The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton traces its roots to the 19th century, when what is now Western Canada was a vast territory controlled by the powerful Hudson Bay Company. The inhabitants were mostly aboriginal peoples who made their livelihood through hunting, fishing and trapping. Fort Edmonton was the most important of the Hudson Bay Company’s trading posts, and its employees were generally French-speaking Catholics, many of whom transmitted the rudiments of their faith to their Métis children.
In 1822, Abbe Norbert Provencher, missionary of the Red River Settlement, became auxiliary to the Bishop of Quebec and was put in charge of this “District of the North,” an immense area spreading west from the Great Lakes to the Pacific coast and north to the Arctic Ocean.
In 1838, two priests on their way to the West Coast – Abbes Blanchet and Demers – stopped at Fort Edmonton, where they celebrated the first Mass, baptized children and blessed marriages. Their good report to Bishop Provencher led to the foundation of the first Roman Catholic mission at Lac Ste. Anne in 1843 and the building of the first chapel, a small log cabin within Fort Edmonton, in 1859.
In 1861, Father Albert Lacombe, one of the earliest missionaries in the West, founded the St. Albert mission settlement and built a log chapel for ministering to the Cree and Metis. Father Lacombe Chapel, the oldest building in Alberta, is now a Provincial Heritage Site.
In 1871 the Diocese of St. Albert was created. Several factors necessitated this move: the confederation of provinces in Canada with the promise of a transcontinental railway; the rapid disappearance of the buffalo with the resulting starvation of First Nations and Métis people, the heavy influx of white settlers of different ethnic origins and faiths, the problem of land and schools for the natives, the shortage of missionaries, schools and churches for the newcomers.
By 1889 the Saskatchewan portion was separated from the huge diocese. In the subsequent years the herds of buffalo totally disappeared, and the First Nations who signed treaties were given tracts of land and became wards of the government. Women and men religious congregations arrived to open schools for native and white children, hospitals and asylums for the elderly. They visited families scattered over the land, encouraging newcomers to group in parishes. It is estimated that St. Albert’s first bishop, Bishop Vital Grandin, walked 25,000 miles by snowshoe as he ministered to the huge diocese. When he died in 1902, the diocese had a population of some 18,000 Catholics in 30 organized parishes served by 42 Oblate Fathers and 10 secular priests.
On Nov. 30, 1912, the Episcopal See of St. Albert was raised to the status of Archdiocese of Edmonton, and its southern portion removed to form the Diocese of Calgary. Archbishop Emile Legal became the first Archbishop of Edmonton: When he died in 1920, the Catholic population of the Archdiocese numbered 38,400; there were 92 religious priests and 28 diocesan priests serving in 55 parishes and 58 missions with churches.
The Archdiocese continued to grow rapidly after the end of the First World War. The basement of St. Joseph Cathedral was built (1925); a diocesan Catholic newspaper was published (1921); St. Joseph College was incorporated (1926); the diocesan seminary opened its doors (1927). Once again, a portion of the Archdiocese was carved out; this time, it was the northern section that became the Diocese of St. Paul in 1948.
Today the Archdiocese of Edmonton includes the greater Edmonton area but also covers a geographic region stretching from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the Saskatchewan boundary in the east, from Olds in the south to Villeneuve in the north. In total the Archdiocese covers 81,151 square kilometres. It includes 65 parishes with resident priests in cities, towns, rural areas and native communities, and another 66 parishes and missions without resident priests. Within its boundaries are nine Catholic school districts and 10 Catholic health facilities including hospitals, continuing care centres and seniors residences.
Every Sunday, Mass is celebrated in 15 different languages, including French, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Croatian, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Italian, German, Hungarian, Korean, Eritrean, Latin and American Sign Language. Every July, thousands of First Nations Catholics gather on the shores of Lac Ste. Anne for an annual pilgrimage that began more than a hundred years ago. The pilgrimage, a time of reunion, renewal and healing, has become one of the largest annual gatherings of First Nations people in Canada. Every August, another focal point for the faithful is the pilgrimage to Skaro, where Polish settlers in 1919 built a replica of the grotto at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.
