June 15, 1869

St. Mary’s Chapel (Fort Garry Mission) established in the Grey Nuns Convent and school on Notre Dame St E. at Victoria, by Bishop Alexandre-Antonin Taché, OMI, DD of St. Boniface Cathedral: River Lot 3 property bought from Wm Drever. This was the first Red River Settlement Mission on the west side of the Red River in the village of Winnipeg in the district of Assiniboia, a district of the NW Territories, formerly called Rupertsland. It was to serve English speaking Catholics.

July, 1870

Fr. Joseph McCarthy, OMI was the 1st Pastor, and founder of the parish. Manitoba became a province, joining the Confederation of Canada of 1867. HBC was given a land reserve in compensation for its role in the fur trade and in governance, divided into lots.

Sept, 1871

St. Boniface became an Archdiocese, with Taché as the first Archbishop.

Nov, 1873

Incorporation of the City of Winnipeg.

May 30, 1874

Mission of St. Mary moved to St. Mary Ave site – blessed by Archbishop Taché – 7 lots given (3 bought) to the Oblates of St. Boniface Archdiocese by HBC from their Reserve. The new Church – Rectory had the Mission Chapel on the 2nd floor. Sisters of the Holy Names replaced the Grey Nuns at the school, and the 1st St. Mary’s Academy was built, on the Notre Dame site. First pastors were Rev. JB Baudin,OMI, and Rev. Albert Lacombe,OMI – a famous missionary among the western aboriginals.

Sept 13, 1874

Solemn Benediction of the chapel bell (360 lb) by Archbishop Taché.

1875

St. Mary’s School for boys built, and in 1978 was taken over by Fr McCarthy, OMI, when a new school was built on the north side. The school was taken over in 1880 by the Brothers of Mary. The old school became their residence. In 1936, this building became the Catholic Central Bureau at 220 Hargrave. A steam railway connection with St. Paul Minn was built, enabling travel and quicker supplies.

Apr 16, 1876

St. Mary’s Parish canonically erected by Archbishop Taché, under the invocation of the “Most Holy Name of Mary”.

Aug 15 1880

Blessing of the cornerstone for the new (present) church.

Sept 4, 1881

Benediction of the new St. Mary’s Church – nave only completed. Arrival of the transcontinental CPR, signaling a boom in immigration and the economy

1882

The parish was divided to form Immaculate Conception parish.

1884

Purchase of the cemetery property on Osborne Street, and of an organ for the church.

Aug, 1885

Opening of Holy Angels School for girls and small boys, under the Sisters of the Holy Names.

1885

Construction of the sanctuary and sacristy, and the addition of steam heating in the church.

Sept 25, 1887

Consecration (dedication) of new St. Mary’s Church by Bishop Fabre of Montreal.

1888

Construction of a new school for the Brothers, and repairs to the presbytery.

1889

St. Mary’s Cemetery established.

1891

Addition – hot water heating system, in sacristy and presbytery.

1892

Indoor plumbing and facilities in presbytery.

1895

Most Rev. Adelard Langevin, OMI, DD (former pastor of St. Mary’s) became the 2nd Archbishop of St. Boniface.

1896

New vestibule, twin towers, façade, enlarged side chapels.

1899

New Rectory built (2nd) – first Chapel/Rectory moved to Carlton side & became St. Joseph’s Orphanage, later a boarding house (1907), Oblate Juniorate (1913), boarding house (1914) convent of the Holy Names Sisters (1917), Providence Shelter (1923), Franciscan Friary (1937-1962, when it was demolished).

1903

Opening of the new St. Mary’s School across the street from the church; boys taught by the Brothers until 1917, and girls by the Sisters of the Holy Names, co-ed classes after 1917.

1912

Original Church, Rectory, School debt free; relocation to Broadway site in mind: properties there purchased for $350,000.

Sept 21, 1915

Archbishop A Beliveau (#4) appointed to St. Boniface.

Dec 15, 1915

Archdiocese of Winnipeg created – Msgr A A Sinnott appointed Archbishop.

Sept 21, 1916

Consecration of Most Rev.Archbishop Alfred A Sinnott, DD for the new Archdiocese of Winnipeg.

Dec 24, 1916

Enthronement of the new Archbishop at St. Mary’s – residence on Kennedy St. St. Mary’s designated as the pro-Cathedral.

Dec 8, 1918

Archbishop Sinnott took over the parish, now designated the Cathedral, appointed secular clergy to take over parochial work, and named Father John Dutton as 1st Rector. Msgr J J Blair became Chancellor. Debt incurred in 1912 was financed by a mortgage in the form of a bond-issue in Holland. The Archbishop and Rector worked continually to erase this debt: it took 40 years and cost the parish $741,000, including the sale of the acquired properties of 1912. The mortgage was burned on April 27th, 1952 in a special celebration at the Capital theatre.

Mar 19, 1919

Fire gutted the Sanctuary from the basement, damaging stained glass windows in the Sanctuary. $30,000 repairs paid for by insurance and furnishings paid for by generous donations.

1919-1920

2nd Rector: Rev FG MacGregor

1920-1934

3rd Rector: Msgr T W Morton

1935- 1957

4th Rector: Msgr J E Cahill, DD

1935

East wall structurally repaired; church redecorated

Apr 6, 1936

60th (diamond) anniversary of the canonical erection of the parish, celebrated on April 25th, 26th, 27th , 1936. History of parish written and presented by F W Russell, parishioner since 1885, former trustee and member of the Church Committee.

1944 – 1951

Most Rev Gerald Murray, CSSR, DD bishop of Saskatoon, was appointed as Sinnott’s coadjutor, working out of St. Ignatius Church.

1952

Additional stained glass installed. Most Rev. Phillip L. Pocock, CSSR, DD was installed as the 2nd Archbishop.

1957- 1968

5th Rector: Msgr JK MacIsaac

1957

Restoration: painting and decorating, new Casavant organ, stained glass windows, oak flooring; altar and side chapel changes, carpeting in sanctuary, exterior repairs.

1961

His Emminence George B. Cardinal Flahiff, CSB, DD became Coadjutor.

1966

1899 Rectory & Administrative center demolished, and present Rectory, Administrative center and hall constructed.

1968

St. Mary’s School closed; destroyed by arson in 1969.

1971 - 1973

Renovations to the Sanctuary after Vatican II, and to the Rectory lounge. Exterior repairs to Clerestory windows.

1968-1997

6th Rector: Msgr Roy JH Larabee, PA, VG

1976

100th anniversary of the canonical erection of the parish

1987

Church totally renovated, and redecorated for the centenary of the Dedication of the Church.

Jan 1988

100th anniversary celebration of the Dedication of the Church, a Cathedral since 1918.

1997 - 2004

7th Rector: Fr Darrin Gurr

2002

New addition joining church to hall, plans for a new baptismal font.

2004 - present

8th Rector: Fr Michael Koryluk