Henri Joseph Faraud, O.M.I. †
Appointed first Apostolic Vicar of Mackenzie River on 8 May 1862, resigned 20 March 1890, died 26 September 1890 in St. Boniface, Manitoba.
History
History of Our Archdiocese: Where We Came From
Beginning in the 1860s, priests of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (the Oblates) set up missions in the area of Alberta that is now the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan. The early missions included the trading post on the west side of Lesser Slave Lake, confided to St. Bernard in 1864 (becoming a mission in 1872), and St. Charles Mission at Dunvegan, established in 1866. By 1900, the Oblates had established additional missions in Fort Vermilion (1876), Little Red River (1887), on the east side of Lesser Slave Lake (1890), Desmarais (1896) and to the west at Sturgeon Lake (1896).
This local Church went through a number of changes as it grew, eventually becoming the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan. In 1862, it was the Apostolic Vicariate of Athabaska-Mackenzie, which covered most of northern Alberta, part of northern Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories. In 1890, Bishop Emile Grouard was appointed the Apostolic Vicar and remained in that post until his retirement in 1929.
In 1901, the Vicariate of Athabaska-Mackenzie was split into two: the northern portion became the Vicariate of Mackenzie (Northwest Territories) and the southern portion became the Vicariate of Athabasca (northern Alberta). The Vicariate of Athabasca was renamed the Vicariate of Grouard in 1927.
Finally, on July 13, 1967, the Vicariate of Grouard was renamed and elevated to the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan, by Saint Pope Paul VI. (Source for names and dates)
In the years before 1967, all but one of the 60 parishes, quasi-parishes and missions of the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan today were already established. At the peak of the Catholic Church presence in the Archdiocese, priests, brothers and sisters were ministering to more than 80 communities. In this period churches and rectories were built; farms, hospitals, and schools were put at the service of the communities; and spiritual and material needs of the people were cared for. The principal religious orders responsible for this service and ministry were the Oblates, the Redemptorists, Sisters of Providence, Sisters of the Holy Cross, Sisters of Service, and a number of other orders of women religious.
History of Our Parishes and Missions
A Brief history of the early parishes & missions established in the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan
| Location | Name of Parish or Mission |
|---|---|
| Assumption | Our Lady of Assumption (1928) On 2 September 1928, Rev. Joseph Habay celebrated the first Mass in St.Etienne Chapel at Habay. |
| Atikameg | St. Benedict In July 1936, Rev. Floc’h came to reside at the mission which had been visited from Grouard since 1873. |
| Beaverlodge | St. Mary’s (1948) On 26 September, Bishop Henri Routhier blessed the church. |
| Berwyn | St. Cecilia (1922) On 11 October, Bishop Grouard canonically erected the parish under the name of St. Jacques le Majeur. The name was later changed to St. Cecilia. (Closed) |
| Bezanson (Kleskun Hill) | Our Lady of Perpetual Help (1948) On 18 July, Bishop Routhier blessed the church. |
| Bonanza | In the 1960’s, Many Creek School served as the church. In the 1980’s, Bonanza Gospel Chapel was used. (Closed) |
| Cadotte Lake | Sacred Heart (1968) From August to November 1966, the mission moved from Marten River. |
| Calais | Mgr. Isidore Clut names the mission. In 1903, Rev. Girard becomes the first resident priest. (Closed) |
| Calling Lake | St. Léon Le Grand (1951) On 4 March, Bishop Routhier blessed the Church. |
| Carcajou | (1911) Construction of a church – St. Michel (Closed) |
| Chipewyan Lake | |
| Clairmont | Marie Immaculate Church was blessed on 8 November 1917 by Bishop Emile Grouard. (Closed) |
| Codessa (Rahab) | The church opened on 22 January 1933. (Closed) |
| Crooked Creek | Holy Rosary Mission (1946) On 15 September 1946, Bishop Routhier blessed the church under the name of Holy Rosary and St. Francis de Sales. |
