The Faith, Fitness and Fun Run/Walk is a fundraising activity organized by the Development Office to raise money for the Archdiocese.
In 1999 the Vocations Office was formally established within the structure of the Archdiocese. The Vocations office continued to work with the Vocations Team to bring displays and presentations about vocations to parishes and at Archdiocesan events.
Rev. Sylvain Casavant was appointed the first Vocations Director of the newly created office. Initially the office organized a number of initiatives including a Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations, the St. Therese Vocation Society, parish visits, reinvigorating the Serra Club in Edmonton.
On June 15, 1939, at a meeting held in Milwaukee of the Catholic Hospital Association of the United States and Canada (CHAUSC), two Canadian religious sisters and two Canadian priests, who were delegates at the meeting, met with a specific goal in mind – to form a Canadian Council of the CHAUSC.
The formation of the council was based on a number of fundamental considerations: respect for Canada’s francophone community and the regional composition of Canada. The council was intended to concern itself exclusively with the problems affecting Canadian Catholic hospitals.
The first elections of the Council took place in the fall of 1939 in Toronto. Many consider this to be the foundation date for the CHAC. However, it was not until 1942 that the Catholic Hospital Council of Canada (CHCC) was founded as a completely independent organization.
In 1954, The name was changed to the Catholic Hospital Association of Canada (CHAC). In 1963 long term care facilities were invited to become members of the CHAC. To reflect this new composition of membership, the name of the organization was changed again in 1976 to its present title, the Catholic Health Association of Canada.
In 2006 the CHAC developed a new mission statement – to strengthen and support the ministry of Catholic health care organizations and providers. Its new mandate centres on two main activities:
Advocacy: to be the national voice of Catholic health care organizations; and Governance: to foster the distinctive mission and organizational culture of Catholic health care organizations.
On April 24, 2009, after 7 months of study and consultation, the CHAC Board of Directors presented to the delegates at the Annual Meeting, a proposal for the redesign of the national association. The proposal reflected a consensus that it was necessary to change the structures that exist at the national level to better support the mission and ministry of Catholic health care in Canada.
The proposal represented a fundamental shift in that it called for the national association model to be replaced by a forum or alliance of the Catholic health care Sponsor organizations. The proposal highlighted the leadership responsibility, and accountability for the ministry, that rest with the Sponsors.
The proposal was unanimously approved by the delegates at the Annual Assembly. With that vote the Catholic Health Association of Canada ceased to exist. It was replaced by a new organization -- the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada. During 2009-2010 the Association offices that had existed at the Diocesan Centre in Ottawa were closed, A new governance and operational structure was established for the new organization. This structure was put into place in 2010 at which time the new Alliance established an office at St. Vincent's Hospital in Ottawa (part of Bruyère Continuing Care).
For more information visit http://www.chac.ca/about/history_e.php
March 2, 1959 St. Francis Xavier Parish was canonical erected. On April 12, 1959 the first Mass was celebrated in the auditorium of St. Francis Xavier High School by Fr. Megannety, OMI. On August 15, 1959 the Oblate Fathers of St. Peter’s Province signed a contract with the Archdiocese to administer the Parish. In Sept. 1959, Fr. Myles Power, OMI, was appointed as first pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish. Masses were celebrated in the school auditorium. On June 15, 1962 a contract for church building was signed. Fr. James Carroll, OMI, was the pastor; the architect was George Jellinek of Edmonton. On May 12, 1963, the name of Annunciation Parish became official. It had been requested by father M. Power and granted by Archbishop A. Jordan, OMI. On May 19, 1963 the new church was blessed by Archbishop A. Jordan, OMI. On Oct 25, 1991 a rededication of the church after renovations was celebrated.
The community of Christ the King started to meet regularly in 1984. Weekly Mass was celebrated in Mary Hanley School Gym (except in July and August.). Christ the King operated as an extension of St. Theresa and priests, supplies and parishioners were shared by both communities. At that time the population in Millwods was about 60,000 and growing. Rev. Don Stein approached Archbishop MacNeil about future development of a new parish for Millwoods. Due to various financial constrains no clear plan was made for an expansion.
