For 100 years, Saint Dominic Parish has remained a steadfast cornerstone of Cold Lake.
Still sitting on land the original church was built on in 1915, overlooking the lake, for members of the parish Saint Dominic's is much more than just a building. To the longtime members of the local church, it's home.
“To me, my church, Saint Dominic, is the most beautiful church in the world because it's mine. I don't care if the Pope or whoever has a nicer church, mine is still the nicest,” said Genevieve Furman.
Born to the Davad's who settled in the area from Quebec in 1918, Furman has been a proud member of Saint Dominic Parish since her birth 87 years ago. She, along with around 350 people, helped to commemorate the centennial on Saturday (Aug. 8) with a special celebration.
Parishioners young and old first gathered at the church for a monumental mass, which saw the rite of dedication for a brand new altar. They then headed to the Cold Lake Energy Centre where members of other local churches celebrated the rich history of Saint Dominic's with them.
“It's a really huge accomplishment and we really just wanted to celebrate that with the whole community,” said Esther Quiambao, lifelong member and chair of the centennial committee.
She added, “It's not just members of our church, we invited other members from other denominations too. It's just a celebration looking into the past of where we used to be and looking into the future of where we can go.”
There is no one who knows that past better than third-generation parishioner Remi Lirette, whose grandparents played an integral role in the very first Saint Dominic church. Lirette's grandfather brought his wife and six children to Alberta at a time when many were making the move out here from Quebec.
“There were a number of French-Canadians who were looking for a better life out west that had been promised to them by missionary priests. (The priests) told them that the west had been reopened and there were homesteads of 160 acres that could be taken for $10,” Lirette explained.
As more and more people took advantage of the opportunity the centre, which was primarily Fort Edmonton at the time, became crowded, so hopeful farmers started moving their homesteads towards the north. In 1908, Lirette's grandfather settled in Bonnyville near his brother, who had came a year earlier. Not long after, the family moved to Cold Lake.
“As other French-Canadian families settled they started asking for a religions service on Sundays,” said Lirette. “They first started having a mass on Sunday at the Cold Lake First Nations reserve where they had a missionary church established in the late 1800's.”
After years of having a priest travel to Cold Lake to give mass, the new residents decided it was time to build a church. They obtained permission from the bishop in St. Albert and volunteers worked away at the first Catholic church. In August 1915, the church was finished a permanent priest was appointed who chose the name Saint Dominic.
“My grandfather was very active in the catholic church. He was the choir master and my grandmother was the organist when they first started in the first church,” Lirette reminisced.
Times weren't easy for Saint Dominic Parish though. Just two years after completing the church it burned down and volunteers were back at work to build a new one.
“It took them two years to build another church. (My grandfather) was very instrumental in getting that church going because, well, they wanted a church.”
The second church lasted longer, but it was still not their permanent home. During a cleanup of the church grounds, the grass around the church had been cut, piled up and burned. Lirette explained that unfortunately, the fire wasn't quite extinguished.
“What happened was the fire followed a mole hole into the basement of the church. There was some residue coal, because it was heated by coal at that time, and it just went ‘whoof' in the middle of the night…opened the roof right up.”
The building was condemned and torn down. Builders got right to work creating what we know today as the Saint Dominic Parish church. While the building itself didn't withstand 100 years, Lirette said it's a proud moment for everyone who has helped bring the parish to where it is today.
“It's an occasion for us the parishioners and the former parishioners to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our parish. My grandparents and my parents went to church at Saint Dominic and it was a big deal to have our church.”
Father Andrew Schoenberger has been leading the parish of about 250 to 300 people for two years. He expressed that it's humbling to think that every member of the parish is part of the longstanding legacy he hopes will carry on for another 100 years.
“I think there's something special to realize that you're part of something that's bigger than yourself. There's no one here who's been around for the whole 100 years, we're always building on what came before so it's incredible that we're part of this legacy,” said Schoenberger.
He added, “We're talking about 100 years of Saint Dominic Parish in Cold Lake, but we know as Catholics we're connected to a 2000 year tradition. This is our local celebration and it's an amazing, beautiful day.”
Not only has Saint Dominic Parish had an impact on its members, but also on the community through social justice activities such as reaching out to those in need with clothing and partnering with the Knights of Columbus on the food bank.
“We can have a positive impact on the community now and for years to come. I'm very hopeful and optimistic about what our parish can contribute to the community,” said Schoenberger.
However, the beloved father at Saint Dominic Parish will not be here to see that future. At the end of this month, Schoenberger is being transferred to Fort McMurray. Happy to have been apart of the centennial celebration and the upgrades that have been done to the building, Schoenberger said it's the people of Saint Dominic that he will remember most.
“It's those relationships with people and parishioners that I'm going to miss. I'm sad to be leaving so many wonderful friends and people that I care deeply about, but I know they'll be in good hands and God will take care of them.”
With 100 years come and gone, longtime parishioners are hoping the next generation will continue Saint Dominic's legacy. For Furman, she realizes that things aren't the way they used to be.
“If I don't go to church I feel bad. When we were children if we didn't go to church on Sunday, because we lived six miles out by horse and buggy so sometimes you couldn't make it, but then we never went any place that day. So now I don't do anything on Sunday.”
She added that it's important the younger generations to attend Saint Dominic and carry on the legacy that has been built over 100 years. Quiambao is confident that the church is not going anywhere, remaining a staple in Cold Lake for the next 100 years.
“It's the rock within the community, whether I was 10 or now I'm 40. There's always a sense of family and community we're going to find at Saint Dominic Parish.”
