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St. Mary's Parish, Banff
Banff
AB
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Who we are
We of St. Mary’s (“The Holy Name of Mary”) are proud of our Roman Catholic heritage here in the foothills of southern Alberta. For more than 100 years St. Mary’s has served the faith of natives, traders and trappers, settlers, ranchers and farmers, and growing families from both rural and urban communities. Thanks to our pioneer families and their descendants, many of whom are still active in our parish today, St. Mary’s remains a beacon of faith, hope, and charity in Cochrane.
~ Bishop Vital Grandin
~ Bishop Vital Grandin
Location of worship / Church Address
305 Squirrel Street
Banff,
AB
Canada
Phone: (403) 762-3450
Fax: (403) 763-1081
Download St. Mary's Parish, Banff vCard with Mass Times
Church Pastor
Reverend Daniel Stevenot
Pastor
305 Squirrel Street
Banff,
AB
Canada
Phone: (403) 808-7101
Download Pastor Reverend Daniel Stevenot vCard
Quote of the Day
Psalms 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Denomination
Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic churches in Banff, Alberta, Canada
Roman Catholic churches in Alberta, Canada
Roman Catholic churches in Canada
All churches in Banff, AB
Affiliations:
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Leadership
Leader Name:
Reverend Daniel Stevenot
Leader Position:
Pastor
Formal Title:
Leader Address:
Tel:
Fax:
Leader Email:
Leader Bio:
Other Church Leaders:
Reverend Daniel Stevenot on Social Media:
St. Mary's Parish, Banff Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
Dalyce Carmody
Admin Position:
Administrative Assistant
Admin Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
(403) 763-1081
Admin Email:
Mailing Address
PO Box 1025
Banff, Alberta
T1L 1B1
Banff, Alberta
T1L 1B1
Driving Directions to St. Mary's Parish, Banff
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St. Mary's Parish, Banff Banff Mass Times
Mass Times:
Saturday — 5:00 pm
Saturday — 7:00 pm
Sunday — 9:00 am
Tuesday — 6:30 pm
Wednesday — 6:30 pm
God the Almighty Prayer Group meets in the hall on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month- 7:00PM. All Welcome!
1st Friday of the month at 10:00am - Mass held in the St. Martha’s Chapel at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. 305 Lynx Street.
Lake Louise Mass Schedule – CLL Fairmont’s Lynx Lounge in the Colleague Building.
Second and fourth Thursday of the Month at 6:00pm until the end of September 2019
Confession:
St. Mary's Banff:
Saturday - 4:15 - 4:45 pm
Saturday - 6:15-6:45 pm
Sunday - 8:15-8:45 am
Also by appointment.
Mass Times last updated on the 18th of December, 2019
Saturday — 5:00 pm
Saturday — 7:00 pm
Sunday — 9:00 am
Tuesday — 6:30 pm
Wednesday — 6:30 pm
God the Almighty Prayer Group meets in the hall on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month- 7:00PM. All Welcome!
1st Friday of the month at 10:00am - Mass held in the St. Martha’s Chapel at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. 305 Lynx Street.
Lake Louise Mass Schedule – CLL Fairmont’s Lynx Lounge in the Colleague Building.
Second and fourth Thursday of the Month at 6:00pm until the end of September 2019
Confession:
St. Mary's Banff:
Saturday - 4:15 - 4:45 pm
Saturday - 6:15-6:45 pm
Sunday - 8:15-8:45 am
Also by appointment.
Mass Times last updated on the 18th of December, 2019
Worship Languages
Dress code:
Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities:
Other activities & ministries
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Hymns and Songs:
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Average Youth Congregation:
Additional Info:
St. Mary's Parish, Banff Photo Gallery
St. Mary's Parish, Banff History
From the records and diaries of the Missionaries Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and the record of Father Robert McGuinness the following history of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Parish has been culled.
At the request of the Hudson’s Bay Company; two priests Father Francois Blanchet and Father Modeste Demers, came from Quebec, to minister to the spiritual needs of the company’s employees at Fort Vancouver and Washington, USA. After making the intrepid journey across the whole expanse of Canada by waterways and portage, they entered the Rockies by way of the Athabasca Pass (now traversed by the Banff-Jasper Highway some 140 miles north of Banff). When they reached the Continental Divide at the Committee Punch Bowl, they offered their first mass at 3:00 am in the morning of October 10, 1833. Awed by the grandeur of the scenery and impressed by the magnificent setting of their altar amid God’s own Creation, the two priests consecrated the mountains around Banff to Almighty God. In 1843, Father Blanchet became the first Bishop of the Oregon Territory and Father Demers, in 1847, became the first Bishop of Victoria.
