 Our lady of Good Help Church History
The Roman Catholic Rite
When the church was first built in 1951, mass was held in the basement hall until May 3, 1953 when Archbishop J.H. MacDonald solemnly blessed and dedicated the church. The six parish priests that served Immaculate Heart include:
Fr. Joseph Burke (1951); Fr. Duncan MacDonnell; Fr. Charles Nearing; Fr. William McClellan; Fr. George Neumann; Fr. John Cunningham (2001)
In 2001, it was decided to amalgamate Immaculate Heart of Mary with St. Anthony’s and St. Agnes parishes.
The Maronite Catholic rite
Although Maronite Catholic families have been living in Edmonton for many years and generations, there had previously been no Maronite Church to serve these individuals. A number of priests had tried to establish an official Maronite Catholic Community in Edmonton but were unsuccessful in their efforts.
In January 1999, a local family made a special request to His Excellency, Joseph El Khoury, Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Montreal, Canada: a family member had passed away and his final wish had been for his memorial service to be celebrated in the Maronite Rite. His Excellency responded by sending Father Esper Antoun to Edmonton, who performed the service at Our Lady of Assumption Church in Bonnie Doon. Shortly thereafter, he was designated as pastor of the Maronite communities of Edmonton and Calgary.
In October 1999, the Edmonton community began to gather for Sunday mass at St. Anthony Church. During this time, the community members hosted parties and bake sales, and held other fundraising efforts in order to raise money to obtain their own church. The last mass performed by Father Esper at St. Anthony Church was the Palm Sunday mass in 2003. By this point in time, the church community had purchased their very own church, “Immaculate Heart of Mary,” where they first celebrated a Good Friday service and Easter Sunday mass. Father Esper continued to watch over both communities in Edmonton and Calgary, alternating the times of service and often travelling back and forth between the cities two or three times every week!
On March 21, 2004, His Excellency, Joseph El Khoury, rededicated the church as “Our Lady of Good Help,” thereby officially recognizing the Maronite Catholic Parish of Edmonton.
In April 2008, Deacon Michel Kassas began his one-year deaconship under the guidance of Father Esper. On February 15, 2009 at Our Lady of Peace in Calgary, under the presence of His Excellency, Bishop Joseph Khoury, Deacon Michel was ordained into priesthood. Father Michel celebrated his first mass as priest at Our Lady of Good Help Church in Edmonton on February 22, 2009.
After more than 10 years of dedicated service to both Maronite parishes of Edmonton and Calgary, Father Esper was named pastor of Our Lady of Peace in Calgary. In addition, Father Michel was named pastor of Our Lady of Good Help Church in Edmonton, where he continues to serve the community through the Maronite Catholic Rite.
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Rev. Father Michel Nadim Kassas was born on November 25, 1971 in Bmariam, Lebanon.