PARISH

Parish History
St. Vital Parish has been a cornerstone of faith in Beaumont since its establishment in 1894. Rooted in the Catholic tradition, our parish has grown alongside the families and individuals who call it home. From humble beginnings to the vibrant community we have today, we continue to honour our rich history while looking toward a future filled with hope and spiritual growth
1800
1894
Monsignor Vital Grandin, Bishop of St. Albert, contributes one-third of the land for a church site, which was chosen by Father Albert Lacombe.

Monsignor Vital Grandin, Bishop of St. Albert.
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1895
A small, simple church is built, and Beaumont's own Roman Catholic Church celebrated its first Mass.
St. Vital Church, bell turret and rectory. (A8983)
1896
A twenty-square-foot log-hewn rectory is built.
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J.E. Lavigne store on the left, St. Vital Church and Rectory on the right, ar. 1900. (A8718)
1900
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St. Vital's Church Steeple is under construction.
1907
The church steeple under construction, ar. 1907.
1918
Tragedy strikes on the night of February 10, 1918, and the church is destroyed by fire.
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What remains of the 800 pound church bell, after the 1918 fire.
After months of labour and devotion, the new church held its first mass on July 4, 1920
Fun Facts
The new church cost approximately $30,000.00 to build, even though everything except the cement was furnished and transported by the parishioners free of charge.
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Five hundred loads of sand were brought in, three hundred of gravel, six hundred of rocks, and fifteen hundred bags of cement.
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The lumber and bricks were brought from Leduc.
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As no machinery was available, the church’s basement was hollowed out by horses pulling scrapers.​
Huge tree trunks were installed to form the building's foundation.
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1921
Parishioners added a two thousand-pound bell to the bell tower. It was blessed and named "Marie Vitaline" to recognize the church's patron saint.
1934
The Cross of Jacques Cartier was erected in 1934 under the patronage of the French Canadian Association of Alberta.

1919
Determined parishioners, with the supervision of a new priest, Reverend J.A. Normandeau, began to build a new church
St. VItal Parish under construction, 1919-1921.
1920

1935
By sponsorship of the Children of Mary, the Grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1935.
Parishioners gathers around the Grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
1939
The statue of “The Sower" is installed.


St. VItal Parish installs the statue, "The Sower".
1958
Present-day building is completed.
St. VItal Parish's current building is erected.
2000
2002
Tree trunk foundation was replaced by steel beams.

St. Vital's Parish as we know it today
2018
St. Vital Parish undergoes renovations.

St. Vital Parish under it's most recent construction
2023
Fr. Les Drewicki joins St. Vital as our Parish Priest.

Fr. Les with St. Vital's the Rock Youth Group
Today
Special Thanks
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Beaumont & District Heritage Society for generously allowing us to share some of their remarkable photos, which offer a unique glimpse into the history of our parish and the people who have helped shape it. Their dedication to preserving local history is second to none, and we invite you to visit their website to learn more about Beaumont's rich history.