Our spiritual family rejoices this weekend as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of St. Cecilia’s Parish. The Lord God in his goodness has indeed blessed us during these fifty years of mission and ministry. We are a remembering people, and it is good that we remember that God has chosen us, baptized us, and brought us together as the Church of Christ in this place. We are a remembering people, but we are also a people of this day, brought together by God to be a holy fellowship of believers: the Body of Christ, sharing, caring, working in the world, and living in the hope of the world to come. Our eyes look back with thanksgiving. Our eyes look forward in hope. Therefore, with thanksgiving for the past and hope for the future, let us dedicate ourselves and our lives to the mission which God gives us as St. Cecilia’s Parish.
St. Cecilia’s Parish was canonically erected by the Most Rev. Francis P Carroll, DD, as bishop of Calgary on August 4th, 1963. On August 4th, the appointment of Fr. Steven Molnar also became effective as pastor of St. Cecilia. Fr. Molnar took up residence soon after purchasing the land that the present church now occupies. The property originally donated was deemed too small to have the church envisioned by Fr. Molnar, so it was sold.
In 1965, an architect was hired to design the church, and on May 21st, 1967, the sod-turning ceremony was held with Bishop Klein having the honour. Construction of the church began on May 31st, 1968. Bishop Klein presided at the laying of the cornerstone on November 22nd, 1967, on the feast of St. Cecilia, our patron saint.
The church was completed in the spring of 1968 and the official opening and solemn blessing took place on April 7th, conducted by Monsignor Anderson.
Fr. Alois Mutert, SAC, saw a need for more meeting and gathering areas, and persuaded the parishioners to expand the church to accomplish this need. Construction started in the fall of 1985 and was completed in October, 1986. A new kitchen, sacristy, altar servers’ room, board room, library, Knights of Columbus chambers and upstairs mezzanine were all added. The Diocesan representative, Fr. Robert Devine, conducted the blessing of the new parish centre.
