Important Dates

1911 — Oct. 27 - first meeting held to build a Polish church with 100 families in Edmonton & area - name of church suggested by Mr. Jan Sagan since Oct. is month of Our Lady of the Rosary.

1912 — Fr. P. Kulawy, omi receives permission from Bishop Emile Legal, omi to build church on 95A St. & 113 Ave. Holmes & Christoferson Company contracted.

1913 - New Year’s Day, Fr. Pawel Kulawy, omi celebrated the first Mass in the new Polish church. On August 1st the church was canonically erected.

1914 - Fr, Gelsdorf arrives & organizes St. Cecilia’s Choir. Rectory purchased.

1917 - A Fr. Antoni Sylla, omi arrives and serves the large surrounding area of Polish missions, Polish Canadian Society formed to keep alive Polish language & culture.

1919 — Fr. Sylla, omi finishes building church and builds grotto at Skaro.

1926 — Mr. Walter Rice, talented musician, arrives in Edmonton, looks after the choir, organizes the White Eagle youth group. First diocesan pastor is Fr. Jozef Miksa.

1931 — Fr. Frank Kosakiewicz, omi is ordained - first priest from the parish.

1933 — Rosary Sodality formed, Mrs. Henrietta Szafranski first president. Mrs. Janina Sudak present president.

1945 - Fr. Kaluzny, pastor, organizes the Catholic Youth Club. Post WW ll soldiers arrive - new wave of emigration - decided to build a new, larger church.

1953 — Archbishop MacDonald blesses foundation stone - Andy’s Construction signed.

1955 — May 15 - first Mass in parish hall - old church sold in Nov. Men’s Club formed to financially support the church - Mr. M. Hajdasz, present president.

1957 - Fr. Joseph Leszczynski ordained.

1959 — Construction finished with cost of $213,171 - church tower not yet built.

1961 — Oblate Fathers return to parish, Fr. Stanley Wachowicz, omi pastor.

1962 — Rectory is built by Coombs to celebrate parish’s Golden Jubilee.

1963 — Album is printed to celebrate the golden jubilee & stained glass windows installed.

1965 — During Lent, first Mass said in the Polish language. Laymen permitted as lectors.

1966 — Monument built for l00th birthday of Canada & 1000th anniversary of Polish Christianity. Stained glass windows installed in the choir.

1969 — Cardinal Karol Wojtyła visits Edmonton for Polish Canadian Congress’ 25th anniv.

1972 — Sisters Servants of Mary arrive in Edmonton.

1973 - Parish Diamond Jubilee. Sisters Servants move next to church.

1977 - St. Teresa Mission Circle is formed - Mrs. E. Szynkowski, present president.

1978 — Cardinal Wojtyła elected new Pope - Friends of the Catholic University of Lublin formed - first president, Piotr Czartoryski; present president, Mrs, B. Szulc.

1981 — In Nov. the old church burned down.

1984 — Visit to Canada by Pope John Paul II — foot pilgrimage to Namao, site of Papal Mass, led by Fr. Karciarz, omi.

1985 - Fr. Teofil Szcndzielarz, omi, new pastor - some larger renovations accomplished.

1986 - Cardinal Jozef Glemp, Primate of Poland, visits our parish.

1987 - Seniors’ Friendship Club formed, present president, Mrs. J. Pierzchajlo.

1989 - Official opening of Our Lady Queen of` Poland parish, Fr. M. Fidyka, omi pastor.

1994 - Polish Knights of Columbus Council formed, Mr. R, Pierzchajlo, president; Mr. S. Chajkowski, present president.

1995 - New pastor Fr. Stan Kowal, omi - decision made to renovate church in 4 phases, 3 of which are completed by 2000. “Good Shepherd” prayer group organized.

1999 - New pastor is Fr. Roman Majek, omi, who together with Fr. Francois Dyjak, omi ushers the parish into the new millennium. Renovations continue.

2002 - 53 young people participate in the World Youth Day with the Pope in Toronto.

2003 - Year of the Rosary. 90th Parish Anniversary. Archbishop Thomas Collins presides at the Jubilee Mass. Banquet at the Polish Hall is filled to capacity.

