St. Francis Xavier Parish (Camrose, Alta.)

In the early 1900’s settlers came from Eastern Canada, the United States and Europe to live in the settlement called Sparling, on the banks of Stoney Creek.

They went to Mass at St.Thomas Church in Duhamel where Father H. Beillevaire had his mission. The first mass in Sparling was celebrated by him, in a home, in 1906.

Thereafter, Fr. Van Wetten came from Wetaskiwin whenever he could. Mass was celebrated in a home or office or sometimes in the Town Hall. In Dec. 2. 1909, the first church was blessed by Bishop Emile Legal, OMI and dedicated to St. Francis Xavier. Father Van Wetten came every 2nd and 4th Sunday, until 1915.

On October 27, 1913, a bell was installed and blessed by Bishop E. Legal, OMI.

To serve an ever-growing parish, it was decided in 1927 to build a new church. It was completed in 1928 and blessed on June 17th by Archbishop O’Leary.
The old church was sold to the Grace Lutheran congregation.

In 1962, the church was demolished to make way for an even larger church. Construction of the third church began on the same site in November 1962, and completed in July 1963. In the meantime, Sunday liturgies were conducted at St. Patrick’s School. The new church was dedicated and officially blessed on July 17, 1963 by Coadjutor-Archbishop Anthony Jordan, OMI.