Holy Trinity Parish
Calgary AB

Holy Trinity Parish began as a mission of St. Mary’s Parish during which time priests from St. Mary’s and St. Anne’s provided the spiritual needs of the people living in the communities of Forest Lawn, Hubalta, Albert Park and other farming communities with masses offered in a worshipper’s home. In the spring of 1926, Bishop John T. Kidd of Calgary and Fr. Rouleau of St. Anne’s Parish visited the Catholics in the area to discuss the possibility of building a church. In May 1926, a land was purchased on the northwest corner of 17th Avenue and 41 St.

An old church, built about 1902 9n Bankhead, near Banff, was moved by rail flatcar to Forest Lawn in 1927. The cost was $8000 and the church seated about 200. It was blessed by Bishop John T. Kidd on November 13, 1927.

On February 15, 1931, the Redemptorist Fathers of Our Lady of Perpetual Help assumed responsibility of Holy Trinity at the request of Bishop Kidd. Fr. E. Walsh offered the first mass with 34 attending and $3.00 in the collection plate.

The population of the parish began to grow at the end of the war. The need for a new church became very evident. On August 2, 1961, the present site of the new church was purchased for $33,000. Then in February, 1962, documents from Rome were received to erect Holy Trinity Parish. By June 27, 1962, final plans and specifications were submitted and approved. Commonwealth Construction was awarded the contract to build the church for $245,485. Fund raising immediately began. By September 23, 1962, pledges totalling $149,000 were gathered.

The sod turning ceremony was held on August 2, 1962. On December 23, 1962, the 90-foot spire and 6-foot bronze cross were erected. The cornerstone was blessed with Holy Water from Lourdes and was laid on February 11, 1963. A local artist built the 400-square foot, three-dimensional wall made of five types of natural wood behind the main altar. A six-foot wooden crucifix with a lime wood corpus dominates the inside of the church.

The solemn blessing and dedication of the new Holy Trinity Church was held on June 9, 1963, the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, with the Most Rev. Francis Carroll, D.D., Bishop of Calgary officiating.

 

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Historical Notes On The Parish of Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Parish began as a mission of St. Mary's Parish, during which time priests from St. Mary's and St. Anne's served the spiritual needs of the people of Forest Lawn, Albert Park, Hubalta and the surrounding farming communities. Among the priests were Fathers N.R. Anderson, J.E. Morrow, and J.J. Smith, with Masses offered in a worshipper's home. In the spring of 1926, Bishop John T. Kidd of Calgary and Fr. Rouleau of St. Anne's Parish visited the Catholics in the area to discuss the possibility of building a church. Further to these discussions, land was purchased on the northwest corner of 17th Avenue and 415t Street in May 1926.

An old church, built about 1902 in Bankhead, near Banff, was moved by rail flatcar to Forest Lawn in 1927. It was put on site, stuccoed and plastered, but not insulated and there was no running water. The cost was $8000.00, and the church seated about 200. It was blessed by Bishop John T. Kidd on November 13, 1927, and the dedication Mass was offered by Fr. Anderson. The Parish Register shows the following: first recorded Baptism: November 22, 1927; first recorded Marriage: March 2, 1930; first recorded death: May 2, 1931.

At the request of Bishop Kidd, the Redemptorist Fathers of Our Lady of Perpetual Help assumed responsibility of Holy Trinity Church on February 15, 1931. Fr. E. Walsh offered the first Mass, with 34 attending and $3.00 in the collection plate.

At the end of the war the population began to grow. Money became more plentiful and, although no payments were made on the debt until 1941, by 1947 the debt was cleared. In 1949 an abandoned airforce base hut was purchased and renovated, providing a parish hall. In 1955 a plebiscite was held, resulting in the formation of the Catholic School Board. Three acres of land were purchased for Holy Trinity School, which opened in 1956.

The population in the area continued to rise, and the old church was not large enough to handle the needs of the growing parish. Overflow Masses were being offered in Holy Trinity School auditorium, and the need for a new church became very evident. On August 2, 1961, Bishop Francis P. Carroll gave permission to purchase land for a new church and rectory. Eighteen lots were purchased on the present site for $33,000.00.

On February 10, 1962, documents were received from Rome erecting Holy Trinity Parish as a separate parish with its own pastor. Fr. L.J. Murphy, C.Ss.R. was appointed pastor of the Parish, which encompassed an area of twelve square miles.

A contract was signed with architects Cohos-Delalsalle on February 21, 1962, and building plans were approved April 18, 1962. Everything was designed on the "Trinity" symbol. Final plans and specifications were submitted to the Diocesan Building Committee on June 27, 1962, and were approved. Tenders were let and a bid was accepted. Commonwealth Construction was awarded the contract to build the church for $245,485.00.