2004 – Both side chapels are renovated - artistic work by Mr. B. Konikowski. New statue of Blessed Mother installed on church roof – previous statue destroyed by vandals.

2005 - Our beloved Holy Father John Paul ll dies on April 2 at 21:37 in Rome. Memorial Mass in our church on April 7 gathers an unprecedented number of faithful. Mr. Pawel Pytlak installs multimedia projectors in the church and parish hall.

2006 - Archb. Adam Exner, omi crowns the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

2007 - Farewells to Fr. Francois Dyjak, omi (goes to Vancouver) and Sr. Benedyktyna (returns to Poland). Welcome to new associate Fr. Roman Nisiewicz, omi. New parish kitchen is blessed and old kitchen renovated into new classrooms.

2008 — Fr. Stan Kowal, omi passes away. Fr. Roman Nisiewicz, omi returns to Poland. The new associate, Fr. Kazimierz Kozicki, omi arrives. The Year of St. Paul is proclaimed. 95th anniversary of our parish. Blessing of John Paul II statue on the 30th anniversary of his election to the Seat of St. Peter - sculptor is prof. Czeslaw Dzwigaj lrom Krakow.

2009 –

2010 –

2011 –

2012 –

Priests:

* Fr. Paweł Kulawy OMI 1915 ~ 1921
Fr. W. Gelsdorf 1914 ~ 1916
Fr. Antoni Sylla OMI 1917 ~ 1921
* Fr. Antoni Sylla OMI 1921 ~ 1927
* Fr. Józef Miksa 1926 ~ 1933
* Fr. Mieczysław Rosiecki 1933 ~ 1945
Fr. Michał Kałuzny 1934 ~ 1935
Fr. Stanisław Zenko 1938 ~ 1940
* Fr. Michał Kaluzny 1945 ~ 1955
Fr. Edwin Malak 1946 ~ 1948
Fr. Franciszek Tomczak 1948 ~ 1953
Fr. Tadeusz Nagengast, Dr. 1953 ~ 1961
* Fr. Adam Przysiezniak 1955 ~ 1961
Fr. Thaddeus Rataj 1957 ~ 1961
* Fr. Stanley Wachowicz OMI 1961 ~ 1971
Fr. Piotr Miczko OMI 1961 ~ 1963
Fr. Francis Kosakiewicz OMI 1962 ~ 1977
Fr. C. Krystkowiak OMI 1963 ~ 1965
Fr. Rudolph Nowakowski OMI 1965 ~ 1967
Fr. Zygmunt Kozak OMI 1967 ~1969
Fr. Richard Kosian OMI 1969 ~ 1972
* Fr. Piotr Klita OMI 1971 ~ 1977
Fr. Józef Guzik Sch.P. 1973 ~ 1975
Fr. Józef Jurkowski 1976 ~ 1978
Fr. Stanisław Ignatiuk OMI 1976 ~ 1979
Fr. Stanisław Błaszkowski OMI 1979 ~ 1981
* Fr. Franciszek Frazik OMI 1977 ~ 1979
* Fr. Edward Klimuszko OMI 1979 ~ 1985
Fr. Jan Sajewicz OMI 1981 ~ 1983
Fr. Władysław Karciarz OMI 1983 ~ 1984
Fr. Teofil Szendzielarz OMI 1984 ~ 1985
* Fr. Teofil Szendzielarz OMI 1985 ~ 1987
Fr. Jan Rozmysłowski OMI 1985 ~ 1987
Fr. Mieczysław Fidyka OMI 1987 ~ 1989
* Fr. Władysław Karciarz OMI 1987 ~ 1995
Fr. Leon Mokwa OMI 1992 ~ 1994
Fr. François Dyjak OMI 1992 ~ 2007
* Fr. Stanisław Kowal OMI 1995 ~ 1999
* Fr. Roman Majek OMI 1999 ~ 2011
Fr. Roman Nicewicz OMI 2007 ~ 2008
Fr. Kazimierz Kozicki OMI 2008 ~
Fr. Heinrich Sicking OMI 2008 ~ 2009
* Fr. Andrzej Sowa OMI 2011 ~
Fr. Jozef Sikora OMI 2012 ~