|
The Parish history: After his trip to the east coast of Vancouver Island and up the Mainland coast to Millbank Sound, Fr. Fourquet set out to choose the site for the new posts between Kelowna and the mouth of the Fraser. He chose New Westminster, Fort Hope, Fort Yale, And Fort (Port) Douglas as the best sites and on September 1860, Bishop Demers gave his approval. Father Grandidier with brother George Blanchet set out to establish the future sites.
1860 The first parish was established in the autumn of 1860 by Father Grandidier at what was then called Fort Hope. First Baptisms at Hope August 16, 1860 Francis Savona, about 3 months old, son of Francis and Julienne Savona August 27, 1860 Mary Thomas, Born August 5, 1860, daughter of John and Helen Thomas Father Leon Fourquet, O.M.I, performed both baptisms. October 24, 1860 Charles Kolt, about three years of age, son of Sroilapten and Yakaiar Kolt. First baptism in Fort Hope by its pastor, Fr. Charles I. Grandidier, O.M.I. First resident priest. 1860-61 Father Grandidier and Brother Janin built a small chapel.
Pictured to the left are Fr. Delester and Fr. Lepine 1913 The first Our Lady of Good Hope Church was consecrated by Archbishop Casey, assisted by Fathers Ballot and Chirouse. A plain chant was sung at the Mass by an Indian choir.
1947 The present Our Lady of Good Hope church was built by Father Hugh Mac Isaac and parishioners.
1948 August 16- Solemn Blessing of the church of Our Lady of Good Hope procession for the parish hall to the new church, blessing of the new church, address of welcome by His Excellency Archbishop Duke D.D., Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed. At the reception. Fr. Hugh Mac Isaac, OMI Pastor: "We remember our parishioners whose splendid spirit of faith and cooperation has helped in no small way in making today possible."
We thank sincerely our many friends outside the parish who have given generously of their means and to our non-catholic friends in Hope who, from the beginning, have shown a genuine interest in all our undertakings."
1951 The burning of the mortgage on the church.
1952
Built rectory and hall.
Pictured below is Marcel Gagnon, Al Hazelett, Fr. Mac Isaac, Mr. Bayce and??
1953-‘55 Fr. J. Fourquette Rectory on the 2nd floor front. Apartment of John Fuchs 3rd floor front.
1955-‘57 Fr. Leo Gordon, OMI with Fr. R. Kelly at the Mission Churches.
1957-60’ Fr. C.J. Vermeulen, pastor. Hall and rectory destroyed by fire. July 29, 1957, Mr. J. Marcel Gagnon purchased the parish hall property from the Archbishop. Father George Gordon was pastor at the time.
1957-58 Built new rectory with small hall attached.
1962-‘63 Fr. K Bohnenberger & Fr. McItee ’63-’65, and from ’65-’68 assisted by Fr. L. Viney
1963-‘66 The Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate officially take charge of the Roman Catholic parish Our Lady of Good Hope, Hope, BC on July 21st, 1963. Fr. D. M. Kearney, O.M.I., pastor (formerly Principal of the Mission Indian Residential School, Mission city) and Fr. H. D. McIntee, O.M.I. assistant (formerly attached to St. Joseph's Mission, Williams Lake as Indian Missionary). O. L. O. G. H. parish consists of many missions both Indian and non-Indian: Laidlaw, west of Hope, almost all Indians with Mass said in an Indian church; Katz, across the Fraser River for Laidlaw, consisting of several Indian families with a fairly good church and hall, North Bend- about 45 miles north of Hope up the Fraser canyon, consisting of 16 white families and 6-7 Indian families, with a fairly good church( St. Mary's) Boston Bar- on the highway side across the river from North Bend, consisting of several white families and many Indian families, with a very small and inadequate church. St. (Joseph's) on the Indian Reserve. There are many more families, both white and Indian, spread in all directions, who do not go to church because they have difficulties getting transportation.
The pastor, Fr. Michael Kearney, OMI, arrived in Hope on July 20,1963, and was introduced to the people of Hope and Boston Bar by the on-going pastor, Fr. K Bohnenberger, a Secular priest who was born and educated in Germany and was now working with souls in Canada. As there was no housekeeper, Fr. Kearney, OMI hired Mrs. Anne McAvoy to be a part-time housekeeper and cook on about July 27, 1963. She resided with her own family but prepared three meals a day for the Father's, as well as tended to the laundry and house cleaning. Sunday was the only day the Father's cooked for themselves.