Prior to 1912 Immaculate Conception church offered two services, one in French and one in English. In the spring of 1913 a church building was begun for English-speaking parishioners lead by Rev. Maxime Pilion. The Parish had been erected by Archbishop Legal on Dec.21, 1912 and on July 13, 1913 the cornerstone was blessed. On May 10, 1914 Archbishop Legal blessed the new church and dedicated it to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In the 1930s and 1940s Sacred Heart served both the missions of St. Anne at Fraser Flats (1934-1945) and the mission of St. Patrick in Fairview (1939-1949).
In 1966 a fire destroyed the church. During the renovations serves were held at Sacred Heart School.
In 1978 the Ad Hoc Committee of the Inner City was formed by the Social Justice Commission. In 1985, although not formally acknowledge as such until 1991, Sacred Heart became the first Native Parish in Canada for an estimated 30,000 individuals of Metis and First Nations heritage.
Today the church continues to thrive in Edmonton’s inner city.
In 1933 an acreage at Westerose, about two miles west of Ma-Me-O Beach was donated by Jack McRae and the first Catholic Church in the area was built. Prior to that parishioners attended mass in the school at Falun or in their homes. Unfortunately in 1934 the church was destroyed in a storm. It was then rebuilt and blessed by Archbishop MacNeil on July 19, 1942. In 1952 the church was moved from Westerose to Mameo Beach where it remained for the next forty years. In 1993 the church was rebuilt and blessed by Archbishop MacNeil on Aug 22, 1993.
Mameo Beach was a mission of Wetaskwin (1932-1940 and 1968-1994), Winfield (1940-1968), and Hobbema (1994-1997). Between 1997 and 1998 Ma-Me-O Beach had a resident priest, Father Enzio Agnoli, however due to declining parish population Ma-Me-O Beach was closed in 1998.
In 1897 Stanislaw Sarnecki arrived in Calgary from Poland, and a year later his family and friends arrived. They settled in the area known as Tabbit Hills and were visited by Father Adalbert Kulawy OMI in 1898. In 1990 Father Francis Olszewki was ordained and appointed to serve the Polish settlers in the area. Three years later, under the supervision of Father Leduc a log chapel was built. Bishop Legal blessed it on June 2, 1904 and dedicated it to St. Stanislaus.
In 1915 a larger church was built to replace the small log-church. Archbishop Legal blessed the new church on September 23 1917 and dedicated it to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. The log-church was used as a parish hall until 1925 when it was destroyed by a fire. In 1924 Archbishop O’Leary granted permission to Father Syalla to have the patronage of the church changed to the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.
In 1930 a fire destroyed the chapel and money was collected to build a new church. Finally after many years of fundraising on August 19, 1934 Archbishop O’Leary blessed the new chapel which he dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Nisku was served from several parishes including Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonton (its beginning until 1961), Calmar (1961-1979), Devon (1979-1982, 1983-2003), Beaumont (1982-1983). In 2003 it the parish was officially closed.
Charged with the care and maintenance of Catholic cemeteries, Edmonton Catholic Cemeteries is a non-profit, cost-recovery organization owned and operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.
Edmonton Catholic Cemeteries currently operates the following cemeteries in the city of Edmonton, Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum (established in 1954), Our Lady of Peace Cemetery and Columbarium (established in 1993), St. Joachim Cemetery (established in 1888), St. Albert Cemetery (established in 1862), and St. Anthony Cemetery (established in 1902).
The Liturgy Commission was first established by Archbishop Anthony Jordan in 1968 to study and promote effective liturgy throughout the archdiocese and to establish ongoing leadership in liturgy within the Archdiocese of Edmonton. From the beginning the commission included both clerical and lay members who had an interest and knowledge in liturgy. In keeping with the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy, the Liturgy Commission’s mission was to promote full, conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations throughout the Archdiocese.
