By Reagan King, Catholic Saskatoon News
St. Mary Parish in Wynyard, SK, celebrated 100 years as a faith community during a joyful celebration Sept. 19 with Bishop Mark Hagemoen.
The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon expressed his congratulations on the parish centennial, and in his homily offered encouragement for how the parish community might continue to grow in their common mission. “The most important thing a Church does is to proclaim the gospel, the Kingdom of God… to proclaim Christ,” he said
To offer guidance in how to proclaim Christ, by our lives and word, Bishop Hagemoen emphasized the importance of vocation, reminding the community that vocations are not unique to priests and to consecrated religious.
“Absolutely everyone here has a vocation. It’s a plan by God, that is in his mind and heart, that calls each of you to participate in the life, mission, and ministry of Jesus Christ.”
Hagemoen also affirmed the great value and necessity of the community in the area. “I’m the bishop of Saskatoon and I connect with a lot of people. I’ll tell you right now: there are people I cannot touch that you can, because I’m not here in Wynyard. I don’t have the relationships you have. I don’t have the way of life and vocation that you have.”
In addition to emphasizing the need for supporting marriage and family life, Hagemoen also noted the need for priests and other leaders in the diocese to responsibly serve their communities. “If you have great authority, you are called to serve absolutely.”
The bishop also emphasized how the Scriptures portray the “servant Jesus” that “melts people’s hearts.” To reveal the servant Jesus to the community, Bishop Mark emphasized the importance of small acts of charity: “the little things, especially the mundane, maybe matter the most. They make and shape the bigger.”
Since 2016, Fr. Augustine Osei-Bonsu has been the pastor of St. Mary Parish at Wynyard, as well as the nearby parishes at Wishart and Foam Lake, SK. Reflecting on his experience, he says “it’s been a nice and wonderful community. They are very good and supportive. They make me feel at home.”
The 100th anniversary Mass concluded with a blessing of a Marian statute and prayer to Our Lady for her intercession for the parish. A livestream of the Mass is available at: LINK.
A history of the parish community was presented during the celebration, noting the progress from its beginnings as a mission to the present parish.
A Brief History of St. Mary’s Parish, Wynyard, SK
From as early as 1908 until 1924, the Roman Catholic community of Wynyard was considered a mission and was served by Fr. Francois Gamache who travelled out of Prince Albert at least six times a year. Mass was held in the Grain Growers’ Hall or in members’ homes.
In 1921, a church was built on land where the present church now stands. Fr. Gamache celebrated the first Mass there on Christmas Eve 1921.
The Church was under the patronage of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles. From 1924 until 1927, Fr. A.J. McMillan, resident priest for Kuroki, looked after the spiritual needs of Wynyard Catholics.
In 1927, Wynyard was transferred to the parish of St. Ignatius, Sinnett, SK, and priests from Sinnett served Wynyard until 1953.
In 1934, the mission of Wynyard came under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Regina.
In 1953, Wynyard’s status was raised from mission to parish and Fr. J. Mulcahy was appointed as first resident pastor. That same year the rectory was built to house our priests.
In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, a building fund was organized as it was apparent that a larger building was needed to accommodate the growing parish. Construction on the present building began in 1967 and was completed in December 1968, in time for the Christmas Eve mass. (The parish celebrated the 50thAnniversary of that mass on Christmas Eve 2018.)
Because the diocesan borders in Saskatchewan were rearranged, in September 1998 St. Mary Parish, Wynyard, was transferred to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon and remains in that diocese today.
The 100th anniversary of St. Mary’s Parish Wynyard was marked Sept. 19, 2021.