The Saint Mary mission is situated on the right bank of the Fraser River about sixty kilometres above New Westminster. It was founded in 1861 by Father Léon Fouquet, but the first resident priest was Father Florimond Gendre from 1862-1866. The church was built by Brothers Gaspard Janin and Félix Guillet, in 1862-1863.
Mission City, B.C. (AD)
The mission post was visited by numerous Amerindians from different tribes. In 1863, Father Gendre wrote that he had to learn three languages. In 1863 he opened an industrial and agricultural school for the Amerindians. In 1873, Bishop D’Herbomez wrote that the establishment at Saint-Marie was an imposing sight in the whole countryside. In the centre was the church, the largest in the whole vicariate, which was referred to as the cathedral of the Amerindians. To the right of the church was the house of the missionaries. Alongside were the buildings of the school: dormitory, refectory, classroom etc. On the other side of the church was the Amerindian girls’ school directed by the Sisters of Saint Anne. All around was the farm, the fruit orchards etc.
According to Oblate Personnels, there were always three or four priests and a few Brothers at Sainte-Marie. Father Eugène Casimir Chirouse lived there from 1879 to 1927. He was director of the Indian school and, at various times, superior. In 1927, the Provincial wrote in his report: “This house is about forty miles from Vancouver, It is the favourite place of all the Oblates in the Province. There we have our cemetery; it is the final resting place of two bishops and of many Fathers and Brothers who died in this part of the Father’s vineyard during these last seventy years. In the community of Sainte-Marie there are four priests and four Brothers. The priests minister both to the industrial school and to the 35 Indian villages as well as to the six little parishes for whites. Our good Brothers help the priest in charge of the school in the farm work, each according to his ability and his strength.”
After the canonical visit of 1943, Father John Bokenfohr wrote to Father Anthyme Desnoyers on February 11, 1944, saying that the Amerindian churches of the region are on the land and under the authority of the Amerindians. Quite a number of the churches have not been repainted or repaired. It will be necessary “to redouble our efforts to raise the material standard of the missions.”
The Oblates left this mission in 1974. It had been part of the Oregon mission and then of British Colombia. It became part of St. Peter’s Province in 1926 and then of St. Paul’s vice-Province in 1968. The latter became a Province in 1973.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
