Church History
Mass was first celebrated in Carstairs on January 8, 1902 at the home of Alois Schwinn by Rev. Fr. Jules Seltmann, OMI, pastor at Cochrane. Under his direction, the original St. Agnes Church was built in Carstairs and dedicated by Fr. Leduc in 1904. The first recorded baptism was that of Wellington Foster on January 5, 1905. Fr. L. Forget was the first resident priest and built a rectory in 1908. A new rectory was built by Fr. Hamilton in 1956 and in 1964 our present St. Agnes Church was built.
There have been 23 resident priests: Fr. Forget, Fr. Ciron, Fr. Renut, Fr. Anciaux, Fr. Fargan, Fr. Ross, Fr. Lynett, Fr. Leonard, Fr. Hyatt, Fr. Tessier, Fr. Hamilton, Fr. Clancy, Fr. Connolly, Fr. MacLennan, Fr. McCarty, Fr. Bergen, Fr. Doherty, Fr. Ganowicz, Fr. McCabe, Fr. Corcoran, Fr. Tran, Fr. Poile, and Fr. Lasko.
The mission of Water Valley was part of our parish until 1962. It was taken over by the Franciscans in Cochrane but came back to us in August, 1995. At the present time we have active pastoral and finance councils. With our players and participation at Mass, catechism, bible study, the Rosary and social gatherings, we can, with God's help, be an active parish that would be and example of what a Christian Community is meant to be - IT'S UP TO US!
Mass was first celebrated in Carstairs on January 8, 1902 at the home of Alois Schwinn by Rev. Fr. Jules Seltmann, OMI, pastor at Cochrane. Under his direction, the original St. Agnes Church was built in Carstairs and dedicated by Fr. Leduc in 1904. The first recorded baptism was that of Wellington Foster on January 5, 1905. Fr. L. Forget was the first resident priest and built a rectory in 1908. A new rectory was built by Fr. Hamilton in 1956 and in 1964 our present St. Agnes Church was built.
There have been 23 resident priests: Fr. Forget, Fr. Ciron, Fr. Renut, Fr. Anciaux, Fr. Fargan, Fr. Ross, Fr. Lynett, Fr. Leonard, Fr. Hyatt, Fr. Tessier, Fr. Hamilton, Fr. Clancy, Fr. Connolly, Fr. MacLennan, Fr. McCarty, Fr. Bergen, Fr. Doherty, Fr. Ganowicz, Fr. McCabe, Fr. Corcoran, Fr. Tran, Fr. Poile, and Fr. Lasko.
The mission of Water Valley was part of our parish until 1962. It was taken over by the Franciscans in Cochrane but came back to us in August, 1995. At the present time we have active pastoral and finance councils. With our players and participation at Mass, catechism, bible study, the Rosary and social gatherings, we can, with God's help, be an active parish that would be and example of what a Christian Community is meant to be - IT'S UP TO US!
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St. Agnes
Agnes (c. 291 - c. 304) was a Roman girl who was only thirteen years old when she suffered martyrdom for her Faith. Agnes had made a promise to God never to stain her purity. Her love for the Lord was very great and she hated sin even more than death! Since she was very beautiful, many young men wished to marry Agnes, but she would always say, "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse." Agnes is a virgin–martyr, venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism. She is one of seven women, who along with the Blessed Virgin, are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, girls, engaged couples, rape victims, and virgins. Her feast day is January 21st. She is depicted in art with a lamb, as her name resembles the Latin word for "lamb", agnus. The name "Agnes" is actually derived from the feminine Greek adjective "hagnē" (ἁγνή) meaning "chaste, pure, sacred". References: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=106 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_of_Rome |