Opal
Father Olszewski was the first priest to visit, c. 1905-1911, the Polish people who settled in this district.
Father Dionysius, OFM, blessed two cemeteries: one at Post Office Eastgate; another by the river North Vermillion, not very far from Egremont.
Fathers Paul Kulawy, OMI and William Gelsdorf, OMI, visited the district of Opal named after the station of the Great Waterways Railways was built in 1914. Previously, the area was called Rutherford. Mass was held in homes even in 1917 when Father A. Sylla, OMI, was assigned to this mission.
The first chapel was built close to the Eastgate cemetery (c. 1912-1913) before Opal village developed.
When Opal village began to grow, Mr. Spalding donated 4 lots of his land along the road neighboring the village site. The church was built in 1918 and completed in 1920. The sacristy served as residence for the priest. The Catholic Extension Society paid for the altar and church vestments at the request of Father Sylla.
Archbishop H.J. O’leary blessed the church on October 7, 1921 and dedicated it to the Holy Ghost.
With the departure of Fr. Paul Yurkowski in December 1941, Opal lost its status as “Parish” having a resident priest.
From 1942, it became a mission dependent on St. Michael’s and served by the pastor Fr. Michael Kaluzny 1942-1945.
In 1945, Fr. M. Kaluzny was appointed Pastor at Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonton. He served also the mission of Opal from 1945-1949 although alone; form 1949-1951 with the help of Fr. Francis Tomczak who was assistant at Holy Rosary. From 1951-54, Opal was served again by Fr. Kaluzny who remained alone to serve Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonton.
With the discovery of oil in the Redwater area, the Redwater Catholic Community increased in numbers and established as a Parish with Fr. Igantius Lenchowski as first resident pastor. In November 1954 the Opal Church was moved to Redwater to serve as church. The Opal Catholics joined the Redwater Catholic Community.
Father Dionysius, OFM, blessed two cemeteries: one at Post Office Eastgate; another by the river North Vermillion, not very far from Egremont.
Fathers Paul Kulawy, OMI and William Gelsdorf, OMI, visited the district of Opal named after the station of the Great Waterways Railways was built in 1914. Previously, the area was called Rutherford. Mass was held in homes even in 1917 when Father A. Sylla, OMI, was assigned to this mission.
The first chapel was built close to the Eastgate cemetery (c. 1912-1913) before Opal village developed.
When Opal village began to grow, Mr. Spalding donated 4 lots of his land along the road neighboring the village site. The church was built in 1918 and completed in 1920. The sacristy served as residence for the priest. The Catholic Extension Society paid for the altar and church vestments at the request of Father Sylla.
Archbishop H.J. O’leary blessed the church on October 7, 1921 and dedicated it to the Holy Ghost.
With the departure of Fr. Paul Yurkowski in December 1941, Opal lost its status as “Parish” having a resident priest.
From 1942, it became a mission dependent on St. Michael’s and served by the pastor Fr. Michael Kaluzny 1942-1945.
In 1945, Fr. M. Kaluzny was appointed Pastor at Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonton. He served also the mission of Opal from 1945-1949 although alone; form 1949-1951 with the help of Fr. Francis Tomczak who was assistant at Holy Rosary. From 1951-54, Opal was served again by Fr. Kaluzny who remained alone to serve Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonton.
With the discovery of oil in the Redwater area, the Redwater Catholic Community increased in numbers and established as a Parish with Fr. Igantius Lenchowski as first resident pastor. In November 1954 the Opal Church was moved to Redwater to serve as church. The Opal Catholics joined the Redwater Catholic Community.
