Church History
The Parish of St. Adolphe grew with the settlement of the Red River. St. Adolphe Roman Catholic Church, in the Archdiocese of St. Boniface, has a history reaching back to the late nineteenth century, and the church that stands on Main Street today has watched over the village for more than a century.
Beginnings: Pointe-Coupée becomes St. Adolphe
Until 1896 the community here depended on the mother parish of St. Norbert. The distance to that church and a growing population created the need for a parish of its own. The settlement was then called Pointe-Coupée. In 1893 it was renamed St. Adolphe in honour of Adolphe Turner, who made a significant donation toward establishing a church or mission, and that same year the first mission chapel was built.
A parish of its own
On January 10, 1896, the St. Adolphe mission was officially raised to a parish, and Father Eugène Derome became its first parish priest. Parish registers of baptisms, marriages and funerals began to be kept that year. In 1903 the Chavagnes Fathers arrived and built a juniorate, a monastery, a house and a farm at Cartier. Three years later, in 1906, the Daughters of the Cross (Filles de la Croix) arrived from France; they took charge of the village school and built the first convent.
In the first years of the parish three school districts were established: Saint-Adolphe No. 891 in 1896, and Laramée No. 972 and Dubuc No. 973 in 1898. The 1910 parish census counted 75 families, 35 French-Canadian, 30 Métis and 10 Polish, for 450 inhabitants in all.
Under the leadership of Father Mastaï Mireault the present church was built in 1913 to the plans of architect Marius Cinq-Mars.
Hard years
In 1922 the Chavagnes Fathers left St. Adolphe. Five years later, in 1927, the steeple of the parish church was destroyed by lightning, and Mr. Guay's company took part in the reconstruction.
The Depression followed. The parish coped by collecting a tithe of ten dollars per family and, in addition to that levy and the Sunday collection, by selling pews for five dollars each. The early 1930s brought natural hardships as well: drought, soil erosion and locust infestations.
Growth, floods and a new rectory
In 1946 the parish celebrated its fiftieth anniversary; the community then numbered about 1,500 people. A flood in 1950 forced the evacuation of the village. A second flood in 1966 led to the construction of a dike, which later protected the community during the great flood of 1997.
Under the direction of Father Armand Hébert a new rectory was built in 1955, and in 1956 the Daughters of the Cross celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their arrival in St. Adolphe.
Renewal and anniversaries
As the village grew and the population increased, the church needed renovation. That work was completed in 1987, ahead of the church's seventy-fifth anniversary. In 1996 the parish celebrated its centenary, and a commemorative plaque was placed to honour the early pioneers. In January 2026 the parish marked 130 years since its founding.
The church remains an important part of the village to this day. Beside it lies the parish cemetery, where generations of St. Adolphe families are buried.
The parish today
The parish continues its pastoral ministry through Masses, sacraments, services and community events. It remains a significant symbol of St. Adolphe's identity, reflecting more than 130 years of history, faith and tradition, and each generation in turn takes up the care of the church and the life of the community.
Important dates
1893: the first mission chapel is built and Pointe-Coupée becomes the mission of St. Adolphe
January 10, 1896: the Parish of St. Adolphe is founded
1903: the Chavagnes Fathers arrive
1906: the Daughters of the Cross settle in St. Adolphe
1913: construction of the present church
1922: the Chavagnes Fathers leave
1927: the church steeple is destroyed by lightning and rebuilt
1946: fiftieth anniversary of the parish
1950: flood and evacuation of the village
1955: a new rectory is built
1966: a second flood leads to the building of the dike
1987: renovation of the church is completed
1996: centenary of the parish and dedication of the commemorative plaque
2026: 130th anniversary of the parish
Priests who have served St. Adolphe
The list below is what the parish has been able to confirm so far. If you can help fill the gaps, please contact the parish office.
1896 to 1898: Father Eugène Derome (February 5, 1867 to January 27, 1951)
1898 to 1899: Father Wilfred Louis Jubinville (March 22, 1872 to November 20, 1946)
1910 to 1918: Father Mastaï Mireault (October 23, 1877 to January 23, 1963)
1955: Father Armand Hébert (March 9, 1896 to October 18, 1965)
1996 to 1997: Father Odilon Larochelle (1923 to 2012)
2018 to present: Father Gregory Kossi Djiba
Sources
Jennifer Lavin, "Appreciating Local History, Part One: St. Adolphe," The Citizen (Niverville). Société historique de Saint-Boniface, "Saint-Adolphe" (shsb.mb.ca). Manitoba Historical Society, "Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Adolphe Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery" (mhs.mb.ca). Archdiocese of Saint Boniface, parish directory. Find a Grave entries for Father J. Eugène Derome and Father Armand Hébert. University of Manitoba Archives, Mastaï Mireault fonds. Waymarking, "St. Adolphe Parish Cemetery." Accessed March 2026.