| Desmarais | St. Martin On 31 January 1896, Mgr. Grouard chose the site for the mission and gave it the name of St. Martin. Rev. Dupé was the first resident priest. 1897 – Foundation of the mission. |
| Donnelly | Eglise Sacré Coeur (1922) 22 November 1922 marks the establishment of the parish by Bishop Grouard. |
| Driftpile | St. Rose of Lima (1929) A house-chapel was constructed under the name of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus. |
| Dunvegan | St. Charles On 26 October 1867, Rev. Christopher Tissier arrived to reside. (Closed) |
| Eaglesham | St. Francis Xavier (1930) On December 3, the first Mass was celebrated by L’Abbé St. Pierre. |
| East Prairie | Good Shepherd Mission The church of Enilda was transported by Eric Stubson. |
| Eleske | St. Bernadette On 25 December 1935, the church is but a 20′ by 17′ house. |
| Enilda | St. Andre Permission was given to build a church on 31 December 1920. On 1 December 1921, Bishop Grouard chose St. André to be the patron saint of the mission. (Closed) |
| Fairview | St. Thomas More (1929) On 28 March, Fairview becomes a village and Rev. Schwebius constructs the first church. |
| Falher | St. Anthony (1940) Rev. Habay had the first church constructed with a residence. On 5 September 1943, Bishop Joseph Guy, o.m.i. solemnly blessed the church. |
| Faust | St. Anthony (1940) Rev. Habay had the first church constructed with a residence. On 5 September 1943, Bishop Joseph Guy, o.m.i. solemnly blessed the church. |
| Fort Vermillion | St. Henry’s (1876) Rev. Husson starts to live there. On 29 December 1866, the site of the church was chosen by Mgr. Faraud and Rev. Tisser. |
| Fox Creek | Our Lady of Czestochowa (1949) On 24 April 1949, Rev. Michalowski blesses the unfinished church. On 5 September 1954, the church is solemnly blessed by Bishop Henri Routhier, o.m.i. |
| Fox Lake | Little Flower Mission (1957) September 4 marks the arrival of the first Soeurs de Ste. Chrétienne. The church was blessed on 20 June, no year indicated. |
| Friedenstal | St. Boniface Church (1917) On 12 March, Rev. Anton Biehler came to reside. Incorporated on 22 August 1917 by Bishop Emile Grouard. (Closed) |
| Garden River | St. Jean Baptiste (1964) Bishop Routhier blessed the church on 15 July 1964. |
| Gift lake | St. John Bosco (1958) On 14 Sept. 1958, Rev. Baratto, o.m.i., celebrated the first Mass in the new church. |
| Girouxville | Notre Dame de Lourdes (1928) Incorporated 1 December 1928. The parish is established by Bishop Grouard. |
| Goodfare | St. Edouard (1948) On 2 September 1948, Bishop Routhier blessed the church. (Closed) |
| Grande Prairie | St. Joseph (1920) Incorporated on 26 April 1920. Established as a parish by Bishop Grouard. |
| Grimshaw | Holy Family (1925) Construction of the first church 1952 – Bell from St. Augustine Mission. |
| Guy | St. Guy (1931) On 26 June, the name St. Guy was chosen and L’abbé Jean-François Mallet was named the first pastor. |
| Hawk Hills | St. Peter Canisius |
| Hay River | Our Lady of Victory (1879) Bishop Faraud resided here with Fathers Grouard and Collignon. (Closed) |
| High Level | Our Lady of Good Counsel (1963) Mgr. Routhier blessed the church on 9 June. |
| High Prairie | St. Paul (1915) Named by Bishop Grouard. Incorporated 13 November 1915. |
| Hines Creek | Immaculate Heart of Mary (1953) Construction of the church. On 19 June 1955, the church was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Henri Routhier, o.m.i. |
| Horse Lake | |
| Hythe | St. Edmund (1929) Construction of the church by Rev. Serrand. |
| Jean Côté | Sacré Coeur (1936) Incorporated on September 17, 1936, by Bishop Joseph Guy, o.m.i. (Closed) |
| John D’Or Prairie | St. Joseph (1965) Rev. Robert Lesmerises is priest at the mission on October 21, 1965. |
| Joussard | St. Bruno Mission Mention of construction in 1912. Sisters were installed in 1913 by Bishop Joussard. In 1930, Bishop Grouard came to take possession of his post. (Closed) |
| Joussard | Ste. Anne (1930) On 21 December, Bishop Guy, assisted by Rev. Ubald Langlois, o.m.i., blessed the church (quasi-parish) on 1 August 1934. The definite foundation of St. Anne’s Parish is by Bishop Joseph Guy, o.m.i. |
| Kathleen | Ste. Marguerite de Cortonne Built by Rev. Jules Bedault, o.m.i., and blessed by Bishop Joseph Guy, o.m.i., on 9 November 1930. (Closed) |
