Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 1 Sutton Way, Labrador City, NL A2V 2K6 CA

SEASON OF LENT

Our Lenten journey begins on Ash Wednesday when we receive the ashes on our forehead to remind us that we belong to God and we shall return to Him. Throughout these forty days, let us make an effort to spend more time in prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Repentance of sin and acts of mercy help us prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery at the great feast of Easter.

Basilica History

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT

We are the Roman Catholic Church of Labrador West.

We gather as a family of faith at the Eucharist.

We welcome one and all.

We share our gifts of time, talent and treasure.

We help one another experience the love of God.

Labrador City came into being with the arrival of Newfoundlanders and others to the mining operation at what was then known as Carol Lake. The Catholic Community assembled in a mine garage for a first Mass at Christmas, 1959, presided by a visiting priest from Schefferville – Fr. Jacques Laperrière, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate. As the church in Labrador City grew in numbers, the need for a place of worship also became very real. In 1960, Fr. Theodore Roussel, o.m.i. became the first pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and spearheaded the drive to build a church that would stand the test of time in the cold northern climate of Labrador.

Over the years, the parish expanded and in 1976, Bishop Peter Sutton, OMI, received a decree in response to his request that the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Labrador City become a co-Cathedral in conjunction with the Episcopal seat of the Diocese which was at that time situated in Schefferville, Québec. With the eventual demise of mining operations in Schefferville, the Episcopal seat was transferred to Labrador City on August 25, 1980 thereby elevating Our Lady of Perpetual Help to the status of Cathedral.

At the 40^th anniversary celebration of the Cathedral in September of 2002, a new Baptismal Font was dedicated to the memory of Bishop Henri Goudreault, OMI, who served in the diocese diligently from 1988 to 1996. On September 29^th, 2002, Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI blessed three bells which were later installed in the Cathedral bell tower. The three bells received the names of the Oblates who were most involved with the construction of the Church. The first bell was named Lionel, in memory of Bishop Lionel Scheffer, o.m.i. bishop of the diocese when the church was built; the second bell received the name Theodore, in honour of Fr. Theodore Roussel, o.m.i – the first pastor; and the third bell was named Jules in recognition of the hard work and dedication of Br. Jules Auclaire who worked untiringly to build an enduring monument of prayer and worship in our community.

On June 1^st, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued a decree raising the Cathedral to Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It is the second Basilica in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and only the 21^st for Canada. The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help continues to be served by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and its current pastor is Father Jaroslaw Pachocki, OMI. An official installation ceremony will take place during the Sunday liturgy on September 23^rd, 2007.

In another decree, news was recently received concerning boundary changes for the new Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador. This decree becomes effective upon its execution on September 9^th, 2007.

Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 1 Sutton Way, Labrador City, NL A2V 2K6 CA - Basilica History