| 1907 |
Jean Marie LeClainche, o.m.i., offered
the first Mass at Moose Lake in July, 1907.
|
| 1908 |
Rev. Father Franqois E. Bonny, first resident
priest arrived here. It is from him that Bonnyville got its name.
Fr. Aubin, Ste. Rose, Quebec, donates a bell for the first St. Louis
Church.
The first child to be baptized was Joseph Hormidas Treflé Mercier,
July 12, son of Joseph Mercier and Helena Bérubé. This
parishioner is still with us today.
On November 3, Fr. Bonny blesses the first marriage celebrated in
Bonnyville, that of Theodore Poulin and Marie Albina Octavie Durocher.
November 26 marks the first death, that of Laura Langis, spouse of
Philippe Langis.
|
| 1910 |
July 18, first pastoral visit of his Exc. Bishop E. J . Legal, o.m.i., who administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to Ovila Bordeleau, Donat Plamondon, Alexis Levasseur, Antonin Ouimet, Elphege Ouimet, Celina Demers, Marie Neva Filion et Marie Aldéa Côté.
Departure of Fr. François Bonny.
|
| 1912 |
R. Guertin of St. Vincent in turn take
charge of St. Louis Mission as Bonnyville has no pastor.
After the departure of Father Bonny in 1910, the parishioners could
not accept to be without a resident priest. Therefore, Messrs. Vadeboncoeur
and DeBlois approached Mgr. Legal with the intention of having their
request favorably considered and it was.
On August 14, Father E. M. Barrette arrived.
Father Barrette had a church built (second storey served as rectory).
On December 12th the first marriage was celebrated in this church,
that of Aimé Marcotte and Ernestine Ouimet.
|
| 1913 |
Early in the year Father J. M. Boucher
arrived.
On December 7, the Honourable P. E. Lessard donated an organ for St. Louis Church.
|
| 1916 |
In January, Father Joseph E. Lapointe is
appointed pastor of St. Louis Parish. To recall all his good works
is no easy task but a brief account of his life will bring out his
outstanding achievements.
"Shortly after his ordination on June 29, 1911, Father J. Lapointe
left the province of Quebec for the West. His field of action would
be St. Louis Parish for more than two thirds of his long priestly
ministry. On his arrival in 1916, he gave his attention to providing
care for the sick and instruction for the children. Thanks to his
zeal Bonnyville welcomed its first medical practitioner, Dr. Séverin
Sabourin, in 1918, and the first religious order, the Sisters of Charity
of Notre Dame d'Evron, in 1919. St. Louis Hospital and Bonnyville's
first school were founded a few months later.
The construction of the third church, begun in 1920, was entrusted
to him. For more than half a century this building served for divine
worship. It is not surprising that in 1957, Father Lapointe chose
Bonnyville as "lieu" for his retirement. Appointed chaplain
of St. Louis Hospital, he was very happy to devote himself to this
work of charity in which he excelled. It was on May 18, 1969, that
he left this world from the very institution he had helped to establish.
As a token of gratitude and friendship to Father Lapointe, the Oblate
Fathers of Mary Immaculate made him Honorary Oblate. The archives
of the Oblate Fathers have on record the authentic certificate presented
to the venerable priest on the occasion."
|
| 1918 |
In the spring of the year, Mr. Albert Dargis
made the long trip to Lac La Biche in a horsedrawn vehicle and returned
to Bonnyville with Dr. Séverm Sabourin and his family.
|
| 1919 |
On October 15, the six first Sisters of
Charity of N. D. d'Evron arrived in Bonnyville. Their dwelling was
the parish church which become the first St. Louis Hospital and boarding
school.
Patients were admitted to the hospital in the latter part of November.
The first Friday of December, Father Lapointe offered the first Holy
Mass in the hospital chapel.
|
| 1920 |
In January the Sisters of Charity opened
the first school in the village of Bonnyville.
|
| 1923 |
This year marked the completion of the
third St. Louis Church; it was blessed on August 3.
|
| 1925 |
On September 6, the Archbishop from Edmonton
blessed the bell named Pius in honor of the reigning Pope, Henry Joseph
in honor of Mgr. O'Leary and Eugene in honor of the pastor, Father
Lapointe. This bell is kept as a precious souvenir and has its place
in the bell tower.
|
| 1929 |
On October 16, the Sisters of Charity moved
into the new hospital. After being so limited for space it was rewarding
to be in a larger building, equipped with modern utilities of the
time.
|
| 1931 |
On August 10, St. Louis Hospital is officially
opened; his Exc. Bishop O'Leary was present.
|
| 1938 |
The Sisters of Charity of N. D. d'Evron
are required to leave the school established in 1920, due to lack
of teaching personnel.
The Sisters of the Assumption arrive on August 22 and take over the
management of the school.
In September, a new school with classes IXII is officially opened.
|
| 1945 - 1946 |
The pastor was Father Benoit Marchand who
met a tragic death in a car collision on October 6, 1946.
|
| 1946 - 1951 |
Father Robert Lerouge replaced Father Marchand
as pastor of St. Louis Parish.
|
| 1947 |
The Knights of Columbus were organized
locally by forming the Thérien Council #2908.
The funeral service for Mr. Wilfred Ouimet, one of the founders of
St. Louis Parish, was held on October 9, 1947.
|
| 1948 |
The Diocese of St. Paul is established,
the founder was His Excellency Bishop Maurice Baudoux.
|
| 1949 |
On January 30, the Rev. Father George-Etienne
Durocher, o.m.i., originally of this parish, is ordained.
On November 20, the parishioners are united in prayer with the family
of Mr. Albert Dargis, whose son Dom Gustave Dargis, o.s.b., is ordained
in Solesmes Abbey, France.
|
| 1951 |
On January 31, the Oblate Fathers arrived
to take charge of the parish; the first to become pastor is Rev. Fr.
John Panhaleux.
|
| 1952 |
The rectory presently in use was built
under the administration of Fr. J . Panhaleux.
|
| 1953 - 1961 |
The Rev. Fr. G. Chevrier, o. m.i., carried out 1961 the functions
of pastor.
|
| 1954 |
January 31 marked the official opening
of Notre Dame Elementary School.
|
| 1955 |
Mgr. P. Lussier presided over the blessing
and official opening of St. Louis Hospital annex.
|
| 1957 |
St. Louis Parish celebrated the fiftieth
anniversary of its foundation. On this occasion the Knights of Columbus
donated the tabernacle for the altar. (This tabernacle is the one
you see in the church at the present time.) The "Dames de Ste.
Anne" donated the large crucifix that hung above the altar.
Father Lapointe chose to retire in St. Louis Parish, Bonnyville.
In concluding the history related, it would be most appropriate that
we honor all the Sisters, originally of St. Louis Parish, and who
are now members of diverse religious congregations. Attempting to
name them all would certainly result in omissions and it would be
regretful. In many parishes, those who generously consecrated their
life to the Lord, continue to serve the Church in its needs. We pay
them a tribute of recognition, praise and gratitude.
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