From the Archives


On this page, we share from time to time the things that our archivist found and wants to share with you! It tells you about our history in Canada and how our mission began and developed over the years. "From the Archives" currently draws on content from the Franciscan Archives of Western Canada, which contains records from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. To learn more, visit us at archives.franciscanfriars.ca.
From the personal records of Fr. Oswald Fuchs, there is a Christmas reflection he wrote in 1991 about the first time he had to chance to go back to his hometown of Sedley to preach a homily: Sedley Revisited (The little Fuchs goes home (…)
- From the Archives
- 7 December, 2021
Every month, we share a photo from our archives! – A view of San Antonio Gold Mines in Bissett, Manitoba, 1940s. The Franciscans served several missions in northern Ontario and Manitoba around this time. (…)
- From the Archives
- 23 November, 2021
In this week of Remembrance Day, we take time to honour those who have served and protected our country, and those who have fought and continue to fight for peace. Among the accounts of the First World War and Second World War, we can (…)
- From the Archives
- 8 November, 2021
Every month, we share a photo from our archives! – Fr. John Francis Tobin painting St. Joseph Friary in Victoria, BC. (…)
- From the Archives
- 26 October, 2021
Every month, we share a photo from our archives! – Sisters of St. Elizabeth preparing meat at Mount St. Francis, Cochrane, 1960s. (…)
- From the Archives
- 21 September, 2021
On Jan 6, 1932, Archbishop James McGuigan called on Fr. Celestine, Superior of the St. Francis friary in Regina, to discuss with him plans for opening a major seminary in Regina. Archbishop McGuigan asked for the Franciscans to forego the closed retreats that they (…)
- From the Archives
- 7 September, 2021
Every month, we share a photo from our archives! – Construction work on St. Michael’s Retreat in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, August 1962. Here is a view of the completed retreat house during its opening in 1963! (…)
- From the Archives
- 24 August, 2021
In 1931, the Poitras family offered the Franciscans use of a portion of their property located at Moose Lake, Alberta, for a camp and mission. The Franciscans gladly accepted this offer and named the new mission San Antonio. For the first few years, it (…)
- From the Archives
- 6 August, 2021
Every month, we share a photo from our archives! – On July 27, 1938, fire broke out at the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Pier D, at the foot of Granville Street in Vancouver. This photo below was taken by one of the friars in Vancouver (…)
- From the Archives
- 20 July, 2021