 1949, ten days after contracted pneumonia Father Cheray succumbed to his prolonged illness.
Resided at Saint Joseph's Hall while doing secretarial work for the Superial General, Father Purtill
Meanwhile, "his sickness threatened to come back at any moment, the last efforts by the doctors declared they were unable to continue operations, treatments that Father Cheray found very painful. But seemed to make him temporarily better. However, he was losing strength day by day and could barely watch, he complained of arthrital pains especially in his legs, and difficulty sleeping at night. He couldn't fall asleep without the help of injections, but he could have lived a bit longer, unfortunately he contracted peneumonia which could not be controlled especially because of his state of weakness that his illness put him in..." (Letter from a Fellow Edmundite to Cheray's sister in France, 1949, translated by Jeremy Wong)
On March 30th, 1949, ten days after contracted pneumonia Father Cheray succumbed to his prolonged illness.