Almost 45 years were to elapse before the next mass was celebrated by Father E. Claude(OMI), on October 13, 1883, at Canadian Pacific Railroad Siding 29, which was at the base of Mount Cascade, now the Canadian Pacific Railroad Overpass. In 1886, the Banff Town site was moved from the base of Mt. Cascade to its present location south of the C.P.R. tracks. The Oblate Fathers from St. Mary’s, Calgary, continued to make mission visits and on August 4, 1886, Father Leduc said the first Mass in Banff, at the old Cascade Hotel. Father Moyses Blais (OMI) oversaw the Bow Valley Mission from 1887-1889. While visiting Banff with Bishop Vital Grandin(OMI), Bishop of St. Albert, in July 1887, property was leased, at lots 18, 19, 20 in Block 5, to build the first log church; where at present is the Scout Hall. The log cabin church was built by August 15, 1888 and was solemnly blessed and dedicated to ‘Our Lady of the Assumption’. It cost $800.00 to build. Loving called by local parishioners ‘St. Mary’s’. The celebrant and preacher at this mass of dedication was Fr. Albert Lacombe.
Later Fr. Blais leased lots 16 and 17; south of the present church. One interesting note is that on September 15, 1895, Bishop Vital Grandin (OMI) celebrated the High Mass and blessed the new bell which had been hung in the newly built bell tower; which was constructed by Brother Bowed (OMI). Engraved on the bell is OMI, Maria, Vital Grandin, Bishop of St. Albert, 1895. This bell is now in the Sanctuary of the present St. Mary’s Church a sends out its chimes at the consecration of Saturday and Sunday masses. The rectory was built in 1905 by Father Seltman (OMI) and he moved his mission headquarters from Cochrane to Banff on May 15 of that year. Banff was in the charge of the Oblate Missions until 1921 when it was placed under the care of secular priests.
On the drive from Banff to Minnewanka one sees several abandoned foundations of buildings about halfway along the road. This is all that remains of a thriving mining community that began in 1903. The first mass was offered in the Miner’s Hall on January 25, 1905, by Father Seltman (OMI), who began a church which was completed by Father Sylla (OMI), in 1908 and named The Most Holy Trinity. The mine closed in 1922 and the town was abandoned. All that remains are the altar stone which is in St. Mary’s Church, Banff.
In 1952 Fr. Robert McGuinness, who had become pastor in 1932, build the present church, on the corner of Lynx and Squirrel Streets.
Missionaries at Banff:
1885 Rev. D. Foisy, O.M.I.
1886 Rev. H. Leduc, O.M.I., Rev. L. Doucet, O.M.I.
1887-1889 Rev. M. Blais, O.M.I.
1890-1892 Rev. B. Desroches, O.M.I.
1892-1896 Rev. W. Comire, O.M.I.
1896-1899 Rev. L. Fouquet
Pastors:
1899-1907 Rev. J. Seltman, the first resident priest after 1905
1907-1922 Rev. H. Hermes, O.M.I., at Banff or Canmore
1912 Rev. L. V. Lewis, O.M.I. Rev. P. Murphy from St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary
1922-1930 Rev. John Osborne from Canmore
1930-1935 Rev. J. B. Moriarty, resident at Mineral Springs Hospital
1935-1936 Rev. J. F. Fitzpatrick
1936-1961 Rev. Robert McGuinness
1961-1967 Rev. Paul O’Byrne, built the hall and became Bishop of Calgary, in 1968
1967-1968 Rev. E. J. Cooney
1968-1969 Rev. W. O. MacCallum
1969-1971 Rev. A. McLellan
1971-1980 Rev. L. Redmond (purchased the present rectory)
1980-1982 Rev. R. McLellan
1982-1985 Rev. P. Luyckx
1985- 2001 Rev. Tom Garvey, C.S.Sp.
2001-2004 Rev. S. Vargas (parishes of St. Mary’s, Banff and Sacred Heart, Canmore were combined, under title of Our Lady of the Rockies)
2004-2007 Rev. R. Tiongson
2007-2008 Rev. V. Ha
2008-2015 Rev. Bryan Frank
2015- Rev. Daniel Stevenot (St. Mary’s, Banff was reinstated as a parish)
At the request of the Hudson’s Bay Company; two priests Father Francois Blanchet and Father Modeste Demers, came from Quebec, to minister to the spiritual needs of the company’s employees at Fort Vancouver and Washington, USA. After making the intrepid journey across the whole expanse of Canada by waterways and portage, they entered the Rockies by way of the Athabasca Pass (now traversed by the Banff-Jasper Highway some 140 miles north of Banff). When they reached the Continental Divide at the Committee Punch Bowl, they offered their first mass at 3:00 am in the morning of October 10, 1833. Awed by the grandeur of the scenery and impressed by the magnificent setting of their altar amid God’s own Creation, the two priests consecrated the mountains around Banff to Almighty God. In 1843, Father Blanchet became the first Bishop of the Oregon Territory and Father Demers, in 1847, became the first Bishop of Victoria.
