Our History I
St. Pius X was established in 1959 under the guidance of Fr. Ernie Martin. During the next ten years, St. Pius X developed into a warm and caring community. When Fr. Charles Mulvihill became our pastor in 1969, our church continued to grow and prosper. Fr. Jim Ratcliff arrived in 1980 and Fr. Jim Lynch served here from 1988 to August 1997. Our present pastor, Fr. Rick Paulin, arrived in September 1997 from Invermere. |
Most Reverend WILFRED EMMETT DOYLE, Appointed Bishop: October 9, 1958 Consecrated: December 3, 1958 Third Bishop of Nelson Diocese.
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A New Church
Reference: "Our History", 1986, Jack Hubenig
It all
began with Fr. Pansody.
In October of 1859, he and a handful of settlers founded the Pandosy
Mission.
In October of 1959, Bishop Doyle laid the corner stone of St. Pius X Church.
No history of our Catholic heritage can be more complete without including this colorful, brave and exciting priest, who "made" history.
The old Immaculate Conception Church on Sutherland Avenue would then not accommodate the newly arriving Catholics of this fast growing city of Kelowna. To solve the problem Bishop Doyle, together with Fr. Anderson, Fr. Martin, Jack Bedford, Fred Vetter and Ernie Cowan met to discuss boundaries, sites, and finances and soon the newly established (erected) Parish of St. Pius X was under way.
Land was purchased for the site of the new Church on the corner of Glenmore Road (now Gordon Avenue) and Fuller from the Bocklage property at $13,000.00. This was to be the site of our parish, St. Pius X. On July 5, 1959, Bishop Doyle was present for a groundbreaking ceremony on the property. On July 15, 1959, our parish was formally established with Fr. Ernest F. Martin appointed as our first pastor.
The architect was Michael E. Utley and the firm of Davis and Taylor were the builders. The Church was to seat 350 people.
In October 23, 1959, Bishop Doyle laid the corner stone of St. Pius X Church. And on December 17, 1959, the church was solemnly blessed and the first Mass was celebrated by Bishop Doyle.
On March 4, 1960,
the Canonical erection of the Stations of the Cross was held by Bishop Doyle.
Facts and Statistics
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1st Marriage: Genevieve Knorr and Edward Bachman, December 29, 1959
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1st Baptism: Steven Louis Guide, January 10, 1960
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1st Burial: Joseph Kaleta, January 5, 1960
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1st Mission: Fr. Ehman and Fr. Swift
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1st Eucharistic Congress: C.W.L. started with mass at St. Pius X
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1st Golden Wedding Anniversary: Mr. and Mrs. August Pfliger, July 9, 1960
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1st Ordination: Fr. Anthony George Pfliger, June 11, 1961
Corner Stone
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October 23,
1959. A list of parishioners, holy medals, pictures, and coins of
the realm. Clippings of newspapers, showing church construction,
and this testimony:
His Excellency Wilfred Emmet Doyle,
the third Bishop of Nelson Diocese, At this time the Holy Roman Church was governed by His Holiness Pope John XXIII. The British Commonwealth of the Nations was ruled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England, and Her representative in Canada was General George Vanier. Vanier was the first Roman Catholic in history of the Dominion to become Governor General. Conservatives were the governing party under John Diefenbaker's leadership. The Province of British Columbia was governed by the Social Credit Party - leader: W.A.C. Bennett, a resident of Kelowna. Mayor of Kelowna was R.F. Parkinson. |
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If in some future day this edifice
be replaced, and the message within the corner stone come to
light. |
