Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Grandin Province

Grandin Province was established on May 1st, 1986, when the Oblate Vice-Provinces of Grouard, Mackenzie, and the Province of Alberta-Saskatchewan were merged to form Grandin Province. Grandin Province encompassed the western area of the Northwest Territories, Alberta, and northern Saskatchewan. It was also declared a bilingual Province. Like its predecessors, Grandin Province was both the civil corporation and the canonical entity of the Oblates in the west. The Provincial Administration consisted of eight members and included a Provincial, a Provincial Vicar, and six advisers. Grandin Province administration also included a Finance Committee composed of the Provincial Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Financial Consultant and three other members. The Provincial Administration of Grandin Province was moved from its traditional base in St. Albert, to the newly acquired Provincial House in Edmonton.

The responsibilities of the Provincial administration within Grandin Province continued along the lines of its predecessors: to manage the administration, the religious operations, and the financial aspects of the corporation, and to direct all the activities of the region that aim to evangelize, to establish mission stations, elementary and advanced schools, orphanages, hospitals, dispensaries and carry out other works of Christian charity, to erect chapels and churches.

The Oblates of Grandin Province congregation carried out the administrative functions and the duties related to mission and parish work, vocation and the formation of future Oblates, continued their administrative responsibilities at the provincial and diocesan levels, carried for the sick and the elderly, and were present in their local communities by teaching in universities, carrying out bible studies, and participating in retreats and pilgrimages.

The Provincial was responsible for overseeing the administration of the various properties, including the scolasticates, the Star of the North Retreat House, various colleges, CHFA radio and other subordinate institutions. The Provincial Vicar, was responsible for the missions in Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Kisemanito Centre, Lac St-Anne pilgrimage, and the laymen ministry training committee.

Grandin Province worked closely with the churches in the various local communities, and by the early 2000s included 158 Oblates, consisting of four bishops, 116 priests, 37 brothers and one scolasticate, who served six Roman Catholic dioceses: Mackenzie, Grouard-McLennan, St-Paul, Edmonton, Calgary and Prince Albert.

The administrative and canonical entity of Grandin Province ceased to exist when, on December 8, 2003, the western Oblate provinces of Grandin, St. Peter’s, Manitoba Corporation, St. Mary’s and the Order of OMI British Columbia, also known as St. Paul’s Province, and the central provinces, were canonically amalgamated to form OMI Lacombe Canada.

Provincials, Grandin Province:

• Maurice Joly (1985-1986)
• Félix Vallée (1986-1989)
• Jacques Johnson (1989-1995)
• Camille Piché (1996-2003)

The source of the name authority is the records.