| Keg River | St. Jude Thaddeus (1934) In October, the church was built. (Closed) |
| Kinuso | St. Félix de Valois (1917) On 28 October, blessing of the church by Rev. Falher, dedicated to St. Félix de Valois by Bishop Grouard. (Kinuso formerly called Swan River; the name Kinuso comes from a distortion of the chief’s name, Kinosiw). The mission was named by Bishop Emile Grouard on 28 January 1916, who also chose the site. The church was solemnly blessed by Rev. Constant Falher on 28 October 1917 under the authorization of Bishop Grouard. |
| Little Buffalo | Holy Family |
| Little Red River | Sacré Coeur (1887) In 1874-1875, Rev. Dominique Collignon stays to build the church. (Closed) |
| Manning | St. James the Major (1950) In February, Fr. Claude de Champlain had a presbytery purchased by la Corporation. Solemnly blessed by Bishop Henri Routhier on 16 June 1963. |
| Marie Reine | Paroisse Marie Reine des Coeurs(1951) On 1 July 1951 the parish was opened. On 1 June 1955, the erection of the quasi-parish by Bishop Henri Routhier, o.m.i. (Closed) |
| Meander River | Virgin of the Poor (1903) Rev. Joussard begins to construct a house-chapel called St. Edouard. In 1883 Rev. Laity begins to visit the Slave and Beaver communities. |
| McLennan | St. John the Baptist Cathedral (parish established in 1928) In June, Bishop Grouard established the parish and named Rev. Cozanet as the first priest. |
| Nampa | St. Charles (1937) On 5 December, the church was blessed by Rev. Eugène Beaucage. On 12 November 1939, the official blessing by Mgr. Ubald Langlois, o.m.i. On 1 June 1955, Nampa was canonically erected as a quasi-parish by Bishop Henri Routhier, o.m.i. |
| North Star | On the date of 9 January 1929, the first baptism is inscribed in the register by Rev. Borsutski. (Closed) |
| North Tallcree | Blessed Kateri |
| Notikewin | The church was constructed in 1931. (Closed) |
| Paddle Prairie | Christ the King (1929) On January 1, Rev. Jean Louis Marie Quémeneur, o.m.i. celebrated his first Mass in a family home. |
| Peace River | Immaculate Heart of Mary (1914) Construction of a house-chapel in 1914. Rev. Camille Deman was the first resident priest. Incorporated September 4th, 1916 (St. Augustine Mission – 25 July 1888: the Mission was opened by Rev. Husson.) On 16 June 1965, the parish’s name was changed to Our Lady of Peace. |
| Peavine (Leicester) | St. Agnes |
| Peerless Lake | |
| Rainbow Lake | St. Peter & Paul (1970) |
| Rio Grande | St. Patrick (1929) In June 1918, Bishop Grouard, accompanied by Father Wagner, blessed a little church constructed in 1917-1918. Rev. Serrand built the second church. |
| Rocky Lane | In March, 1970, the first Mass was celebrated in the chapel. (Closed) |
| Rycroft | St. Peter & Paul (1936) Rev. Adolphe Vallières from Spirit River began to serve the region. Mission opened in 1942. |
| St. Isidore | St. Isidore (1953) In September, Rev. Oscar Pinard, priest of Marie-Reine took charge of this new parish. |
| Sandy Lake | St. Eugène |
| Sexsmith | Immaculate Conception (1920) The first Mass was celebrated by Rev. Paul Serrand in the church that had been moved from Clairmont. The church was blessed on 6 June 1954 by Bishop Henri Routhier, o.m.i. |
| Silver Valley | |
| Slave Lake | St. Peter Celestin (1890) Rev. Dominique Collignon opened a mission and sent Rev. Falher for the Christmas Season. Incorporated May 10th, 1917 by Bishop Emile Grouard, o.m.i. |
| Smith | St. James the Major (1922) On 22 May 1922, the church was blessed by Rev. Edouard Pétour, o.m.i. The new church was blessed on 24 July 1955 by Bishop Henri Routhier, o.m.i. |
| South Tallcree | St. Michael’s |
| Spirit River | St. Joseph (1902) Construction of the first house-chapel. On 24 August 1927, the church was blessed by Bishop Emile Gouard, o.m.i. |
| Sturgeon Lake | St. Francis Xavier (1896). |
| Sucker Creek | Our Lady of Fatima (1905) Construction of the first house-chapel. The new church was blessed by Mgr. Henri Routhier, o.m.i. on November 21, 1961. |
| Sunset House | On 7 March 1954, Fr. Paul Gagnon began to serve the region while at the same time being chaplain of the High Prairie hospital. (Closed) |
