Innisfail's Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church celebrated 110 years of service to the community with its 30th annual turkey dinner.
On Sept. 17, Our Lady Of Peace hosted a turkey dinner at the Royal Canadian Legion, which included farm-fresh turkey from the Rainbow Colony, locally grown potatoes from Upper Green Farms, as well as a variety of desserts and vegetables.
“It is always a good time to give thanks to God for our community and celebrate together,” said Father Tom Puslecki, pastor of the church who just celebrated his first full year of service in the Innisfail parish.
More than 700 people were served during the annual turkey dinner, which drew a lineup that extended out of the door into the parking lot of the Royal Canadian Legion. The evening was a fundraiser for the church. The amount raised has not yet been fully tallied.
“We are a faith filled and prayerful congregation and without the volunteers and businesses who helped us with the turkey dinner, we could not bless the community,” said Diana Mainville, a church worker who noted that donations were received from the Ladies Auxiliary, Upper Green Farms, Jungle Farm, Innisfail Truck Ranch, Rainbow Colony and Dairy Queen. “During the evening, we heard from people as they left how great the meal was, how friendly and helpful the servers were, how everything was clean and well organized. The smiles on their faces said it best. They were leaving well-fed and happy!”
Our Lady of Peace has been in Innisfail since 1904 when Father Henri Voisin and Paul Chauvin of St. Marie de Tinchebray lived in the old Innisfail Hotel. The first mass in the first church was celebrated on July 21, 1907. The present church building was constructed in 1963 and a church hall was added in the early 1980s. Over the last year, a church office was built inside the foyer, and new lights were added. The Grotto is the newest building project.
For more information on Our Lady of Peace parish contact Kathy at 403-227-3932 from Monday to Thursday between 3 and 6 p.m. or go to Facebook or www.olopinnisfail.com.
