History

The history of Catholicism in the area of Chilliwack dates back to 1865 when the Oblates of Mary Immaculate were serving the First Nations peoples of the territory and establishing churches for their communities.   In 1894 a Catholic church was constructed in the eastern area of Chilliwack for the settlers of European origin.  It was built between Prairie Central and Chilliwack Central Roads on land donated by Charles B. Lasserve.  Mass was provided approximately once a month by priests who travelled from Mission or New Westminster.

Between 1908 and 1909, a decision was made to move the church closer to town.   The building was placed on skids and moved by horses six miles to the town, to one of two lots set aside on the Northeast corner of Mary Street and Hodgins Avenue.  Mass continued to be held approximately once a month, drawing people from a large geographical area that included Yale, Hope, Agassiz, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Glen Valley, and Langley Prairie.  The first recorded baptism in the parish was April 3, 1916 (Mark Angus Blaker), and the first recorded wedding in the church occurred on September 12, 1916 (Mr. and Mrs. W. Beldam).  The first recorded Confirmation in the parish was on May 17, 1931. 

To respond to the increasing congregation, a new larger church was constructed on the lot that had been reserved, with His Excellency W.M. Duke blessing the building on September 26, 1935. The older church was taken down and the wood used to build a rectory.  The parish was then sub-divided, with Agassiz and Hope building their own churches. 

St. Mary’s school was built in 1948, a little ways south of the church on Mary Street.  The congregation was still growing and in the mid-1950s a new church was erected next to the school, at 555 Mary Street (now 8909 Mary Street).   His Excellency Martin M. Johnson, coadjutor archbishop of Vancouver, blessed the new church on Dec 11, 1955.   The cost of the church was $100,000, which was financed entirely by the parishioners.  An adjoining rectory was planned for a later date. There were approximately 300 Catholic families in the parish at the time the new church was opened. 

Our landmark church is a modernist A-frame design, created by architects Gardiner Thornton Gathe & Associates of Vancouver, British Columbia.  The church features large laminated wood trusses, stone gable ends, a terrazzo floor, and coloured glass windows.  The original altar is of West Coast granite.  The church was designed to seat 420 people, with room for an additional 50 in the choir loft. 

Next to the school and church, a separate gymnasium building was added in 1970.  In 1996, a handy thrift shop was established to the west side of the church to serve our neighbours and anyone in need.  For 23 years, our thrift shop (known first as St. Vincent de Paul’s then as Mother Teresa’s Place) and our roster of dynamic parish volunteers went the extra mile to meet the needs of Chilliwack’s citizens and to generously support the upkeep of St. Mary’s school.  The legacy of Mother Teresa’s Place and the blessed impact of all those who served there will never be forgotten.  In 2013, an annex addition was added to the south side of the church, reflecting the stone construction of the church building and allowing for a multi-use space.

St. Mary’s parish is one of the earliest established in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, situated in the third oldest municipality in British Columbia.  Following the lead from the early Oblate missionaries in the area, our relationships and on-going dialogue with the Stó:lō First Nations is of paramount importance.  Our local Stó:lō brothers and sisters, both those directly associated with the parish and the school and those who are not, have a wealth of insight pertaining to our close spiritual, social, and cultural link.  An incalculable value is placed on our connections with the local Indigenous communities and families of Chilliwack – relationships that we have cherished for quite some time.

All in all, St. Mary’s prides itself as being a prayerful home away from home where everyone is welcome.  Today our parish family continues to grow and develop as the City of Chilliwack continues to welcome newcomers and as the cultural demographics of the parish change.  We are proud of our heritage; we are proud to be a beacon of faith, hope, and love in the East Fraser Valley; and our Christ-centred and forward looking approach will pave the way for a richly diverse community built up and sustained by Christ Our Lord who unifies us all in His Church.