Sandy Bay parish flourishing
By Susai Jesu, OMI and Harley Mapes, OMI
SANDY BAY, Sask. — Our
Lady of Seven Sorrows Parish is located in northeastern Saskatchewan
on the banks of the Churchill River. The community of Sandy Bay is
located across from the Island Falls Hydro Station that was built in
the late 1920s. It is predominantly an Aboriginal community.
The congregation of 1,400
was blessed in many ways in 2011. One major blessing was the acquisition
of $20,000 from Catholic Missions that was used to repair the parish’s
two garages and make renovations to the rectory.
Much of the good things that happened in the parish this past year were
accomplished thanks to the support it continues to receive from the Saskatchewan
Power Corporation.
2011 was a busy and productive
year as the parish worked to raise funds locally through the production
of a Community Spirit Calendar, catering hot meals for community celebrations
and hosting the fourth annual Sask Power Family Christmas Celebration.
They also ran a hot lunch program that fed hundreds of community children
on a daily basis.
The growing congregation continues to gather in Kateri Hall for lunch and
visiting after Sunday mass. This past year they added signage for the church
and the Marcial Bear Memorial Cemetery.
The major focus of work this past year was the completion of a kitchen
in Kateri Hall (the church basement) that involved installing a new concrete
floor as well as plumbing and electrical work. Since then it has been well
utilized for parish gatherings as well as being available for community
functions.
A new exit from Kateri Hall was installed that involved replacing a deteriorating
outside wall as well as installing a new set of stairs and a metal door.
The parish also reinforced the cracked foundation and put on a new coat
of paint.
In 2012 the parish will continue to raise funds locally, led by a group
of leaders who have teams of volunteers. Their goal is to install a metal
roof and windows on the church and rectory.
The church was built over 80 years ago and the parish needs to address
the leaking roof that has damaged the suspended ceiling, making the tiles
soggy and prone to falling on parishioners. The cost to put on the metal
roof is $90,000 and they are half way to their goal.
The windows are old and the wind blows right through, so new windows are also required in order to make the church more comfortable and energy efficient. Other areas needing attention include repairing the fence around the church grounds and installing new fencing for both the old and new cemeteries.
 |
|