Our Parish History

      According to The Hills of Home Drumheller Valley (Drumheller Valley History Association · 1973), the first Catholic mass didn't begin in a sanctuary but in the Whitehouse Hotel. Reverend Father Russell, whose territory stretched from Rockyford to Alsask, held a mass in a room at the Whitehouse in the spring of 1913. Before a church was established, Father Russell would attempt to make it to Drumheller once a month. However, the road conditions and weather in the undeveloped area made travel difficult. At times, he would say mass at a cabin in the Orkney owned by Ovide and Alphonse Auger. In 1914, the first church was built.  This continued for a few years, and the ministry grew under Father Bowlen. In 1917, Bishop McNally visited Drumheller and deemed it necessary to appoint a resident pastor, and Father J. McGillivray became the first parish priest. Soon, a rectory was built, then church was furnished and added more capacity. Father McGillivray served for the next ten years, also saying mass in Wayne and Munson. The church flourished, and the Catholic Women's League, the Altar Society, and the Columbus Club were established at that time.

    In 1927, Father P.J.N Cosman was appointed by Bishop Kidd, and the church continued to grow. A robust Sunday school was formed. The church was able to purchase adjacent lots, which were beautified, and there were more improvements to the interior of the church. He also had the foresight to begin a building fund, knowing a new church would one day need to be built. Father Cosman was transferred in the fall of 1935, and Rev. Neville Anderson became the parish priest. That fall, the St. Angela's Convent was established.

    Times were tough in the 1930s in Drumheller and throughout the world. However, the parish was in need of a new church as it had become dilapidated. They were able to trade some of its existing property west of the wye for a site for a new church, and work began in 1938. A parish priest in Banff designed the church, and Stanley Campbell was the contractor. It was a community effort. Mother Bernice and the Sisters made the drapes and tapestries. Mr. Chiarieri constructed the pews, Joe LeFebre made the wall brackets for the statues, Joseph Guidolin made the cross, and Mr. W. Hodgson of Dorothy carved the oak Corpus for the altar crucifix. The old church became a parish hall.

    In 1942, a home was purchased and became the new rectory. In 1949, the former church was sold to McPherson Motors, and the next year, a new hall was built. On December 20, 1952, a fire ripped through the church. The Mail reported that George Derbyshire turned in the alarm shortly after 1 a.m., and two firefighters were injured. It was estimated that nearly 60 percent of the interior was destroyed. In 1957, a new addition was added to the church, which included the bell tower and baptistery. Our beloved St. Anthony's Parish celebrated its Centennial Anniversary last August 20, 2017.

​*Source information was written by Pat Kolafa | © DrumhellerMail.com.

Pastor: Rev. Lukas Drapal
​Mailing Address: 151 3 St. W. Drumheller AB, T0J 0Y4
Phone: (403)823-2683
Email: stanthonysdrumheller@telus.net
Website: www.stanthonysdrum.ca
Secretary/Administrative Assistant: Mary Ann Arce
Book Keeper: Linda Lacher
Pastoral Council Chair: Paul Marshall
Finance Council Chair: Mary Pavich
CWL President: Sharon Doyle
Knights of Columbus Grand Knight: Tony Weir
Couples for Christ: Cen and Tess Felisilda