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Our Lady of Victory Camp was established in 1948 with a generous donation of 8 acres of land by Andrew and Anne Guillemand. The camp was original founded by Fathers Patrick Rooney and Joseph Murphy to provide summer catechism instruction for children and youth. Programs were also facilitated by Sisters and other from Lacombe, Bentley, Sylvan, and Rimbey areas.
Unfortunately by the later 1960s the facilities of the camp had become run down. Generous donations from the Knights of Columbus provided funds and labour to restore the camp, a relationship which has continued to the present.
For more information see the Victory Camp website.

The first mass in the new church in Daysland was celebrated on Feb 7, 1909. On April 25, 1909 Bishop Legal blessed the church and dedicated it to St. Mark the Evangelist. In 1938 a new church was built. It was completed and blessed by Archbishop MacDonald on June 18, 1938 and dedicated to Our Lady of the Prairies. The parish continues to be active, as a mission of Killam.

Our Lady of the Angels parish began as a mission of the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lamoureux, served by the Franciscan Fathers from North Edmonton in 1908. The first mass was said by Father Arthur Rappard, OFM on May 17th.

In October 1909 a church was built, Roman style, measuring 40’ x 70’, on a solid stone-cement foundation; the cross on the spire reached the height of 90’. The first Mass in the church was said on Christmas Eve 1909. This church was solemnly blessed by Bishop Legal, OMI, on May 18, 1910. On July 31, 1910 a bell weighing 400 pounds was blessed by Fr. Berchmans, OFM.

In 1950, after being served for 40 years by the Franciscans, Our Lady of the Angels again became a mission parish of Lamoureux, the Archdiocese having taken over the parish from the Order.

Our Lady of the Angels Parish church burned to the ground on Sep. 22, 1967 during a violent windstorm. A short-circuit caused an explosion in the electrical panel in the sacristy. Services were held in homes and in Our Lady of the Angels School while the Christmas Eve midnight mass in 1967 was held in First United Church.

Sod-turning ceremony for the new church was conducted by Archbishop Anthony Jordan, OMI, on May 26, 1968. The official dedication and blessing of the new church by Archbishop A. Jordan, OMI, took place on Sunday, May 11, 1969.

On October 4, 1993 Archbishop J.N. MacNeil blessed the church extension.

On Ermineskin Reserve, a house-chapel, 14’ x 28’ was erected in 1885 by Brothers Patrick Bowes and Alexandre Lambert, OMI. Father Gabillon, OMI, began his arduous work among the Indigenous people. They were visited as early as 1881 by Rev. Zacharie Touze, OMI.

In 1894, Brothers Lambert and Bowes, OMI built the second church, the nave, measuring 26’ x 40’ and the sanctuary 12’ x 18’. It was inaugurated at Midnight Mass of Christmas, 1894, and dedicated to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows by the pastor, Rev. Father Victorin Gabillon, OMI. He can be considered the “founder” of the permanent Catholic mission at Hobbema.

The third church constructed on the Ermineskin Reserve was inaugurated by Archbishop John Hugh MacDonald on June 2, 1940. Father Edouard Rheaume, OMI, was the Pastor at the time. The Archbishop blessed the church and a bell and erected canonically the stations of the Cross.

The fourth church on the Ermineskin Reserve was the teepee church built in 1959 and capable of seating 640 worshippers. Coadjutor Archbishop Anthony Jordan, OMI solemnly dedicated the new church on October 27, 1960. On December 18, 1960, Hobbema became a parish canonically erected.

The Sisters of Assumption arrived in Hobbema on August 30, 1894. Our Lady of Seven Sorrows is the “Mother Church” of four Cree reserves in the area of Hobbema. Each reserve, Ermineskin, Samson, Louis Bull and Montana has its own chief and council.

In January 1, 2013, the community name of Hobbema was officially changed to Maskwacis.

The mission of Big Valley was founded in 1916 by the Priests of St. Marie de Tinchebray. In 1917 the church was built and it was blessed and dedicated to Our Lady of Peace by Archbishop Legal on June 30, 1918. In the first years of the mission, monthly trips to this mission where made by Father Leconte, Father Renut, and Father Bazin. Between 1917 and 1924 Father Anciaux was the resident priests at Big Valley, however in 1924 Big Valley became a mission served from Stettler and remained a mission until 1928 when it, once again had a resident priest. Father Joseph Aherne served until 1956 when Big Valley once again became a mission of Stettler.
In 1967 the old church was replaced with a modern one and was blessed by Archbishop Jordan on July 26 1967. In 1995 Big Valley became a mission of Trochu. Mass continued until 1999 when the parish was closed.

In 1887, Father Christophe Tissier, OMI, was appointed to organize a parish on the reserve at Winterburn. In 1888, a house-chapel was built. It was blessed and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist on January 4, 1892.

Most of the priests who were in charge of this Mission were Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

In 1900, Father Valentin Vegreville built the first church.

In 1928, Father Patrick Beaudry erected a larger church which was blessed by Archbishop Henry Joseph O’Leary on June 21, 1931 and dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, as requested by the benefactress, Eileen Gibson.

In the summer of 1951, the Indigenous people asked to have the church moved to a more central location. This took place in February 1952. Rev. F. Gamache built a new rectory at the new church site. The old church site was sold to Mr. Robert C. Johnson.

In September 1958, a new church was built and construction was completed in March 1961. Coadjutor Archbishop Anthony Jordan, O.M.I., blessed the new church on June 4, 1961 and dedicated it to Our Lady of Mercy. This church was totally destroyed by fire on November 5, 1990 and all the parish records were lost.

On July 8, 1992, sod was turned for the new church. Construction was started in August, 1992 and completed in February, 1993. On June 20, 1993, the new church was solemnly blessed and dedicated by Archbishop Joseph N. MacNeil.

There are 3 cemeteries for the Enoch Reserve:
• The old one on 199 Street and 79 Avenue, not on the Reserve
• 215 Avenue, on the Reserve
• Next to Our Lady of Mercy Church, on the Reserve

In 1909 Rev. Lucien Leconte made his first visit to the area east of Stettler (now called Castor). The first mass in Castor was said on Sunday Nov, 28, 1909 in the Harness Shop of Marc de Cathelineau with 25 people present. A building committee was organized to raise funds for a small house for the missionary shortly thereafter and on April 16, 1910 Father Leconte moved into the new building. By the spring of that year construction was underway for a new church, and on Aug 7, 1910 Rev. Leduc, Vicar General for the Diocese of St. Albert came to bless the new church and dedicated it to “Our Lady of Grace.” The church continues to be an active part of life in the city of Castor.