A fund-raising campaign began in June 1962. On September 23, 1962, a big fund-raising drive was held with the goal of $160,000.00. By midnight, 115 men had gathered pledges totalling $149,000.00.

The sod turning ceremony was held on August 2, 1962. The foundation was poured during November, and on November 23, 1962, the walls and roof were put up in eight and one-half hours of continuous pour of concrete. On December 23, 1962, the 90-foot spire and 6-foot bronze cross were erected. The cornerstone was blessed with holy water from Lourdes and was laid on February 1 1, 1963. A local artist built the 400-square-foot, three-dimensional wall made of five types of Alberta natural wood, which is behind the main altar. A six-foot wooden crucifix with a limewood corpus now dominates the inside of the church.

The priests moved into the rectory on March 25, 1963. On March 27, 1963, the bell from the old church was moved to its new belfry in the sphere of the new church.

On March 31, 1963, Fr L.J. Murphy, C.Ss.R. blessed the new church, and the first four Masses were offered. During the open house that day, 2,330 people visited the church and rectory.

The solemn blessing and dedication of the new Holy Trinity Church was held on June 9, 1963, the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, with the Most Rev. Francis P. Carroll, D.D., Bishop of Calgary presiding. Priests concelebrating Mass were Rev. L.J. Murphy, C.Ss.R., Rev. F. Malone, C.Ss.R., Rev. N.R. Anderson, Rev. F. Lawless, C.Ss.R., Rev. J. Naphin, C.Ss.R., Rev. J. Bastigal, and Rev. B.J. Johnson, C.Ss.R.



Priests served at Holy Trinity Parish

ANDERSON, NEVILLE (1927-1930)

MORROW, JAMES (1930-1931)

HEALY, JAMES, C.S.s.R. (1932-1933)

GALLERY, PATRICK, C.S.s.R. (1934-1935)

DOYLE, EDWARD, C.S.s.R. (1935-1938)

WALE, LEONARD, C.S.s.R. (1938-1941)

MOHAN, EMMET, C.S.s.R. (1942-1944)

GUNNIP, GEORGE, C.S.s.R. (1945-1959)

COYNE, THOMAS, C.S.s.R. (1959-1960)

MURPHY, LEONARD, C.S.s.R. (1960-1966)

MOLLAND, ROBERT, C.S.s.R. (1961-1963)

FOURCHALK, PAUL, C.S.s.R. (1963-1964)

MCNALLY, RAYMOND, C.S.s.R. (1964-1967)

MACGILLVRAY, JOSEPH, C.S.s.R. (1966-1972)

QUINN, EDMOND, C.S.s.R. (1967-1968)

MALONE, BASIL, C.S.s.R. (1967-1968)

LANGI, DOMINIC, C.S.s.R. (1968-1969)

VOZZA, RAYMOND, C.S.s.R. (1969-1972)

SANTOPINTO, MAGESTE, C.S.s.R. (1969-1975)

PANKHURST, DOUGLAS, C.S.s.R. (1969-1975)

LOUCH, DAVID, C.S.s.R. (1972-1974)

BROWN, MICHAEL, C.S.s.R. (1974-1977)

WEIR, DAVID, C.S.s.R. (1975-1981)

MURPHY, MICHAEL, C.S.s.R. (1976-1980)

ZABAWA, KASIMIERZ, C.S.s.R. (1978-1979)

PHELAN, JAMES, C.S.s.R. (1979-1995)

STEPHENS, KENNEDY, C.S.s.R. (1980-1981)

NAPHIN, JOHN, C.S.s.R. (1981-1982)

MCNALLY, RAYMOND, C.S.s.R. (1981-1987)

FITZSIMON, MARK, C.S.s.R. (1981-1985)

BLACKMORE, MATTHEW, C.S.s.R. (1984-1989)

MURPHY, JAMES, C.S.s.R. (1985-1990)

PURSCHE, DOUGLAS, C.S.s.R. (1987-1989)

BERNARD, WILLIAM, C.S.s.R. (1990-1993)

DORAWA, RAYMOND, C.S.s.R. (1990-1993)

STERZER, ALBERT, C.S.s.R. (1993-1995)

HEBERT, REMI, C.S.s.R. (1993-1995)

CAMBALING, INNO (1995-1999)

TIMAJO, JESUS (1995-1996)

RECEPCION, RUSTICO (1996-1997)

MARINO, BENEDICTO (1996-1997)

BASQUINEZ, FELIX (1997-1999)

PHAMVANBAO, DOMINIC, O.P. (1999 - )

NGUYEN, NGHIEU, O.P. (1999-2002)

DINH, THAO VINCENT, O.P. (2001-2006)

TRAN, LIEM, O.P. (2006 - )