Archbishop MacNeil reaffirmed the Commission’s mandate at the time of his installation as Archbishop of Edmonton in 1973.
The commission was organized into the following committees: Executive Committee, Rites/Celebrations Committee, Archdiocese Music Committee, Art and Architecture Committee, Liturgy and Justice Committee and the Education Committee. Through its various sub-committees, the Commission was concerned with baptism, first communion, confirmation, funeral music, art, architecture, and justice with respect to liturgy.
The commission provided workshops for parishes, ran liturgy conferences, published resource materials, maintained a resource library, planned and coordinated archdiocesan liturgical celebrations, and sponsored the Summer School in Liturgical Studies in conjunction with Newman Theological College. Other events organized by the commission included an annual Chrism Mass held in the Basilica, the liturgy for the 75th Anniversary of the Province of Alberta, and the liturgy for the Papal Visit in 1984.
The following individuals held the position of Chair of the Liturgy Commission: Father Emmett Crough (1968-1973), Dr. Frank Henderson (1973-1974), Father Richard Bednar (1974-1979), Mrs. Patricia O’Brian (1979-1980), Brother Donatus Vervoort (1980-1984), Father Peter Sharpe (1984-1985), Mrs. Margaret O’Connell (1985-1989), Father Karl Raab (1990-1994), Rev. Don MacDonald (1994-1997), Rev. Leo Hofmann (1997-1999), Rev. Robert Colburn, CSSp (1999-2001), Rev. John Malazdrewich, omi (2001-2002), Rev. Paul Kavanagh (2002-2004).
In April 2004, Archbishop Collins announced that the Liturgy Commission would be known as the Office of Liturgy and Rev. Paul Kavanagh assumed the position of Director of Liturgy.
In 2013 as a result of the operational review, Archbishop Richard Smith announced that the Office of Liturgy would change its name to the Office of Divine Worship to better reflect the Vatican documents and changes implemented in the Roman Curia by Pope Francis. This did not represent a functional or reporting change. Rev. Paul Kavanagh continues as the Director.
The Commission for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations was established by Archbishop Anthony Jordan in 1966. Compelled by the desire of Jesus Christ that all may be one and encouraged by the sprite of Vatican II, the Commission for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations worked to promoted reconciliation and unity among Christian churches and to create better understanding with other religions through prayer, study, dialogue, and communal activities. The Ukrainian Catholic Church joined the Commission in 1989 and as such members of the commission became responsible to both bishops.
In 1990, for the first time, a part-time employee was hired to oversee the work of the Commission. For the next thirteen years the Commission would organize, host and participate in numerous faith based events in the Archdiocese of Edmonton seeking to fulfill its goal of increasing unity among Christians. In 2003, with the reorganization of the offices of the Archdiocese, the commission was ended. Responsibility for Ecumenical and Interfaith initiatives was transferred to the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
The Social Justice Commission of the Archdiocese of Edmonton began in a small way in 1977. In keeping with the spirit of Vatican II, Archbishop Joseph N. MacNeil requested through the Senate of Priest that a Commission be established with lay people, priests and religious.
The Commission had two major goals: to bring the message of the gospel and church social teaching to public discussion on social issues and to promote the social justice ministry throughout the Archdiocese.
Inspired by Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching, members of the Commission worked together to identify needs for education and action in order to promote an active social justice ministry throughout the Archdiocese. Members were Catholic volunteers from the Archdiocese who seek involvement in the social justice mission of the Church. In consultation with Commission staff, they served for a three year term in carrying out the work of the Commission.
With the re-organization of the pastoral offices at the Archdiocese the Social Justice Commission ceased to exist in 2003 and all social justice related activities were transferred to the Social Justice Office which reports to the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
On October 17, 1973, the Senate of Priests gave authority to Fr. Karl Raab to form a Committee on Vocations. The Committee chose its name: The Vocation Team. Fr. Karl Raab and Fr. Larry Pederson were the first two co-directors.
The Vocation Team, a committee of the Senate of Priests, met monthly. Its working guidelines were prepared in September 1982.
