History of St. Gabriel's Parish at Biggar

Photos and Story by L. D. Campbell Printed by The Independent Printers, Biggar, Sask. + ST. GABRIEL'S CHURCH BIGGAR, SASKATCHEWAN Dedicated in this Jubilee Year of the Province of Saskatchewan By Most Reverend Francis J. Klein, D.O. Bishop of Saskatoon Diocese Wednesday, June 9, 1965 iJnt7..oduction "In 1890, the Vicarite-Apostolic Mission Saskatoon, was appointed administrator for Territory of Prince Albert was erected (for the Diocese of Prince Albert and served in merly part of the St. Albert See) taking in that capacity until the latter part of 1921, most of the present Saskatoon Diocese and when the newly consecrated bishop, Most much besides. Most Reverend Albert Pascal, Reverend Joseph H. Prud'homme was install OMI, was consecrated bishop of this new mis ed bishop of the joint diocese of Prince Al sion territory." **The foregoing is a quota bert and Saskatoon. tion by J. H. Grant Maxwell, from "An Historical Sketch on the Diocese of Saska In 1934 the new Diocese of Saskatoon toon. " (1955). was formally proclaimed by Most Reverend James Charles McGuigan, and Most Reverend It was just 19 years following Bishop Gerald Murray, CSsR, was installed as the Pascal's consecration that the new Parish vf first bishop of Saskatoon. In January 1944, St. Gabriel's was added to his apostolic care, Bishop Murray was appointed coadjutor of and about two years after Pope Pius X had the Winnipeg archdiocese. He was succeed made the Vicarite - Apostolic Territory of ed by Most Reverend Philip Francis Pocock. Prince Albert a diocese in December 1907. Following the death of Archbishop Murray in Bishop Pascal died in 1920 while on a visit to 1951, Bishop Pocock was appointed archbish his native France. op of the Winnipeg archdiocese and Most Reverend Francis Joseph Klein was conse Following his death, Reverend Father A. crated bishop and was installed in St. Paul's Jan, OMI, parish priest of St. Paul's Church, Cathedral on May 7, 1952. 01l 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 01100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~ io:cesc nf ~aska±nnn I am greatly pleased with this brief history of St. Gabriel's Parish at Biggar. It has been compiled with patience and care for every detail, making it an accurate record for our diocesan archives. Besides this, the story is told in a pleasing manner. The history is also instructive, a.nd for good reason. Just as the his tory of a Diocese is the history of the Church in one portion of God 's vineyard, so the history of each parish is the history of the Church in a single plot of that vineyard. Here, as in the Universal Church, are the Vine and the branches - Our Blessed Lord, His priests and people. May the reading of this history recall happy memories and also in spire many to follow in the footsteps of the worthy pioneers of St. Gabri el's Parish. FRANCIS J. KLEIN, Bishop of Saskatoon. Most Reverend F. J . Klein, Bishop of Saskatoon Diocese, officiating at the dedica tion and sod turning ceremonies for the new church and rectory, July 1954. Assist ing were Monsignor A. Tombu, Rev. J. Biszyto and Rev. Alvin Pich. The new church and rectory under construction, November 1964 00000000000000000000000000 In presenting the history of St. Gabriel's Work on this story started in 1963. It Parish, I would like to make a few remarks is now March 1965 - the Diamond Jubilee in explanation. Year of the Province of Saskatchewan - 1905-1965. For the Parish of St. Gabriel's, The history will give only the most im shall we say, it is a happy coincidence, as we portant events, gathered from some of the join in commemorating this event, that we first settlers who related the events as they should find the parish celebrating it in the could recall them. Should there be any omis form of a transition from the early era of sions or errors, it is unintentional. 1909 to a newer one in 1965 when the parish will, within a few months, be dedicating a Events related herein, it will be noted, new church and rectory. do not all appear in chronological order. They will be in "free lance" style and, per At this time, I wish to express sincere haps, be more interesting reading. They thanks to His Excellency Bishop F. J. Klein, were secured, principally, from two of the Monsignor A. Tombu, Mr. John Hogan, Mr. earlier residents in the vicinity who could re and Mrs. Hilaire deMoissac, and any others call the events up until May 1912. After that who may have rendered assistance. date, the events are from the recollection of the author. It is with the intention of pre serving the facts of the formation and growth of the parish