Ste-Anne Parish (Lac Ste-Anne, Alta.)

In 1842, at the request of some Métis people, Bishop Provencher of St. Boniface sent Fr. Jean Baptiste Thibault, a secular priest, to visit the western plains. He left on April 20, 1842, and offered his first Mass at Fort Edmonton on June 19, 1842. Lac Ste. Anne, then known as Manito Sakahigan, was not visited by him that year as he had to go back to St. Boniface to give his report. Records show that he blessed marriages and baptized in Oct. 1843 at Manito Sakahigan.

Father Joseph Bourassa joined Fr. Thibault in 1844 to mission in the prairies; they were to work alongside one another for eight years. On Sep. 8, 1844, Father Thibault blessed the lake and renamed it Lac Ste. Anne. Together, they built the first house-chapel at Lac Ste. Anne in 1844.
The first regular church was completed in 1852 and blessed by Fr. Bourassa on July 25, 1852. It measured 40’ x 25’ and stood where the second church at the Lac Ste. Anne Mission was erected in 1888 by Fr. Zéphirin Lizée, OMI and blessed by Bishop Vital Grandin, OMI on Feb. 10, 1889. It was destroyed by fire on Dec. 2, 1928.
Fr. Albert Lacombe, a secular priest, arrived at Fort Edmonton on Sep. 17, 1852. He spent the winter of 1852-53 among the Cree and Métis people at Lac La Biche and later at Fort Edmonton. He then settled at Lac Ste. Anne following the departure of Fr. Bourassa. Fr. René Rémas, OMI came to Lac Ste. Anne in mid-Sep. 1854 to be the Master of Novice of Fr. A. Lacombe. On Sep. 28, 1856, the latter pronounced his vows and thus became an Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
On Sep. 24, 1859, three Grey Nuns of Montreal arrived via St. Boniface at Lac Ste. Anne Mission to teach, take care of the sick in the homes and see to the cooking and housekeeping of missionaries. With the founding of St. Albert in 1861 as a mission, Lac Ste. Anne lost most of its people.
In 1930, a building 22’ x 40’, previously used as a dance hall, was purchased, transported and reconditioned by Fr. P. Lebre. It is the actual church.
The first pilgrimage to Ste. Anne was organized by Fr. Joseph Lestanc, OMI superior of St. Albert Mission, in 1889. There were 45 participants at the first pilgrimage.
    The pilgrimage sanctuary was begun in 1925; enlarged in 1926. On Nov.11, 1930, a hurricane demolished the whole building.
   In 1931 the erection of a big church began, to be used during pilgrimages. Rev. Father Ubald Langlois, OMI Provincial, blessed the “Pro-Basillica of Ste. Anne” on July 29, 1936. This pilgrimage sanctuary was demolished in 1980.
Father Hudon saw to the building of a new one which was blessed by Archbishop J.N. MacNeil on Aug. 17, 1980, on the Golden Anniversary of Lac Ste. Anne Church.
   Lac-Ste. Anne Parish serves 3 districts: Lac Ste. Anne (Darwell), Alexis Reserve and Alberta Beach.