At one time, the Vocation Team was made up of 15 members representing Diocesan Priesthood, Religious Communities of men and women, Catholic Women’s League, Knights of Columbus, Serra Club, Edmonton Catholic School Board, St. Joseph’s College, and the Rural Catechetical Team.
The mission of Bodo (Assumption Parish) was served by Oblate priests between 1909 and 1922 when a brick rectory was built and Father Joseph Moelders was appointed. He served from Feb 11, 1923 to July 1, 1924. In 1924 Assumption parish became a mission of St. Norbert Parish in North Rosenheim and was served by Father Schnitzler until 1926. In 1926 Assumption Parish, once again had a resident priests.
Thirteen miles south of Rosenheim, a large colony of Russian/Germans had settled. Father August Forner, OMI, visited them as early as 1909. By 1911 there were 20 families in the area. In 1911 they organized the building of a church without proper authorization. By 1912 it was completed. The building was 50’ x 36’ x 14’ with a 50’ tower. The wooden structure cost $1800. The location of the church was on the S.W. 1/4-21-36-1-W4 (4 acres). The cemetery was located one-quarter mile east of the church on NW1/4-21-36-1-W4. The site was chosen by the three main organizers of the church construction: Mr. Phillip Scheck and Mr. Valentine Sperling I, and John Reinbold I. Mr. Philip Scheck and Mr. Valentine Sperling. The church site was donated by Phillip Scheck I and the cemetery site by Valentine Sperling I. The church was known as South Rosenheim and was served from North Rosenheim, known simply as “Rosenheim” after a city in Germany from which many of its earlier settlers had come.
In August of 1921 Father Matthias Schnitzler was appointed pastor of Rosenheim. He saw to the building of a brick rectory next to the South Rosenheim church. It was built by the Shrader brothers and completed in 1922. On February 11, 1923, Rev. Joseph Moelders began his duties as pastor of South Rosenheim. His stay was rather brief as he left for the U.S.A. on July 1, 1924. From 1924 (July 1) to August 1926, Rev. Matthias Schnitzler came again from Rosenheim to serve as parish priest of South Rosenheim.
Bodo hamlet came in existence when the railway station was built in 1932, four miles north of Assumption Church, South Rosenheim. With the years, more parishioners expressed the desire to have a new church built in Bodo. A new Assumption Church was begun in 1953 under the care and supervision of Father James Rietmeijer. The church site and brick rectory (constructed in 1911) were sold to Mike Sperling in 1954. The church blessing took place on August 25, 1955 by Coad.-Archbishop Anthony Jordan, OMI.
Assumption parish served many missions, including Mount Carmel (1926-1955), Altario (1927-1954), and 1968-1985), Compeer (1968-1997). In 1985 Assumption parish became a mission served from Provost and services continued until 1999 when the parish was officially closed.
In 1978 the Archdiocesan Formation for Pastoral Services Program Committee was established in order to develop educational programs for lay persons working in various aspects of ministry. The committee operated for over a decade, however it was terminated for one year on April 30, 1991 pending an evaluation of its contents, especially with regard to its theology of ministry, costs, and suitability for the Archdiocese. An ad hoc committee was established by the Council of Priests to conduct this evaluation and to present a report to the Council and the Diocesan Pastoral Council by February 1992. Members of this committee included Susan Campbell, Joy Borle, Joan Kirk, Bernice Mahoney, and Ken West.
Between 1993 and 1996 the Archdiocese Ministry Formation board reviewed the report, and in 1996, Newman College and the Archdiocese of Edmonton agreed to co-sponsor the Formation for Pastoral Services program. Kim Warner was hired to develop an educational program for the formation of volunteer laypersons in parishes.
The aim of the Formation for Pastoral Services Program was to provide formation for laypersons for pastoral, liturgical, catechetical and evangelization ministries in urban and rural populations.
Participants of the program attended weekend courses from September to June over a period of two years at the end of which, they received a Certificate in Formation for Pastoral Services. For those who wished to continue their education it counted as twelve credits towards a Diploma in Theological Studies from Newman Theological College.
