40th ANNIVERSARY

Our Lady of Lourdes Slovenian Roman Catholic Church

September 28, 2003

2003 was a very busy and exciting year for Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

During the summer months, we moved our regular Sunday Mass to St. Anthony (Hungarian) Parish, as our church was undergoing an interior renovation. Thanks go out to the parish and parishioners of St. Anthony, for graciously allowing us to share their church. This very warm welcome allowed the Slovenian community to continue celebrating Mass together. Finally, when September arrived, the parish underwent a number of changes...

First, we welcomed our new Pastor, Father Stan Gacek, and we bid farewell to Father Paul Hancko, whose years of generous service will be forever remembered and appreciated. Next, our First Communion class of 2003 was waiting for the renovations to be completed before they would receive their First Communion. These five young children received their First Communion on September 21st, the first day we celebrated Mass in the newly renovated church.

Then, the Slovenian community of Manitoba celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish with a grand re-opening of our church on September 28th. Many invited guests came for this very special occasion:

ˇ Most Reverend V. James Weisgerber – Archbishop of the Diocese of Winnipeg – Main Celebrant
ˇ Monsignor Norman Chartrand – Chancellor of Diocese in 1963, and instrumental in the formation of our parish.
ˇ Father Paul Hancko – Pastor, Our Lady of LourdesChurch, 1997 – 2003.
ˇ Father Gary Killen – Priest, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, has served our parish at various times for many years.
ˇ Mr and Mrs. Anton Pikel – First President, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Council, 1963.
ˇ Mrs. Frances Kozin – First President, Catholic Women’s League (CWL), Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 1965.
ˇ Mr and Mrs. Mike Sworyk, Cropo Funeral Chapel

During Mass, the Archbishop conducted a rededication of the church, complete with blessing the people and the building. After Mass, a luncheon was hosted by the ladies of the CWL in the church hall. Mary Sobocan and Bryen Lebar took us down history road, with stories of the history of our parish, especially those from those days of planning and hard work when the parish was first established in 1963.

Monsignor Chartrand also relayed those very special days in the early 60s, when our pioneers where trying to form this parish. Stories of these gentlemen, carrying paper bags full of small bills that they collected as donations, brought many smiles to people.

Seeing a full church and hall, one can see that the efforts our pioneers in the early 60s have been successful and long standing. On behalf of the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes, thanks are sent to the 40th Anniversary Committee:

Maureen Gimpelj Bryen Lebar Marie Poredos Andy Slejko Mary Sobocan

Let’s hope for another successful 40 years, and more!

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