On April 20, 1903, Father Joseph-Ant.
Theriault arrived in Montmartre with instructions from His Emminence Monsignor Adelard Langevin to found the parish of Montmartre. There was no village, no church no rectory, no
school - just territory, and a humble little chapel, incomplete and with out a foundation, and a debt of $500. Population: 20.
On April 21, Father Theriault said his first mass in the chapel with vestments borrowed
from the Wolseley Parish. Monsignor J.A. Theriault was parish priest from 1903 to 1948.
This is a copy of a souvenir program to help celebrate the first midnight mass on December 25, 1915 by Rev. Fr. J.A. Theriault.
In August 1903, Fr. Theriault returned from a trip to Quebec. He brought with him his mother and his sister Marie and took up residence on the first floor of the Chapel-Rectory building.
Progress may have seemed painstakingly slow at first. However, by 1905, the parish debt was reduced to $302.
By 1907, the parish had grown to 94 families.
This was a sign that a new and larger church was needed. In June, 1906, the Archbishop's approval to replace the old chapel with a new church was granted. A contract for construction was awarded to Mr. Adelard St. Cyr.
November 20 - The new church with a frame structure and a
stone foundation was completed. In December, it was blessed by Monsignor F.A. Dugas, Vicar General of the Diocese.
August 18, 1907, the first parish Retreat was held. November 24, 1907 the new hell was "baptized".
In 1908, the new village of Montmartre built up 1 mile northwest of old Montmartre which had stretched along the Montmartre-Fillmore road.
In 1910 - 1911, therefore, the school and the church were moved to "new" Montmartre.
A much needed new rectory was built in 1913. This building is still serving the needs of our present pastor.
In 19l8, the question was posed. Do the parishioners of Montmartre want a new church? The majority of those attending the meeting voted in favor of building one.
By May, 1918, a contract was granted to the Pool Construction Co. of Regina for the then grand sum of $21,985.00. The heating system contract was awarded at $3100.
