St. Joseph's Basilica, Edmonton
Encyclopedia
St. Joseph's Cathedral Basilica is a minor basilica
in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
. The basilica, located just west of the downtown core
is the cathedral
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
and is one of the largest churches in Edmonton. It is the only basilica in Alberta.
Of architectural note are the 60 stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Old and the New Testaments and from the church's connection to St. Albert, the first diocese in Alberta.
. At the time the city's main Franco-Albertan
church, St. Joachim’s, was no longer able to cope with the booming population of English speaking parishioners. A large basement was excavated and concrete was poured. The new church would function as a crypt church from this time until the building was finally completed in 1963
.
Construction of the church was halted until 1924
due to the Great War.
In 1917, St. Joseph's became a separate parish when the English speaking and French speaking parishioners at St. Joachim’s were given their own parishes. The French speakers remained at St. Joachim's. The English speakers moved to St. Joseph's.
Construction resumed in 1924, and Archbishop Henry O'Leary
designated the unfinished St. Joseph's as the cathedral for the diocese.
Construction was again halted during the years of the Great Depression
and the Second World War.
Planning for a new design began in 1954
.
Construction of the church was finally completed and the building officially opened on May 1, 1963, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
St. Joseph's Cathedral was named a minor basilica shortly before Pope John Paul II
visited Edmonton in 1984. This was in part because of the papal visit and part in recognition of the missionaries and pioneers
who came to the Edmonton
area bringing about growth in people's faith
.
Today, St. Joseph's Basilica is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
.
As the seat of the archdiocese, it is the church of the archbishop. Since its completion and dedication in 1963 it has seen the service and leadership of four archbishops including Archbishop Anthony Jordan, retired Archbishop Joseph MacNeil
, Archbishop Thomas Collins
, and presently, Archbishop Richard William Smith
.
, bishop of Nelson.
St. Joseph, which seats 1,100 people
, is one of the two minor basilicas in Western Canada
—the other is in the St. Boniface Archdiocese in Winnipeg
.
For almost three decades the basilica was known as the church without locks as it was open 24 hours. However, in the early 1980s, the church had to close at night. The number of people attending perpetual adoration declined while on the morning of Feb. 28, 1980 an arsonist set the altar and crucifix on fire, causing smoke and water damage to the whole building. To remove soot and smell, all the stones inside the church had to be scrubbed. Its prized possession, the Casavant Brothers organ, was sent to Quebec for cleaning and repairs. Clean up and repair costs reached $250,000.
It also had its share of fame when parishioners shrugged off the controversy and international publicity surrounding the wedding of hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky
to actress Janet Jones
, both non-Catholics. About a hundred people objected to the ceremony being held at the basilica on July 16, 1988 but many more applauded the Church's openness.
Father Len Gartner took over as rector of the basilica in July 2001. The last time he served at St. Joseph's was in the mid-1960s when he was just one year fresh out of the seminary.
In 1917, St. Joseph's Parish came into being by a separation of the English and the French parishioners of St. Joachim.
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The basilica, located just west of the downtown core
Downtown Edmonton
Downtown Edmonton is bounded by 109 Street to the west, 105 Avenue to the north, 97 Street to the east, 97 Avenue, 100 Avenue, and Rossdale Road to the south and Jasper Avenue to the southeast , though many people consider part or all of the surrounding neighborhoods to be part of downtown...
is the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in the Province of Alberta. Its suffragan dioceses are Calgary and Saint Paul. Historically, the archdiocese was preceded by the Diocese of St Albert which was erected in 1871. In 1912 the present archdiocese was erected...
and is one of the largest churches in Edmonton. It is the only basilica in Alberta.
Of architectural note are the 60 stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Old and the New Testaments and from the church's connection to St. Albert, the first diocese in Alberta.
Church history
The history of St. Joseph's began in 19131913 in Canada
-Events:*April 17 - Alberta general election, 1913: Arthur Sifton's Liberals win a third consecutive majority*November 7 - November 8 - A storm on the Great Lakes sinks some thirty-four ships*November 17 - The National Transcontinental Railway is completed...
. At the time the city's main Franco-Albertan
Franco-Albertan
The Franco-Albertans are an extended community of French Canadians or French-speaking people living in Alberta. They are centred in the Bonnie Doon area of Edmonton, and there are tens of thousands of Franco-Albertans living in communities such as Legal north of Edmonton, Bonnyville, Plamondon, and...
church, St. Joachim’s, was no longer able to cope with the booming population of English speaking parishioners. A large basement was excavated and concrete was poured. The new church would function as a crypt church from this time until the building was finally completed in 1963
1963 in Canada
-Incumbents:*Monarch: Elizabeth II*Governor General: Georges Vanier*Prime Minister: John Diefenbaker then Lester B. Pearson*Premier of Alberta: Ernest Manning*Premier of British Columbia: W.A.C...
.
Construction of the church was halted until 1924
1924 in Canada
-Events:*January 3 - First session of the British Columbia Older Boys' Parliament held in Victoria, British Columbia.*January 10 - Narcisse Pérodeau becomes Quebec's 14th Lieutenant Governor....
due to the Great War.
In 1917, St. Joseph's became a separate parish when the English speaking and French speaking parishioners at St. Joachim’s were given their own parishes. The French speakers remained at St. Joachim's. The English speakers moved to St. Joseph's.