| Tangent | Saints Martyrs Canadiens (1929) On 18 April, the first Mass was celebrated by Fr. Hamelin at Mr. Purcha’s house. Limits of the parish were established on 18 February 1953 by Bishop Henri Routhier, o.m.i. |
| Trout Lake | Kateri Mission (1940) At Easter was the inauguration of the first house-chapel by Rev. Alfred Bruckert. (Closed) |
| Valleyview | St. Rita (1939) The first church was built under Rev. Joseph Paquin. On 26 Febeuary 1956, Bishop Henri Routhier blessed the new church. |
| Wabasca | St. Charles (1935) On March 13th, the mission of Wabasca North took the name of Saint Charles. |
| Wanham | St. Patrick (1936) On 13 September the church was blessed by Bishop Joseph Guy, o.m.i |
| Webster | Sacred Heart of Jesus (1928) Construction of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church by Rev. Serrand in 1928. On August 14th, 1938, Rev. Joachim Michalowski became the first resident priest. (Closed) |
| Whitelaw | St. Theresa of the Child Jesus On 3 Sept. 1934, Rev. Schwebius was named responsible for the mission by Mgr. Joseph Guy, o.m.i. On 6 August 1945, the church was blessed. |
| Whitemud Creek | St. Marcel (Closed) |
| Worsley | St. Michael’s (1966-1999) On 25 December 1966, Mass was celebrated in the church that had been moved from North Star. |
Bishops — Past and Present
Past and Present Ordinaries
May 1862
October 1890
Pierre-Emile-Jean-Baptiste-Marie Grouard, O.M.I. †
Appointed Apostolic Vicar of Athabasca-Mackenzie 18 October 1890, retired as first Apostolic Vicar of Grouard on 17 March 1929, died at Grouard, Alberta on 7 March 1931)
June 1930
Joseph Guy, O.M.I.
Joseph-Wilfrid Guy, O.M.I. † (Appointed 2nd Apostolic Vicar of Grouard on 3 June 1930, appointed Bishop of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan on 2 Jun 1937, died 8 December 1951.
March 1938
Ubald Langlois, O.M.I. †
Appointed 3rd Apostolic Vicar of Grouard on 30 Mar 1938, died 18 September 1953.
September 1953
Henri Routhier, O.M.I. †
Appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic 15 June 1945, appointed 4th Vicar Apostolic of Grouard on 18 September 1953, appointed 1st Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan on 13 July 1967, resigned 21 November 1972, died in St. Albert, Alberta on 19 September 1989.
November 1972
Henri Légaré, O.M.I. †
Appointed 2nd Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan 21 November 1972, resigned 16 Jul 1996, died 19 July 2004 in Ottawa, Ontario) Henri Goudreault, O.M.I. † (Appointed 3rd Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan 16 July 1996, died 23 July 1998 in Edmonton, Alberta.
July 1996
Henri Goudreault, O.M.I. †
Appointed 3rd Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan 16 July 1996, died 23 July 1998 in Edmonton, Alberta.
June 2000
Arthé Guimond
Appointed 4th Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan 9 June 2000, retired 30 November 2006, died on 06 February 2013, in St. Albert, Alberta.
November 2006
Gérard Pettipas, C.SS.R.
Appointed 5th Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan on 30 November 2006.
Other Affiliated Bishops
August 1864
Isidore Clut, O.M.I. †
Auxiliary Bishop: 3 August 1864 until the date of his death on 9 July 1903, at St. Bernard Mission, Grouard, Alberta.
May 1909
Célestin-Henri Joussard, O.M.I. †
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 11 May 1909 to 17 March 1929, died in McLennan, Alberta on 19 September 1932.
Chronology — from Vicariate Apostolic to Archdiocese
Erected as the Vicariate Apostolic of Athabasca Mackenzie on 8 April 1862 as a suffragan of Edmonton.
The Vicariate Apostolic of Athabasca was split off on 3 July 1901.
The name was changed to the Vicariate Apostolic of Grouard on 15 March 1927.
Elevated to the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan on 13 July 1967.
Date of incorporation as Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan: 2 May 1968.
Historical Details
Vicariate Apostolic of Athabasca Mackenzie
Erected: 8 April 1862
Vicariate
Province: Alberta
Country: Canada
Vicariate Apostolic of Athabasca
Split:3 July 1901
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Edmonton
Province: Alberta
Country: Canada
Vicariate Apostolic of Grouard
Latin Name: Gruardensis
Name Changed:15 March 1927
Vicariate
Province: Alberta
Country: Canada