Nisku (Rabbit Hills/Glydehurst)
The first Polish settler to arrive in the Rabbit Hills area was Stanislaw Sarnecki at Easter, 1897. Others arrived in 1898.
Father Adalbert Kulawy, OMI was begged by Bishop Vital Grandin, OMI of St. Albert, to come from Winnipeg to visit the Polish settlers. He arrived in August 1898, and said mass for them in the home of Stanislaw Sarnecki on August 15, 1898. He came again from Winnipeg on Easter Monday, 1899. His brother, Fr. John William Kulawy, came from Calgary to visit them on September 19 and 20, 1899.
Father Francis Olszewski, ordained to the priesthood by Bishop V. Grandin, OMI on January 6, 1900, was asked to minister to all the Polish settlers from his headquarters at Krakow (beaver Lake).
40 acres of land were obtained through Father H. Leduc, OMI V.G. at the legal subdivision 15, covering section. 19, Twp. 50, Range 25, W. of 4th Meridian.
Father Paul Kulawy, OMI arrived in the Summer 1903 and took up residence in Camrose. In the winter of 1903, a log-chapel was built and blessed on the Feast of Corpus Christi, on June 2, 1904. The chapel was completed in 1905. A steeple was added and on August 14, 1905 the bell was blessed. A rectory was built in 1907.
A second church had to be built in 1915. Archbishop E. Legal, OMI blessed it on September 23, 1917 and placed it under the patronage of the Assumption of Mary.
In 1924, Archbishop H.J. O’Leary granted to Fr.Sylla, OMI, the permission to change the patronage of the church to the Visitation of Mary.
The old log-chapel was pulled away from the new church and used as a parish hall until 1925 when it burned down. A new hall was built in 1926 some distance from the church.
In the summer of 1930, fire destroyed the Nisku church. A new one was begun in 1932. The building progressed as funds were available.
On August 19, 1934, Archbishop H.J. O’leary blessed the new church which he dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Father Adalbert Kulawy, OMI was begged by Bishop Vital Grandin, OMI of St. Albert, to come from Winnipeg to visit the Polish settlers. He arrived in August 1898, and said mass for them in the home of Stanislaw Sarnecki on August 15, 1898. He came again from Winnipeg on Easter Monday, 1899. His brother, Fr. John William Kulawy, came from Calgary to visit them on September 19 and 20, 1899.
Father Francis Olszewski, ordained to the priesthood by Bishop V. Grandin, OMI on January 6, 1900, was asked to minister to all the Polish settlers from his headquarters at Krakow (beaver Lake).
40 acres of land were obtained through Father H. Leduc, OMI V.G. at the legal subdivision 15, covering section. 19, Twp. 50, Range 25, W. of 4th Meridian.
Father Paul Kulawy, OMI arrived in the Summer 1903 and took up residence in Camrose. In the winter of 1903, a log-chapel was built and blessed on the Feast of Corpus Christi, on June 2, 1904. The chapel was completed in 1905. A steeple was added and on August 14, 1905 the bell was blessed. A rectory was built in 1907.
A second church had to be built in 1915. Archbishop E. Legal, OMI blessed it on September 23, 1917 and placed it under the patronage of the Assumption of Mary.
In 1924, Archbishop H.J. O’Leary granted to Fr.Sylla, OMI, the permission to change the patronage of the church to the Visitation of Mary.
The old log-chapel was pulled away from the new church and used as a parish hall until 1925 when it burned down. A new hall was built in 1926 some distance from the church.
In the summer of 1930, fire destroyed the Nisku church. A new one was begun in 1932. The building progressed as funds were available.
On August 19, 1934, Archbishop H.J. O’leary blessed the new church which he dedicated to the Holy Trinity.