History of Our Parishes and Missions

A Brief History of Parishes & Missions in the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan

Note that parishes and missions that are now closed are denoted by a strike out.

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.
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.
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.
Calling Lake St. Léon Le Grand (1951)
On 4 March, Bishop Routhier blessed the Church.
Carcajou (1911) Construction of a church – St. Michel
Chipewyan Lake
Clairmont Marie Immaculate Church was blessed on 8 November 1917 by Bishop Emile Grouard.
Codessa (Rahab) The church opened on 22 January 1933.
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.
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.
Shrine history here.
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.
Fairview St. Thomas More (1929)
On 28 March, Fairview becomes a village and Rev. Schwebius constructs the first church.
Falher Ste. Anne (1917)
Establishment of the parish by Bishop Grouard on June 15. Incorporation June 4th, 1917.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Keg River St. Jude Thaddeus (1934)
In October, the church was built.
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.
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.
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 (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.
North Tallcree Blessed Kateri
Notikewin The church was constructed in 1931.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Worsley St. Michael’s (1966-1999)
On 25 December 1966, Mass was celebrated in the church that had been moved from North Star.