Viking
The first service in the area was held on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1904, at the farm house of J.C. Hennessy, by Father Auguste Bernier, the visiting missionary from Vegrevile.
On April 15, 1911, Rev. E.Steinmetz SCJ recently arrived from France, was asked to look after the Catholic population at Viking and surrounding districts.
By the united effort of the whole district, the first Viking church was built; Bishop Emile Legal, OMI came to bless it on August 27, 1911.
The present church was built in 1967 when Fr. Stanley Zenko was pastor. On Easter Sunday April 14, 1968 Fr. Zenko blessed it before celebrating the first Mass. The official blessing and dedication of the new church was made by Archbishop Anthony Jordan on September 29, 1968.
Viking parish included the missions of Mount Carmel and Prague from the very beginning. Mount Carmel was closed around 1955. Irma Mission was taken in 1985 by Holden.
In 1990, the pastor of Holen was asked to assume responsibility for the total area of Holden, Viking and attached missions (Prague, Irma, Tofield, and Ryley)
On April 15, 1911, Rev. E.Steinmetz SCJ recently arrived from France, was asked to look after the Catholic population at Viking and surrounding districts.
By the united effort of the whole district, the first Viking church was built; Bishop Emile Legal, OMI came to bless it on August 27, 1911.
The present church was built in 1967 when Fr. Stanley Zenko was pastor. On Easter Sunday April 14, 1968 Fr. Zenko blessed it before celebrating the first Mass. The official blessing and dedication of the new church was made by Archbishop Anthony Jordan on September 29, 1968.
Viking parish included the missions of Mount Carmel and Prague from the very beginning. Mount Carmel was closed around 1955. Irma Mission was taken in 1985 by Holden.
In 1990, the pastor of Holen was asked to assume responsibility for the total area of Holden, Viking and attached missions (Prague, Irma, Tofield, and Ryley)
