Our Lady Of Good Hope Catholic Church Our Parish History The picture at right is a statue of Our Lady of Hope. The The story of the Apparition at Pont-Main , France, for which our parish name comes, tells of Mary's invitation for us all to renew our hope. The hope that God hears, and sees, and is always there. He is always present and always loving, even when he seems absent. She reminds us that hope is not passive resignation as though God ought to do everything for us. Our Blessed Mother implored the children of Pont-Main through a banner in the sky. "MAIS PRIEZ MES ENFANTS DIEU VOUS EXAUCERA EN PEU DE TEMPS. MON FILS SE LAISSE TOUCHER" -- Pray my children, God will soon answer your prayer. My son allows Himself to be moved. Click on the link above to read the story of Our lady of Hope and the visionary children of Pont-Main.

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OUR 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 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 Grandidlier at what was then called Fort Hope.   Many natives provided ferry transport for Fr. Fouquette and other priests from Laidlaw to Katz until Highway 7 was completed.   First baptism in Fort Hope by its pastor, Fr. Charles I. Granadidier, O.M.I. Being the first resident priest.   August 16th 1860: Francis Savona, about 3 months old, son of Francis and Julienne Savona. August 27th, 1860: Mary Thomas, born August 5th, 1860, daughter of John and Helen Thomas Father Leon Fourquet, O.M.I.  performed both baptisms. October 24th, 1860: Charles Kolt, about 3 years of age, son of Sroilapten and Yakaiar Kolt   1860-61 Father Grandidier and Brother Janin built a small chapel            Pictured below are Fr. Delester and Fr.Lepine   1913   The first church of “Our Lady of Good Hope” was consecrated by Archbishop Casey, assisted by Father Ballot and Father Chirouse.  A simple chant was sung at the Mass by an Indian choir. The church was on the corner of Water and Park Streets.  The original church was taken down when the new one was built.  A hall was built on the site of the old church, according to Mr. Marcel Gagnon (Dec 23rd, 1993) The priest lived at Parnaby’s  on the upper floor of the hall, then in the rectory. 1947   The present “Our Lady of Good Hope” was church built by Father Hugh Mc Isaac and parishioners.   1948   August 16th, - Solemn Blessing of the church of “Our Lady of Good Hope”.  A procession, followed by a blessing and welcome from His Excellency Archbishop Duke D.D., followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.   At the reception, Fr. Hugh McIsaac, OMI thanked the parishioners whose splendid spirit of faith and cooperation has helped in no small way to making this day possible.   Father also thanked most sincerely many friends outside the parish who have given generously of their means and to non-catholic friends in Hope who from the beginning, have shown a genuine interest in all the undertakings.      1951                     A great day, burning of the mortgage on the church.         1952   The rectory and hall built, (where May trucking is now) The rectory on the second floor in the front.  An apartment where John Fuchs lived on the 3rd floor in the front.           .Pictured below is Marcel Gagnon, Al Hazelett, Fr. Mac Issac, 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   The rectory and hall destroyed by fire on July 29th 1957.  Father George Gordon pastor at the time.  The property purchased by  Mr. J. Marcel Gagnon.   1957 – 1958   A new rectory with a small hall attached was built.   1959   Father Vermueulen  1959 to July 1960 replacing  Father George Gordon   1961   Father Holsafpel  1960 to 1961   1962   Father Bonenburg was in Hope  until the Obates arrived in 1963   1963   The Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate officially take charge of the Roman Catholic parish of Our Lady of Good Hope on July 21st 1963.  Fr D.M. Kearney, O.M.I. pastor (formerly Principal of the Mission Indian Residential School in Mission)  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 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 in a church called St. Mary’s.   Boston Bar on the highway across the river from North Bend, consists of several white and Indian families.  A very small and inadequate church  St. Joseph’s is built on the Indian reserve.  Many more families are spread around the area, because of transport difficulties they are unable to attend  Mass.   The pastor, Fr. Michael Kearney, OMI, arrived in Hope on July 20th, 1963.  He was introduced to the people of Hope and Boston Bar by the ongoing pastor, Fr. K. Bohnernberger, a …….. priest who was born and educated in Germany and was now working with souls in Canada. o.p.   Fr. Kearney, OMI hired Mrs. Anne McAvoy  as a part-time housekeeper and cook from July 25th, 1963.  She resides with her own family and prepares 3 meals a day for the priests.  She tends to the laundry and house keeping.  On Sundays the priests cook for themselves.   The new assistant, Fr. Harold McIntee OMI, arrived in Hope on July 27th, and taken to North Bend where he said Mass, and officially began his assignment.   In the first weeks of September the parish organizations started functioning again.  The C.W.L. is well established and does well in the parish.  The Holy Name Society was disbanded and a new organization called the Catholic Men’s club was established.  The men of the parish would meet to see what would be needed in the running of the parish.   There was a flourishing Youth group organized for the high school students.  They would meet once a week for instruction and discussion and have a monthly social evening.  