Personal pledges, parishioners’ generosity built original church

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Ponoka

St. Augustine Parish in Ponoka began as a mission of Hobbema under the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the late 1890s. The missionaries, preoccupied with bringing God's Word to native people, could only visit the faithful of Ponoka periodically, with Mass often celebrated at the Thomas Kennedy home.

In 1902, Father Dubois used a hotel in the newly settled village to celebrate Mass. Then, in the same year, Father Vanderdale started coming to the Foresters' Hall over Pete Horn's blacksmith shop.

In 1903, the Oblates were replaced by the Order of the Premonstre from Belgium and the first priest from this order - Father J. Van Wetten - was based in Wetaskiwin, serving a large area.

In early 1907, Van Wetten wrote a letter to Bishop Emile Legal advising the prelate that the Ponoka mission had $100 in the bank, $547 in pledges and bought four lots to build its own church.

In June of that year, the funds had grown to $600 and John Hagemann donated lumber for a new structure.

Rented pews

Construction of the mission's first church began in the spring of 1908 though the leadership and efforts of Louie Fleming, Michael Brady and P. O'Donnell.

The little church - 24 x 50 feet - had 20 pews that rented for $10 a year for a full pew and $5 a year for half a pew.

Heat was provided by a coal and wood stove that stood to the side at the front of the church. That stove would erupt occasionally and shower the faithful with soot and ashes.

Father Van Wetten celebrated the first Mass in the new church some time in 1908. Henry Cottman and Hazel Gartner were the first couple to be married in the church on Feb. 17, 1909.

Father Hippolyte Leduc blessed the church May 16, 1909, while Bishop Legal celebrated the first Confirmation July 27 of that year.

Ponoka parish was canonically registered Feb. 1, 1914 and St. Augustine of Canterbury was declared its patron saint.

In 1949, Father Graydon Harrison, who served from 1921 to 1956, formed a building committee, and, with help of parish members, built the present church, which opened in 1950.

Generous to a fault

Harrison is remembered as a priest who was generous to a fault, giving all he possessed to the poor.

Madge Graham of the mission of Chesterwold wrote:

"Our hearts ached many times as he genuflected before the altar and we could see his sock or bare foot through the holes in his shoes."

A total of 16 priests have served at St. Augustine since 1903.

The current pastor is Father Krzysztof Sobani, who replaced Father Jim Corrigan during the summer.

He serves from Lacombe.

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