Construction resumed in 1924, and Archbishop Henry O'Leary
Henry Joseph O'Leary
Henry Joseph O'Leary was the fifth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown, and later became the third Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Edmonton....
designated the unfinished St. Joseph's as the cathedral for the diocese.
Construction was again halted during the years of the Great Depression
Great Depression in Canada
Canada was hit hard by the Great Depression. Between 1929 and 1939, the gross national product dropped 40% . Unemployment reached 27% at the depth of the Depression in 1933...
and the Second World War.
Planning for a new design began in 1954
1954 in Canada
-Incumbents:*Monarch – Elizabeth II*Governor General – Vincent Massey*Prime Minister – Louis Saint Laurent*Premier of Alberta – Ernest Manning*Premier of British Columbia – W.A.C...
.
Construction of the church was finally completed and the building officially opened on May 1, 1963, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
St. Joseph's Cathedral was named a minor basilica shortly before Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
visited Edmonton in 1984. This was in part because of the papal visit and part in recognition of the missionaries and pioneers
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
who came to the Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
area bringing about growth in people's faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
.
Today, St. Joseph's Basilica is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in the Province of Alberta. Its suffragan dioceses are Calgary and Saint Paul. Historically, the archdiocese was preceded by the Diocese of St Albert which was erected in 1871. In 1912 the present archdiocese was erected...
.
As the seat of the archdiocese, it is the church of the archbishop. Since its completion and dedication in 1963 it has seen the service and leadership of four archbishops including Archbishop Anthony Jordan, retired Archbishop Joseph MacNeil
Joseph Neil MacNeil
Joseph Neil MacNeil, is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Joseph Neil MacNeil was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and was ordained a priest on May 23, 1948....
, Archbishop Thomas Collins
Thomas Christopher Collins
Thomas Christopher Collins is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current Archbishop of Toronto, having previously served as Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta and Archbishop of Edmonton .-Early life and education:Collins was born in Guelph, Ontario, the son of the...
, and presently, Archbishop Richard William Smith
Richard William Smith
Richard William Smith is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Archbishop of Edmonton, having previously served as Bishop of Pembroke from 2002 to 2007.-Biography:...
.
Other
In its early years, the cathedral parish was an unofficial training ground for the Canadian hierarchy. Three former rectors and an associate pastor became bishops: Msgr. James McGuigan was named archbishop of Regina, later archbishop of Toronto and Canada's first English-speaking cardinal; Msgr. C.J. Nelligan became bishop of Pembroke, Ont.; Father Edward Jennings, auxiliary bishop of Vancouver, later of Fort William, Ont.; Msgr. Michael O'Neill, archbishop of Regina, and Father Emmett DoyleWilfrid Emmett Doyle
Wilfrid Emmett Doyle was a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Nelson from 1958 to 1989.-Biography:...
, bishop of Nelson.
St. Joseph, which seats 1,100 people
People
People is a plurality of human beings or other beings possessing enough qualities constituting personhood. It has two usages:* as the plural of person or a group of people People is a plurality of human beings or other beings possessing enough qualities constituting personhood. It has two usages:*...
, is one of the two minor basilicas in Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
—the other is in the St. Boniface Archdiocese in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
.
For almost three decades the basilica was known as the church without locks as it was open 24 hours. However, in the early 1980s, the church had to close at night. The number of people attending perpetual adoration declined while on the morning of Feb. 28, 1980 an arsonist set the altar and crucifix on fire, causing smoke and water damage to the whole building. To remove soot and smell, all the stones inside the church had to be scrubbed. Its prized possession, the Casavant Brothers organ, was sent to Quebec for cleaning and repairs. Clean up and repair costs reached $250,000.
It also had its share of fame when parishioners shrugged off the controversy and international publicity surrounding the wedding of hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
to actress Janet Jones
Janet Jones
Janet-Marie Gretzky is an American actress. She is married to ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky.-Entertainment career:Jones performed in Annie , Staying Alive and Snow White Live , and had a bit part in The Beastmaster...
, both non-Catholics. About a hundred people objected to the ceremony being held at the basilica on July 16, 1988 but many more applauded the Church's openness.
Father Len Gartner took over as rector of the basilica in July 2001. The last time he served at St. Joseph's was in the mid-1960s when he was just one year fresh out of the seminary.
In 1917, St. Joseph's Parish came into being by a separation of the English and the French parishioners of St. Joachim.
Notable persons associated with St. Joseph's
- Archbishop Henry O'LearyHenry Joseph O'LearyHenry Joseph O'Leary was the fifth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown, and later became the third Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Edmonton....
- Archbishop Anthony Jordan
- Archbishop Joseph MacNeil
- Archbishop Thomas CollinsThomas Christopher CollinsThomas Christopher Collins is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current Archbishop of Toronto, having previously served as Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta and Archbishop of Edmonton .-Early life and education:Collins was born in Guelph, Ontario, the son of the...
- Archbishop Richard William SmithRichard William SmithRichard William Smith is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Archbishop of Edmonton, having previously served as Bishop of Pembroke from 2002 to 2007.-Biography:...
- James McGuigan
- C. J. Nelligan
- Edward Jennings
- Michael O'Neill
- Father Emmett DoyleWilfrid Emmett DoyleWilfrid Emmett Doyle was a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Nelson from 1958 to 1989.-Biography:...