Mr. Carl Bachinski conducted a choir, and Miss Terry Pope played the organ.   The altar boy society consisted of 16 alter boys.   In the month of October, the times for Masses was changed to accommodate more people to attend Sunday Mass.  The new times will include Laidlaw on the first, third and fourth Sunday of each month, as well as Katz on the second Sunday of each month.  Mass held at Boston Bar and Yale each Sunday. Weekday Mass,  7.30a.m. Monday to Thursday,    1964   The Oblate Fathers visited many homes, giving religious instruction to people seeking the true faith.  On August 18th, 1964 Father B. Fransen O.M.I. from Belgium, arrived to be an assistant to Father Kearney, OMI.   Fr. McIntee, OMI had been assigned to Vancouver Island.  Father Fransen Sealant was sent to Prince George.  Father L. Viney from Duncan arrived in Hope on January 13th, 1965.   1965   Friday March 5th _   the first Mass was said in the vernacular.  Tuesday March 18th, Fr Gillis, OMI said Mass with the new vernacular missal.   April 21st _ Father Kearney and   Father Viney with five native Indians, re-shingled the church at Laidlaw.   1966   May 5th   -   A carport built behind the rectory.   May 8th - A vote was taken regarding Masses.  Preference for Masses, either two morning masses, or one in the morning and one in the evening.   July 5th    - Father Kearney OMI has been assigned to Shubenacadie.   July   23rd _ Father Griffin OMI took over as pastor.   August 1st – Father Griffin was officially installed as pastor by Father Fagan (Dean)   During the fall of 1966, Mr. Marcel Gagnon laid wall to wall carpeting in the three rooms upstairs in the rectory.   Renovations included tiling the upstairs bathroom.  paneling in the common room.  A new carport was added, a renewed roof, as well as stucco on the rectory.   1967   In October, 1967, Mr. Carl Anderson sent two men to paint the inside of the church.  In the following three months, the sacristy was rebuilt with a new roof.  Also the entire rectory was painted.  Changes were also made to the front piece of the altar, to the lighting and the tabernacle altar.  By Christmas Father Griffin OMO, purchased a hi-fi stereo.   1968   In September – Father Mc Wade, OMI was appointed, replacing Father R. Griffin.   In November 2nd.  – Rev V.L Viney, OMI was replaced by Father E. Clarke who moved to North Bend.  The church in Laidlaw was closed.  The church in Yale was also closed, but was re-opened in 1969   1969   In April - Father Clarke was replaced by Father Coffin   1970   Father Coffin was replaced by Father J.A. Morris, OMI     1971   Erected a new Cross-Tower by Father Mc Wade   October – Archbishop J.E. Carney D.D. officiated Confirmations.   1972   Two sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception arrived in Hope to teach Christian Doctrine and assist in the Missions.  Father F. Mc Wade OMI requested them.  Sister Agnes Sherrin and Sister Cecilia Martz answered the call.  Before they arrived Father Mc Wade, OMI was transferred and Rev Alex Morris OMI. Succeeded as parish priest.  Since there was no convent, Father with the help of Mr. M. Gagnon, renovated the upper floor of the rectory and transformed it into a mini convent.   1973   Sr. Cecelia 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 Sr. Stella Goodline 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 Sherrin died in a car accident on Ruby Creek Reserve, on her way to visit an elderly Indian couple.  It happened two days before Christmas.   1982   The 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   Father Mike Kearney took over the parish for the second time.       1984   St. Mary McCrossine, left to return to St. John, N.B. and passed away the day after her arrival there.  Sr. Amanda Fahiman, came to Hope to teach C.C.D. classes in Hope and on the reserves.   1985   Remodeling and enlarging the parish hall in Hope, included two classrooms in the basement.   1986   The arrival of Father Silke to Hope, he stayed until 1990.  He was in poor health   1987   Father Joe LaVerge was in Boston Bar from 1987 to 1990   1988   Sr. Fahiman retires to St. John, 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.  Two members of the Frontier Apostles from Prince George, helped the sisters.  One of the girls was from Ireland, and the other from 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,  Father Jack Hennessy arrived.   1994   Father Jack Hennessey arrived in Hope.  Sr. Louise Arsenault and Sr. Mae Arsenault (not related) SCIC came to Hope.  The organized the parish RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) team.  In the fall of 94 with a team of eleven Sr. Louise, Sr. Mae, Father Jack 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, 1955.     1997    RCIA  helped three more persons became Catholics at Easter.   1998   RCIA helped two more persons to become Catholics.   In June, Sr. Louise SCIC left the parish to work in Whitehorse, Y.T.  She was the last nun Our Lady of Good Hope was blessed with.   1999   Father Jack Hennesey, OMI retired.  The parish then returned to being run as a diocesan parish.  Father Hughes, taking on the responsibility in July 29th, 1999       1999 - Fr. Hennesey, 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 the steel Cross tower. 2005-July Fr D.P. Hughes transferred to Holy Spirit Parish in New Westminster. Fr. John Tritschler began as parish priest  October Church bell mounted in the bell tower. Donated by Rick and Chris Chamberlin                 2006- Stone altar built by parishioner, Tony Dal Bello erected in parish cemetery for outdoor Masses. Fr. John Tritchler pictured at Outdoor Corpus Christi Mass '07         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.