A Brief History of the
Saanich Peninsula
Parish
Saanich Peninsula Parish encompasses two churches,
Our Lady of the Assumption, 7742 West Saanich Rd. Brentwood
Bay, BC and St Elizabeth of Hungary, 10030 3rd St.
Sidney, BC.
Our Lady of the Assumption came into being as
a mission service to the Saanich Native Indians by the Oblates
of Mary Immaculate who along with the Brothers of Mary Immaculate
continue to have a special devotion to and relationship with
the native Indians.
The Saanich Peninsula, known for its peaceful
farmland and rich tribal lore, was also the scene of many
conflicts among various tribes. The Cowichans, Snohomish,
Fort Rupert, Songhees, Salish, Haida, Pauquechin, Tsardip,
Tseigurn, Northern Tribes, and others all sought to control
what they considered a utopia of climate, beauty and natural
resources.
In May 1850, Rev Father Lempfrit, OMI, was the
first 'Black Robe" known to visit the Saanich Indians. His
visit lasted only one week during which he baptized upwards
of 300 people. In 1859, Father Chirouse, O.M.I., visited the
East Saanich Reservation.
In 1860, Father Jayol, O.M.I., with the assistance
of Brother Blonchel and some Indians built a log church dwelling.
He remained there for three years and was followed by Father
D'Herbomes. Father D'Herbomes was later appointed Bishop and
Superior of the Oblates and built a church on the Tsartlip
Reserve.
In 1865, Father Mandart, a Breton, was ordained
for the Victoria Diocese. He is credited as being the real
founder of the Saanich Mission. On his arrival he fashioned
a church and home from a large fallen tree with upturned roots.
With help from the Indians, he then built a small church,
which was later blessed and dedicated to the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin by Bishop Seghers in 1876. Upon Father
Mandart's recall to Victoria in 1886, priests from the Cathedral
served the Saanich Mission.
In 1893, one year after his ordination in Europe,
Father Adrian Joseph Vullinghs performed his first baptism
in Saanich. Apparently he had found Father Mandart's original
20 x 26 foot church, built of logs with squared timbers for
pews; an altar of paper and living quarters consisting of
two small cold rooms at the back of the church. He served
the area from 1893 to 1909 and built the present church and
residence on West Saanich Road. He took great pride in and
was renown for his vegetable and flower gardens, shrubs and
trees. He was recalled to Holland, and returned to Victoria
in 1910. From then on Fathers Scheelen, Ronden, Contenraad,
Boshouwers and Lemmens of the Marists Fathers of the Company
of Mary served the Saanich Mission.
There are very few reports or communications
concerning Sidney, which was organized in 1893. This is may
attributed to the fact that, while the Saanich Inlet provided
good anchorage, the region lacked roads. It is known, however,
that Father Vullinghs and priests from the Cathedral served
Sidney.
In 1908 Father VanNevel built the first small
church on Beacon Avenue. Until that time mass had been celebrated
in the home of the Segalerba family. Later, when this first
church was destroyed by fire it was replaced by the original
St. Elizabeth's on 3rd St under the direction of Reverend
Father Scheelen in 1911.
1911 through 1979 the list of pastors of the
original St. Elizabeth's included Fathers Cyr, Lewson, Williamson,
LeClerc, Phillip and Bernard Hanley; William Mudge, Kevin
Wiseman and finally Ray Cunningham.
Then in 1979 Bishop Remi DeRoo approved a plan
by Fr. Cunningham and the parish committees to take down the
original St. Elizabeths and replace it with a new church.
During the following construction period, Sidney Pentecostal
Church provided the congregation of St. Elizabeths with a
"home" In the Christmas season 1980, upon the 70th anniversary
of the original St. Elizabeths, services were inaugurated
in a splendid new facility.
Father Ray Cunningham continued to serve
as pastor at St. Elizabeths until replaced by Father Eugene
Trainor as Interim Parish Administrator during which time
the two churches were amalgamated into one parish. Fr. Terry
MacNamarah served as pastor ( ) and is credited with authoring
our current parish mission statement., Fr. Jack Sproule from
1986 - 2004 followed by the current pastor Fr. Rolf Hasenack,
O.P. The facility underwent some further expansion in 1996.
|