The new assistant, Fr. Harold McIntee OMI, arrived in Hope on July 27 and was taken to North Bend where he said Mass, officially beginning his assignment. In the first weeks of September the parish organizations started functioning again. The C.W.L. is well established and does very good work for the parish. The Holy Name Society was disbanded for a time and a new organization called the Catholic Men’s club was established – a club in which the men of the parish would meet each other and also met to know what needed to be done in the running of the parish."> There was a flourishing Young People’s group organized for the high school students – they would meet once a week for instruction and discussion and have a monthly social evening. There was a fairly good choir conducted by Mr. Carl Bachinski, with Miss Terry Pope as organist. There was also an altar boy society consisting of 16 altar boys.
In the month of October, the time for Masses was changed so that more people would be able to attend Sunday Mass. The new Masses also included Laidlaw on the first third and fourth Sunday of each month as well as Katz on the second Sunday of each month, and also allowing Masses at Boston Bar and Yale of each Sunday.
Weekday Masses were said at 7.30 a.m. but on Friday, Mass
was at 8 p.m. Saturday he had Mass at 9 a.m. and Benediction every Sunday
evening at 7 p.m. 1964 The Oblate Fathers still worked on the parish visitation, and tried to go from home to home to find as many Catholic families as possible. This was very slow work and it was amazing how many fallen away homes were found. Most every evening was busy with the giving of religious instruction to the people seeking the true faith. Every Tuesday evening both fathers would go to a local home to instruct several family members so that they may once again embraced the faith. There was much of this sort of work to be done – so many families who were practicing Catholics had fallen away because of the lack of faith and did not go to mass at all. The whole of the Fraser canyon country was in this condition there was the years of work ahead. On August 18th 1964 Father B. Fransen O. M. I. from Belgium, arrived to be an assistant to Father Kearney,OMI because Fr. McIntee, OMI to had been assigned to Vancouver Island. Father Fransen Sealant was sent to Prince George and was replaced by a by Fr. L. Viney from Duncan who arrived in Hope on Jan. 13 1965.
1965 Friday March 5th, was the first Mass in the vernacular. Tuesday March 18, Fr. Gillis, O.M.I. said Mass with the new vernacular missal. Wednesday April 21, beginning the re-shingling of the church at Laidlaw, workers were Fr .Kearney OMI, Viney and five Natives Indians
1966 May 5; Started building carport behind rectory. May 8- Vote taken in the church. Re: Preference of two morning Masses or one in the morning and one in the evening. July 5- Fr. Kearney OMI received obedience to Shubenacadie July 23- Fr. Griffin OMI took over as pastor. Aug-1- Fr. Griffin officially installed as pastor by Fr. Fagan (Dean) During the fall of 1966, Mr. Marcel Gagnon laid wall-to-wall carpeting in three rooms upstairs in the rectory. Renovations included tiling the upstairs bathroom and putting up panel in the common room. A new carport was added, a renewed roof, as well as stuccoing on the rectory.
1967 In October, 1967 Mr. Carl Anderson sent two men to paint the inside of the Church. But over the following three months he had them rebuild the sacristy with a new roof and painted the entire rectory. Some changes were also made to the front piece of the altar, lighting and tabernacle altar By Christmas Fr. Griffin OMI, purchased a hi-fi stereo
1968 September- Fr. F.S. Mc Wade, O.M.I. appointed pastor replacing F. R .Griffin, OMI November2- Rev V. L. Viney, O.M.I. was replaced by Fr. E.J. Black who moved to North Bend. The church in Laidlaw was closed. The church at Yale was also closed, but reopened in 1969.
1969 April Fr. Clarke was replace by Fr. M. Coffin
1970 Fr. J. A. Morris, O.M.I. replaced Fr. Coffin
1971 Erected a new Cross-Tower Built St. Joseph's Church at Boston Bar. Repairs and painting to the churches at Cha'wathil (Katz) Ohamil (Laidlaw) and Yale. October- Confirmations, Archbishop J. E. Carney D.D. officiating.
1972 Two sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception arrived in Hope to teach Christian Doctrine and assist in the Missions. Fr. McWade, O.M.I. requested them. Sister Agnes Sherrin and Sister Cecilia Martz answered the call. But before they arrived Fr. McQuaid, OMI was transferred and Rev. Alex Morris O.M.I. succeeded as parish priest. Since there was no convent, Father, with the of help Mr. M. Gagnon, renovated the upper story of the rectory and transformed it into a miniature convent.