In 1991, Fr. Leo Floyd wrote to Archbishop MacNeil that a new Church should be established within the next 4-6 years. Finally on April 19, 2002 Archbishop Collins approved the parish request to establish a building committee.
On Sunday June 18, 2006 at the blessing of the land Archbishop Collins publicly announced that the new parish would be named Corpus Christi. On Sept. 26, 2004, Masses begin in two schools in the Meadows, Holy Family School and Father Michael Troy School.
On March 8, 2014 Corpus Christi celebrated the Rite of Blessing and Ground Breaking Ceremony by Archbishop Smith, and on March 19, 2016 the new building was blessed by Archbishop Smith.
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 Catholic roots in the Stettler area began in 1906 with the arrival of French missionaries who cared for many of the French settlers. Irish Priests also came to take care of our settlers' faith needs.
Before any church was built, religious service took place generally at the home of a Mr. Sewerd. Construction of the first church began in March 1907 under the direction of Fr. Pierre Bazin, P.S.M. It was a very small building measuring 16’ x 14’. It was not blessed and was later sold so that the money could be used for a for a second and larger church.
In the spring of 1909, a new church was built, 28’ x 40’, with a sanctuary measuring 14’ x 14’. This construction was built under the care of Fr. Jean Joseph Bazin, who resided in Stettler, and served or visited numerous other places.
Bishop Emile Legal, OMI, blessed the church on April 17, 1910 and dedicated it to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
In November 1945, lots 37 and 38 in Block 36 were purchased by Rev. Ernest Battle for a new church property and lots 11-14 inclusive were sold.
On April 2, 1946, Mrs. Frances Ida Cary took possession of the lots and rectory she had purchased from the Stettler parish.
In August 1947 construction of a new Parish Hall was begun on the south-west corner of the new church site. It measured 32’ x 60’ with a full concrete basement which was to serve as a church until the new one would be built.
In May 1948, Archbishop J.H. MacDonald granted the permission to proceed with the construction of the new church. Rev. Ernest Battle requested that the church be dedicated to Christ the King; Archbishop MacDonald granted the request on Oct. 5, 1950. On November 22, 1950, the church was blessed by Monsignor W.B. Carleton, V.G.
Stettler Catholic parish has no cemetery. Stettler funerals take place in the Lakeview Cemetery owned and operated by the Town of Stettler. Other funerals outside the town but within the Parish limits usually inter the dead at the municipal district cemetery of the district in which they resided.
St. Boniface Parish was established to serve Edmonton’s German-speaking Catholic community in 1958, and was operational until 2021. Prior to 1958, Edmonton’s German Catholics attended Mass celebrated by Franciscan priests at the Atonement Home and in the gymnasium of St. Joseph’s High School. The Pallottine Fathers became interested in having their congregation in Edmonton when Father A.J. Bertsch arrived in 1956 to work with Catholic immigration. Fr. Bertsch served St. Boniface Mission, which existed from 1956-1958, and St. Boniface Parish was established in 1958 by Archbishop J.H. MacDonald. The church building was originally Beth Israel Synagogue, Edmonton’s first synagogue. Over the course of its 63 year history, St. Boniface Parish was served by 11 priests, most of whom were Pallottines. St. Boniface was an important center of community for German Catholics, well-known for its community events, especially the annual Weihnachtsbasar (Christmas market). The parish valued its groups, particularly the Feierabend (seniors group), the Kolping Society, the choir, and the St. Lioba women’s group. Due to an aging congregation and fewer German-speaking Catholics in the Edmonton area, the parish was closed in 2021 by Archbishop Richard Smith. The building was purchased by St. Jacob’s Syriac Orthodox Church in 2022.
Msgr. Canice Joseph Foran was born in Ottawa on October 2, 1902. He completed his theological studies St. Augustine Seminary in Toronto between 1924-1927 and in Edmonton at St. Joseph’s Seminary between 1927-1928. He was ordained in Edmonton, on June 24, 1928.
Over his career as a priest he served in many parishes including Sacred Heart Church, Edmonton in 1928; assistant at Sacred Heart Parish in Edmonton between 1934-1940; Assistant at St. Anthony’s, Edmonton between 1940-1943, and as Pastor at St. Anthony’s in Edmonton between 1943-1973.
