Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
St. Pierre Parish
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The first settlers from Quebec arrived in the area around Big Lake in 1891 under the colonizer Rev. Jean-Baptiste Morin. Others arrived in subsequent years. This settlement of largely French-speaking Catholics was considered part of St. Albert Parish, but the distance to the mission over the trails was great.
On June 18, 1897, Bishop Vital Grandin, OMI granted their request for a parish of their own. The southeast corner of Section 17, Township 54, range 26 was chosen by Bishop Legal, OMI and Fr. L. Dauphin, OMI for the 40 acre site and Bishop Legal named the parish St. Pierre’s. Bishop Legal blessed the log-church on Oct. 29, 1911.
A log church was constructed with logs given by Chief Michel Calahoo from the reserve, on the condition that his people be allowed to worship at the new church. Fr. Dauphin saw also to the building of a rectory with logs from the Reserve. The log church burned down on Nov. 13, 1932.
A second church was built in 1933 on the same site. Archbishop O’Leary blessed it on December 19, 1933.
Villeneuve was served at the beginning from St. Albert by Fathers L. Dauphin and Gustave Simonin, OMI, 1897-1898.
Villeneuve was served from the Seminary by Rev. M. O’Callaghan who saw to the administration while Fr. R. Bernard, OMI saw to the spiritual part of the set-up.
In 1973, the Spiritan Fathers took charge of Villeneuve where they resided, serving also St. Emerence church in Riviere Qui Barre and Mearns as well as Busby. These parishes were returned to the diocesan clergy in 1987.
On August 9, 1995 Rev. A. MacKenzie blessed the new parish hall.
On June 22, 1997, the 100th anniversary Mass was presided by Archbishop Joseph MacNeil.