Diocese bulletin offers some hope historic Lethbridge church might hold mass again

It would cost millions of dollars, but Grant Alger says he’s elated to be a step closer to St. Patrick’s Church hosting weekly mass in Lethbridge, Alta., for the first time in 15 years. 

“It’s been a long fight to achieve this,” said the parishioner.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, which oversees churches in Lethbridge, made the announcement in late January. According to a bulletin by diocese Bishop William McGrattan, the 110-year-old church’s full reopening is contingent on upgrades like a new elevator and boilers “to ensure the long-term viability of the structure, and to provide safe, accessible and code-compliant access to the church.” 

The diocese first shuttered St. Patrick’s in 2011, citing issues like maintenance costs, poor accessibility and a lack of parking.

Alger is part of the Save Our Churches Association, the group of parishioners who successfully appealed the closure at the Vatican in 2021. Since then, the church has been open, but in a limited capacity. 

Now, the group and other supporters are faced with the task of raising the $3.25 million the modernization effort is estimated to cost if they want to see the church opened for weekly mass, as well as weddings and funerals. 

“But still, finally, finally, finally we [can] start doing something that is a little more positive,” said parishioner Joe Kelenc. 

Kelenc began worshipping at St. Patrick’s when he moved to Canada over 50 years ago. 

“My uncle brought me here, and I stayed here,” he said, standing in front of the church steps. 

He says he and many others were shocked when the church was closed in the first place, and since the Vatican verdict to reopen it, he’s been disappointed at how slow the process of getting back in has been. 

Kelenc points out that it took two years from the Vatican's decision for the church to hold its first mass in 12 years.

Since that day in 2023, parishioners have only been able to access it at limited times. 

Kevin Tumback is the priest who oversees All Saints Parish, the combined body of Catholic churches in Lethbridge that St. Patrick’s is a part of.

He says the diocese and the church participated in a parish-wide assessment project to figure out how best to proceed with St. Patrick’s, and with plans to build a new church facility in the city.