The program ended in 2006, when the offices of the Archdiocese were re-structured.
Starting 1988 general reporting began related to the future of parishes in the Archdiocese. In October of 1988 Rev. Jack Hamilton prepared "Options Available" a report which presented the options that could be chose if circumstances forces amalgamation of parishes due to the shortage of priests. In November 1988 a sub-committee of the Priests personal committee formed to devise strategies regarding the closing or amlagamation of parishes and the redistribution of personnel. Their report titled "Models of Ministry that will shape the Church in the Archdiocese of Edmonton" was submitted for review shortly after.
In March 1989 Rev. Mike McCaffery presented the report titled "A Aging of the Diocesan Priest" which provided an overview of the Archdiocese for a 30 year period with regard to diminishing personnel. Later in April 1989 the Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) preapted a questionnair package including dicussion questions whcih was sent to all parishes in the Archdiocese.
Two more years of reporting followed and finally in 1991 the DPC formed a sub-committee to develop guidelines for the Archdiocese which would assist parishe communities faced with the possibility of amalgamation or closure. The committee set out to evaluate the state of parishes in the Archdiocese of Edmonton and propose necessary changes to the phyiscal boundaries so that all Catholics within the Archdiocese would have access to mass in a desirable location. The committee then presented its final report to the APC in June 1992.
In 1992 a letter and questionnair was sent to all parishes. A year later, in 1993 the APC published the Parishes in Transition Survey. The Parishes in Transition Committee offered its first preliminary report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Archdiocese Pastoral Council (APC) in December of 1991 and in 1994 results of the responses to the recommendation were prepared and presented to the Ad Hoc Committee for review.
In 1995 planning began to establish another committee which would continue to address the work done by the Parishes in Transition committee. A year later, in 1996 Archbishop MacNeil under the guidance of the APC established the Transformation of Parishes Task Group (ToPs) and the task group was given two years to complete its mandate. In May of 1996 the task group released its work plan and immediately set to work.
The Task Group conducted a survey in order to gather a varity of statistics regarding the size of each parishe, its ministerial activities, its finacial activities and its location. In May 1997 an Interm report was completed and in Feb. 1998 a final report was submitted to the APC. The final report provides recommendations for the future management of each parish based on the survey results taking into account the other parishes its group.
In 1998 the report "Faithfully into the Future" was published and circulated to all the parishes in the Archdiocese. This pastoral plan provided information about the context for parish transformation, the transformation and implementation process, the considerations made by the committee, as well as a variety of restructuring recommendation.
In 1998 the Archbishop's Coordinating Committee was established to oversee the implementation of the Pastoral Plan (Faithful into the Future). The committee was responsible for advising the Archbishop on issues arrising from the Pastoral Plan, functionig as a communication and coordinating body between the various decision making organization in the Archdiocese, serving as a centre for receive reactions to the plan from parishes and pastors, and to make necessary adjustments to the plan as required.
Finally between 2000 and 2003 several parishes were restructured based on the previously mentioned reports.
In 2008 a review committee was established to relfect on the ToPs project ten years after the Faithful into the Future report was published.
Time Line
1988-1994 - Parishes in Transition
1993 - Parishes in Transition Survey
1995 - Planning year
1996-1998 - Transformation of Parishes Task Group
1997 - ToPs Survey
1997 - ToPs Interm Report
1998 - ToPs Final Report
1998 - Faithfully into the Future Report is published and circulated
1998-1999 - Archbishop's Coordinating Committee
2001-2003 - Restructuring of several parishes in the Archdiocese
2008 - ToPs Review
In order to facilitate communication and management of the many parishes within its boundaries, The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton has used various models to group the geographical area of the Archdiocese into smaller regions.
