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Welcome to Blessed Sacrament Parish in Elie, Manitoba and thank you for visiting us on-line. At the end of the 19th Century Blessed Sacrament Church, Elie, was a mission of St-Eustache Parish. Elie was then known as "The Tank" as it supplied water to the railway's steam locomotives. Settlement was slow as the area had the reputation of being a swampy marsh, spring run-off water staying on the land until Juy. The first families to arrive were cattle farmers and it was believed that wheat could not be grown in the area. However, in 1887 wheat was sown for the first time and the result was so successful that Archbishop Tache, on a pastoral visit to St-Eustache, took up a handful of grain and said, "Bientot, il y aura une paroisse ici." The building of the railroad improved irrigation and attracted more settlers. Soon the need for a church and school became pressing. Controversy arose as to the site of the church. Archbishop Langevin had approved a plot of land donated by Mr. Edouard Roy on Le Chemin du Roi (now PTH 248), but Mr. Elie Dufresne was determined to have the church close to his home. He built a church by the river on his own land in 1903 under the supervision of Father Telesphore Campeau. The building could not be used the first year because the land had not been properly transferred and it was used as a granary. When the problem was resolved the next spring, a priest from St-Eustache came every second week to celebrate the Eucharist. The first resident priest was Father Camirand who arrived in 1905. He moved into the sacristy of the church but did not feel safe there because the building was not structurally. One winter night there was a bad storm, so he escaped across the road to the railroad station and lived there until his departure in 1907. Archbishop Langevin made his first pastoral visitation on June 21, 1909 and canonically established the mission as "La Paroisse St-Sacrament d'Elie" on August 12. In 1915, the Religious of Our Lady of the Missions built a convent and assumed the responsibility of teaching the settlers' children. At the urging of Archbishop Sinnott, the old church was demolished and the present church was bult in 1928. The new rectory was bult in 1960. On July 13, 2003 Archbishop Weisgerber presided at the thanksgiving celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the building of the first church. Blessed Sacrament Parish continues to strive and grow through the work of its dedicated parishioners. (The History of The Archdiocese of Winnipeg, 2004) Parish Priests: Fr. Ceas Chmiel and Fr. John Legitimas Parish Office - Phone (204) 353 2516 Fax: (204) 353 2229 e-mail address: blesst@mymts.net |
Blessed Sacrament Parish, Elie, Manitoba | 204 353 2516 |
