Parish History

It all began in 1891 with the arrival of the first contingent of settlers from Quebec under the guidance of Father Jean Baptiste Morin. It was Bishop Vital Grandin OMI and Father Lacombe who contacted Father Morin t0 spearhead a Quebec recruitment of Catholic migrants to come west. He was successful and they formed St. Jean Baptiste Parish in the region known as Egg Lake Country and Grand Brute; the new community was named Morinville, NWT.

Over 125 year later, we look back in awe at the hardships, great faith, and perserverance of our forefathers. Many milestones, hardships as well as triumphs, have occured on the journey of the creation of St. Jean Baptiste Parish. To quote Sister Alice Trottier, Filles de Jesus; “The faith and tenacity of both clergy and faithful pioneers is very inspiring”

We are celebrating seventeen different pastors as well as many assistant or associate pastors and are grateful to each and very one of them. Their pictures follow with years of service here in Morinville.

Our Parish Today

St. Jean Baptiste Parish, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Paul, serves the Roman Catholic Community of Morinville and has been serving the community since 1891. We warmly welcome all visitors and those who would like to come and join us in our Parish and make it home. We would like to know and serve you. The Parish is lead under the guidance of our current Pastor Rev. Fr. Trini Pinca, along with the support of many faithful parishioners.