Msgr. Foran also studied at the Angelicum in Rome between 1928-1930. He was also a Professor of Dogmatic Theology, Church History, Catechetics and Homiletics at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton between 1930-1933. He died on May 15, 1973.
Born Allan Harvey Joseph Wachowich to Polish parents his family was one of the first five Polish families to immigrate to Alberta in 1944. Wachowich attended St. Joseph’s highschool as was an altar boy at St. Josephs Basilica.
While Wachowich originally intended to be a priest his education lead him to a long career in law. He received both his Bachelor of Arts in 1957 and his Bachelor of Laws in 1958 from the University of Alberta. He was called to the bar in 1959 and held a number of positions before being appointed Chief Justice of Alberta in 1993 a position he held until 2009 when he retired at the age of 75.
Wachowich served on the boards of many religious organizations including the Western Catholic Reporter, the Friars, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, Catholic Charities, and he founded St. Thomas Moore Catholic Lawyer’s Guild in 1963.
Vital Justin Grandin was born at St. Pierre de la Coure, on February 8, 1829. He was ordained priest of the Order of Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate on April 23, 1854. Following his ordination, he was sent to the Metis settlement at St. Boniface, Manitoba. On December 11, 1857, he was appointed coadjutor Bishop to His Grace Alexandre Tache, however his formal consecration took place nearly two years after, on November 30, 1859, by the founder of the oblates, now known as St. Eugene de Mazenod. On September 1871 he was appointed the first Bishop of the newly erected diocese of St. Albert, by letter of Pope Pius IX. Through his dauntless spirit and self-sacrifice he was instrumental in the establishment of the Catholic Church in Western Canada. He died as Bishop of Saint Albert, on June 03, 1902, and will be remembered as the Missionary Bishop. In 1966, his humble and saintly virtues were acknowledged when he was declared Venerable.
Priscilla Edwards was born on April 12, 1927. Orphaned and with tuberculosis, Priscilla was not expected to live. She spent the first five years of her life in a children's hospital before moving from foster home to foster home in Malden, Massachusetts, USA.
Priscilla became a Roman Catholic in 1953, moved to Canada in 1963 with a sense of call to the Madonna House ministry in Combermere, ON and was missioned by the community to Marion House, Edmonton, AB in 1965. There Priscilla served among inner city people for over a decade. In 1977 she discovered her call to Hospital Ministry, took required courses at St. Paul's University in Ottawa through the generosity of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, was appointed by Archbishop MacNeil to visit and bring Holy Communion to Roman Catholic patients and families at the University of Alberta Hospital where she served as Chaplain for over 30 years.
John Hugh MacDonald was born on April 3, 1881, in Maryvale, Nova Scotia to Ronald J. MacDonald and Elizabeth Grant. He attended Malignant Cove School in Antigonish, NS and then enrolled at St. Francis Xavier University from 1899-1903 where he earned a Bachelors of Arts. Between 1903 and 1906 he completed his Theological Studies at Urban College (Pontificio Collegio Urbano "De Propaganda Fide") in Rome, but returned home ill in 1906.
MacDonald was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1906. In the early years of his priesthood he held a number of positions including instructor at St. Francis Xavier University (1906), Vice-Rector at St. Francis Xavier University (1908), Assistant Pastor at St. Anne's Parish in Glace Bay (1909), first pastor of St. Agnes' Parish in New Waterford (1914), seventh pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Syndey (1924-1934).
He was appointed as Bishop of Victoria in 1934, and in 1936, he succeeded his long-time friend Henry Joseph O’Leary as Edmonton’s third Archbishop.
The Archbishop pioneered credit unions in Catholic parishes, encouraged youth to a more active participation and formation of Catholic Youth Groups, along with the opening of Catholic Charities.
During his time as Bishop the Diocese of St. Paul was established separating the north part of the Archdiocese of Edmonton into its own Diocese in 1948.
After 26 years as the leader of the Archdiocese, MacDonald retired in 1964 and died on January 17, 1965.
Archbishop Joseph Neil MacNeil was born in Syndey, Nova Scotia on April 15, 1924, the eldest of three children. He attended St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree. After graduating in 1944 he enrolled in the Halifax Diocesan Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1948.