Almost 45 years were to elapse before the next mass was celebrated by Father E. Claude(OMI), on October 13, 1883, at Canadian Pacific Railroad Siding 29, which was at the base of Mount Cascade, now the Canadian Pacific Railroad Overpass. In 1886, the Banff Town site was moved from the base of Mt. Cascade to its present location south of the C.P.R. tracks. The Oblate Fathers from St. Mary’s, Calgary, continued to make mission visits and on August 4, 1886, Father Leduc said the first Mass in Banff, at the old Cascade Hotel. Father Moyses Blais (OMI) oversaw the Bow Valley Mission from 1887-1889. While visiting Banff with Bishop Vital Grandin(OMI), Bishop of St. Albert, in July 1887, property was leased, at lots 18, 19, 20 in Block 5, to build the first log church; where at present is the Scout Hall. The log cabin church was built by August 15, 1888 and was solemnly blessed and dedicated to ‘Our Lady of the Assumption’. It cost $800.00 to build. Loving called by local parishioners ‘St. Mary’s’. The celebrant and preacher at this mass of dedication was Fr. Albert Lacombe.
Later Fr. Blais leased lots 16 and 17; south of the present church. One interesting note is that on September 15, 1895, Bishop Vital Grandin (OMI) celebrated the High Mass and blessed the new bell which had been hung in the newly built bell tower; which was constructed by Brother Bowed (OMI). Engraved on the bell is OMI, Maria, Vital Grandin, Bishop of St. Albert, 1895. This bell is now in the Sanctuary of the present St. Mary’s Church a sends out its chimes at the consecration of Saturday and Sunday masses. The rectory was built in 1905 by Father Seltman (OMI) and he moved his mission headquarters from Cochrane to Banff on May 15 of that year. Banff was in the charge of the Oblate Missions until 1921 when it was placed under the care of secular priests.
On the drive from Banff to Minnewanka one sees several abandoned foundations of buildings about halfway along the road. This is all that remains of a thriving mining community that began in 1903. The first mass was offered in the Miner’s Hall on January 25, 1905, by Father Seltman (OMI), who began a church which was completed by Father Sylla (OMI), in 1908 and named The Most Holy Trinity. The mine closed in 1922 and the town was abandoned. All that remains are the altar stone which is in St. Mary’s Church, Banff.
In 1952 Fr. Robert McGuinness, who had become pastor in 1932, build the present church, on the corner of Lynx and Squirrel Streets.
Missionaries at Banff:
1885 Rev. D. Foisy, O.M.I.
1886 Rev. H. Leduc, O.M.I., Rev. L. Doucet, O.M.I.
1887-1889 Rev. M. Blais, O.M.I.
1890-1892 Rev. B. Desroches, O.M.I.
1892-1896 Rev. W. Comire, O.M.I.
1896-1899 Rev. L. Fouquet
Pastors:
1899-1907 Rev. J. Seltman, the first resident priest after 1905
1907-1922 Rev. H. Hermes, O.M.I., at Banff or Canmore
1912 Rev. L. V. Lewis, O.M.I. Rev. P. Murphy from St. Mary’s Cathedral, Calgary
1922-1930 Rev. John Osborne from Canmore
1930-1935 Rev. J. B. Moriarty, resident at Mineral Springs Hospital
1935-1936 Rev. J. F. Fitzpatrick
1936-1961 Rev. Robert McGuinness
1961-1967 Rev. Paul O’Byrne, built the hall and became Bishop of Calgary, in 1968
1967-1968 Rev. E. J. Cooney
1968-1969 Rev. W. O. MacCallum
1969-1971 Rev. A. McLellan
1971-1980 Rev. L. Redmond (purchased the present rectory)
1980-1982 Rev. R. McLellan
1982-1985 Rev. P. Luyckx
1985- 2001 Rev. Tom Garvey, C.S.Sp.
2001-2004 Rev. S. Vargas (parishes of St. Mary’s, Banff and Sacred Heart, Canmore were combined, under title of Our Lady of the Rockies)
2004-2007 Rev. R. Tiongson
2007-2008 Rev. V. Ha
2008-2015 Rev. Bryan Frank
2015- Rev. Daniel Stevenot (St. Mary’s, Banff was reinstated as a parish)
St. Mary's Parish, Banff Historical Photos
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