1973 Sr. Cecilia was transferred to Wetaskiwin , Alberta and was replaced by Sr. Agnes Butler. A house was purchased and converted into a convent complete with chapel, altar table and tabernacle stand and prie-dieus, all built by Sr. Winifred McCarthy. This first convent in Hope was established with Sr. Stella Goodine as Superior.
1974 Fr. Price OMI During the time that Father Price was in Hope, St. Joseph’s Church was built in Boston Bar. The churches in Cha'wathil (Katz) and Ohamil (Laidlaw) and Yale had repairs and painting done. He said 8 masses every week-end. 1979 Father Alex Morris was parish priest for the year.
1980 Sr. Agnes Serin died in a car accident on Ruby Creek Reserve, on her way to visit an elderly Indian couple. It was just two days before Christmas.
1982 Fr. M. D. Kearney Fr. Price went to Boston Bar until retiring in 1989.
1984 T he rectory was built in Boston Bar. Father Price moved to Boston Bar. He then took over the mission in Lytton. Father Price retired in 1989 Sr. Mary McCrossine Left to return to St. John, N.B. and past away the day after her arrival there. Sr. Amanda Fahlman, another gentle soul, came to Hope aiding to teach C.C.D. classes in Hope and On the Reserves.
1985 Remodelled and enlarged the parish hall which included two classrooms, in the basement.
1986 Fr. Kevin Silke- pastor, he stayed until 1990. He was in poor health
1987 Father Joe LaVerge was in Boston Bar from 1987 to 1990
1988 Sr. Fahlman retires to St. N.B. She was not replaced.
1990 Sr. Butler and Sr. Goodine continue to work in Hope. From the summer of '89 to June of '90 the sisters were helped by two members of the Frontier Apostles from Prince George. One of the girls was fro m Cork Ireland, and the other form London England. At the end of June, they returned to Prince George. 1991 Father Bindeman arrived in Hope in July, and died at Christmas of the same year. Father Price came from Summerland to relieve until Father Tom Lacelles arrived. 1992 Father Lacelles arrived in Hope. At the death of Father Lacelles in March of ‘94 Fr. Jack Hennessy arrived.
1994 Fr. Jack Hennessey OMI
Sr. Louise Arsenault and Sr. Mae Arsenault (not sisters by blood) SCIC come to Hope. They organised the parish RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) team. In the fall of '94 with a team of eleven Sr. Louise, Sr. Mae, Fr. J. Hennessey, OMI, Ms. M. Labossiere, Mrs. R. Dennison, Mrs. M. Grabarevic, Mr. J. Grabarevic, Mrs. H. Fuchs, Mr. J Fuchs, Mrs. J. Burchell. Three candidates came into the full communion with the Church at Easter, 1995
1997 RCIA helped three more to join us at Easter as Catholics.
1998 RCIA helped bring in two more to join our faith. June Sr. Louise SCIC left the parish to work in Whitehorse, YT. She was the last nun Our lady Of Good Hope was blessed with to date. 1999 - Fr. Hennessey, OMI retired. The parish then returned to being run as a diocesan parish. Fr. David Hughes, taking on this responsibility July 29th, 1999.
2003- Statue of Our Lady of Good Hope donated and made by Rick and Chris Chamberlin was erected on a platform built and erected by Emil Anderson Construction upon the steel Cross tower.
2005-Fr. John Tritschler began as pastor in July 2005
October Church bell
mounted in the bell tower.
Parish sign gets updated by the craftsmanship of parishioner Rick Chamberlin.
2006-Spring Fr. John introduces the parish and Hope Christian Community to the Ist Annual Good Friday Cross Walk.
Marion Procession sets a new tradition at Our Lady of Good Hope
Summer 2006 A stone altar built by parishioner, Tony Dal Bello and erected in parish cemetery for outdoor Masses and
Church Cemetery gets a new sign made and donated by Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin.
2007 January- The renovations of the interior of the church are completed. The church used Project Advance monies and monies from the sale of a donated property of Mr. Berti to finance the project.
2008- New thermal windows are installed in the rectory. The rectory gets a new roof.
Aug./08- Fr. John Tritschler answers a call to help in the Yukon
and the parish is assigned an administrator from Saskatchewan- Fr. Peter Altamirano, OMI
2009- New lights from Project Advance 2008 funds are installed.
2009- Damage by leaking pipes causes condensation throughout the rectory and Fr. Peter Altamirano has to live outside the rectory. The entire insulted ceiling of the upstairs of the rectory to be replaced. |
See
all that Fr. John brought to 