In the late 1990s regional councils were established to function as an intermediary organization in the Archdiocese and were involved, on a regional basis, in decision making, coordination of services and activities, and to facilitate communication among parishes and between parishes and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. Each regional council was encouraged to establish its own procedures; however it was strongly encouraged that they meet at least four times a year. Members of the Yellowhead Regional Pastoral Council included Lac La Nonne, Mayerthorpe, Onoway, Spruce Grove, Evansburg, and Drayton Valley.
In 1967 responding to the call from the Second Vatican Council, the Archdiocese of Edmonton established a Senate of Priests to assist the Archbishop of Edmonton in the government of the Diocese "to consult with the Archbishop on problems and needs of pastoral work and for the general good of the Diocese and to be concerned with the intellectual, spiritual, material and social welfare of the priests of the dioceses and generally to concerns itself with any human problems arising in the diocese." (Taken from a document found in the file titled Senate of Priests - Correspondence 1969). The Senate was composed of the Archbishop and 17 elected members (one priest from each of the seven deaneries, four representatives from the religious clergy, two associate pastors, one representative from the seminary, and three age group representatives from among diocesan priests who are not associate pastors.
Issues of concern in the late 1960s and 1970s were related to mixed marriages and inter-faith marriages,
On November 10, 1994 Pope John Paul II announced the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 in his Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente (The Third Millennium is Coming.") The Letter outlines the themes for each of the three years leading up to the third millennium, the first year, 1997 focused on Jesus Christ, Redeemer and Lord; the second year, 1988, focused on the actions of the Holy Spirit; and the third year, 1999, focused on God as Father.
Preparations for this event were carried out at a number of levels locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. A national committee was established by the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, to coordinate information about suggestion for projects (originating in Rome, other Episcopal Conferences, dioceses in Canada, and elsewhere) and to share with the Bishops of Canada and their respective diocesan committees.
In Edmonton, a Jubilee 2000 Committee was formed. Rev. George Smith, CSB was appointed the chair other members included Darlene Jenson, Lloyd Baumgarten, George Smith, Cathy Harvey, Patrick Maguire, Rev. Mike McCaffery, Stefan Michniewski, Peter Murray, Sister Connie Piska UJ, Rev. Donald Stein, Anne Marie Venne, Rev. Stephen Wojcichowsky, and Rev. Donald MacDonald, OFM.
The committee organized a variety events including Assembly 2000, held at the Shaw Conference Center. This event provided an opportunity for renewal of faith through education, prayer, workshop, reflection and dialogue. Various speakers were asked to prepare presentations and workshops including Archbishop John Quinn, Thomas Groome, Sr. Eileen Schuller, OSU, Archbishop Thomas Collins, Rev. Sylvain Casavant, Sr. Mary Lou Cranston, CND, Rev. Corbin Eddy and many others.
In addition, a variety of ecumenical events were organized at locations throughout Edmonton including King's College, St. Joseph's College, and Newman Theological College.
The first Canadian unit of the Catholic Women's League was formed in Edmonton in 1912 by Katherine Hughes. CWL was organized nationally in 1920, and in 1921 became part of the International Union of Catholic Women's Leagues (now the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations). In 1948 the Alberta Provincial Council was formed to unite the four diocesan organizations of the province. It became the Alberta Mackenzie Council in 1976 when the Diocese of Mackenzie in the Northwest Territories was included. The Provincial Council consists of a Director (an appointed priest), the Executive, and the Conveners of provincial committees. The five diocesan councils and the parish councils are structured similarly. The objects of the organization are to encourage the spiritual development of its members, promote the teachings of the Catholic Church, and enhance the role of women in church and society. In recent years it has been involved with the rehabilitation of criminals, child welfare, Girl Guides, family counselling and the care of the mentally handicapped. For further information see 50th Anniversary, 1948-1998 : A History of the Alberta-Mackenzie Provincial Council of the Catholic Women's League of Canada / researched and written by Sheila Ross. -- Edmonton : Liberty Printers, 1998; and Sheila Ross's article, "For God and Canada: The Early Years of the Catholic Women's League in Alberta", in Canadian Catholic Historical Association, Historical Studies, vol. 62, 1996, p. 89-108.