that this is written. L. D. CAMPBELL. ~0000000000000000000000000 Gathering the facts for this his was arriving daily. low - especially in windy weather. tory, I discovered, was more of a Holy Mass was offered at nearly The writer recalls a particularly challenge t h a n I had anticipated. regular intervals in the parlour of cold Sunday in January 1913, the Guessing or imagining would only Biggar Hotel until the church was stove glowed dull red and some 15 to create a fictional story and this built. Attendance was good, some 20 persons huddled around it. When would not be satisfactory. So there coming from considerable distances. it was time for Father Schweers to must be a better solution; someone At times the parlour was filled to start H o 1 y Mass, he removed his whom we could question for facts overflow into the hallway. Atten coon skin coat, put on his mission and answers to all questions. dance at these semi-regular services vestments and put the fur coat on Mter contacting several of the re increased to the point where more again and proceeded to the altar. In maining settlers, I found that some accommodation was required. After spite of the intense cold, he read the could not give the information one of the services, plans for build Gospel for that Sunday, gave the an wanted; others gave some particulars ing a church were discussed. A com nouncements and preached in both but were unable to remember dates mittee was chosen and, after investi English and German. and other important matters. Final gating costs, location and other de Among the congregation that Sun ly, an early settler whom I knew tails, a general meeting was later ar day were homesteaders; some re from the early days, now living in ranged when all agreed that a church mained in town over night in order Saskatoon, John Hogan, but one of should be built immediately. The to attend Mass; others drove several the original founders of St. Gabriel's meeting adopted the recommenda miles that day. Their usual convey Parish, was able to give me much of tion proposed by the committee. ance was a wagon grain box on a set the needed information. There was not complete agreement of sleighs, with prairie wool or He came to Biggar before the on the choice of location. The com sheaves for feed for the horses. Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and mittee recommended a two-lot loca Some used the lighter "cutter" or proved to be an encyclopaedia of tion on the corner of Fifth Avenue "jumper". With these were needed facts, having a very alert memory, West and Queen Street. Some were sleigh robes and extra blankets. relating incident after incident as if of the opinion it should be located Nearly everyone used the "foot they had only recently occurred. He more centrally and on the east side warmer" heater. The "Bennett Bug related early experiences of his ar cf Main Street. But, lack of getting gy" would have been a welcome con riving in Biggar; his various occupa two lots together and the price, also, veyance in those days, but closed tions; filing on his homestead which was a factor in the choice. But the cars were still unheard of and some was some three miles southeast of site chosen by the committee was could not even afford a "jumper" town; the influx of new settlers; the finally accepted. Even our present parkas would have building boom of stores and homes. With the choice of the site settled, been a most popular piece of cloth It was interesting to listen while work on the building of the church ing. I wonder why someone never he related facts about the organizing soon followed. The newly-formed thought about that! At that time, of the parish. The Biggar Hotel, one congregation did not lack experi unless you wore a long fur coat or of the earlier buildings erected, was enced carpenters. Under their di sheepskin coat when travelling you owned by Eugene Baron. He and his rection, a group of volunteer workers would suffer from the extreme cold. wife came from the town of Lake ?athered and in a short period of Father Schweers was, at that time, Megantic, Quebec. They were a very time their new church was com living at Scott and it was convenient friendly couple and were active in pleted. Because of limited finances. to visit Biggar because of train the organizations in the fast-growing no basement was du!1'; no cement schedules. He was kept very busy village. The hotel parlour and dining foun::lation laid. Instead, the church visiting his many mission parishes room served as the meeting place for was built on timbers about two feet scattered over a wide area.

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