The first seven years of his ministry as a priest were spent as an assistant pastor in the Nova Scotia parishes in Bridgeport, Sydney Mines, and Antigonish.
Between 1959 and 1960 he served as Administrator of the Diocese of Antigonish following the death of the bishop. In 1961, after the new bishop had been appointed, he was made pastor of St. Ninian's Cathedral in Antigonish. His appointment was short-lived as only a few months later he was asked by his Bishop to accept an appointment as Director of the Extension Department at St. Francis Xavier University, a position he held for nine years.
On June 24, 1969 he was ordained as a Bishop and installed as Bishop of St. John in New Brunswick on July 16, 1969. Shortly after, on July 6, 1973, he was appointed to the Archdicoese of Edmonton and was installed as its Archbishop on September 5, 1973.
During his time as Archbishop of Edmonton, Archbishop MacNeil served on a variety of councils, committees and organizations including being the Alberta Bishop's Representative on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Health Association (later renamed the Catholic Health Association of Alberta and Affiliates). He also served as president of the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops from 1979 to 1981. As president of the CCCB, Archbishop MacNeil headed a delegation to Ottawa to meet with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and presented the Bishops' position that the unborn be included in the Charter of Rights.
During his time as Archbishop in Edmonton he encouraged parishes to form prayer groups, liturgy committees. He promoted the establishment of a variety of councils, committees and commissions across the Archdiocese including the Youth Commission (1976), Archdiocesan Camp Encounter Committee (1977), and the Social Justice Commission (1977), the Family and Life Commission (1978), the Archdiocesan Personnel Committee for Pastoral Assistants (1979), the Council of Women Religious (1983), The Archdiocesan Finance Committee (1983), the Archdiocesan Project Review Board (1983), Archdiocesan Council of Women (1985-1994), the Diocesan Pastoral Council later named the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (1987), the Seminary Screening Committee (1988), The Archdiocesan Right-to-Life Committee (1989), the Archdiocesan Sexual Abuse Committee (1990), Archdiocesan Budget Committee (1991), The foundation of Newman Theological College (1992), The Archdiocesan Catholic School Committee (1992), Together in Ministry Program (192), Ministry to Priests Program (1994), Transformation of Parishes Task Group (1996), the Mission Council (1997), the Priests Continuing Education Committee (1998), and Archbishop Joseph MacNeil Endowment Fund (1999).
In 1979 he drew up the first of many five-year pastoral plans for the Archdiocese of Edmonton.
During his time as Archbishop he oversaw the establishment of six new parishes including St. Theresa - Millwoods, Native of Mary, St. John Bosco, Good Shepherd, St. Charles Borromeo, and Holy Family. He also established missions for various national groups including the Chinese, Korean, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish-Speaking, and Vietnamese Catholic Communities.
Archbishop MacNeil oversaw a variety of celebrations during his time in Edmonton, including the 75th Anniversary of the Province of Alberta (1980), the 100th Anniversary of the City of Edmonton (1992), and the 125th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Diocese of St. Albert (1996). In 1984 Archbishop MacNeil welcomed Pope John Paul II to Edmonton, an event which deeply touched the Archbishop.
Archbishop MacNeil also completed a Doctorate of Canon Law from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (1955-1959), and completed Graduate Studies in Economics at the University of Chicago. In addition he holds Honorary Doctorates of Law from St. Francis Xavier University (1978), St. Thomas University (1980), the University of Alberta (1982), the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies in Rome (1999), and St. Stephen's College (2000).
After 26 years of dedicated service he retired from his position as Archbishop on June 7, 1999. Despite his retirement Archbishop MacNeil continued to be an active member of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.
He died at the Grey Nuns Hospital on February 11, 2018 after suffering a stroke the day prior. His funeral took place at St. Joseph's Basilica on February 16th and was interred the same day at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Joseph Lawrence Wilhelm was born 6 Nov. 1909 in Walkerton. He was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Hamilton on June 9, 1934 where he served until he was appointed Auxiliary bishop of Calgary on June 25, 1963. Three years later he was appointed Archbishop of Kingston where he served until his retirement in 1982.
